No surprise, I was always seeking a diagnosis and sought it sooner rather than later prompted by what I now know to have been an autistic shutdown which is still affecting me.
Like with my ADHD diagnosis I feel vindicated, but I'm also going through a rollercoaster of emotions. I'm feeling especially hurt when thinking of various red flag incidents where I was a child and teenager who was struggling badly, but even those who claimed to love me either told me I was being dramatic or shamed me. No understanding or compassion, just an expectation of presenting as their idea of "normal", burning out and failing royally.
I am struggling with all of this now. Work pay lip service to neurodiversity awareness, but my experiences as a late diagnosed woman are very different from those of colleagues who are younger, who were diagnosed young and who had support and advocacy in place.
Overarching feeling now is of being just TOO different.