Recently, between receiving my old health records from my parents and some diving with my therapist, I’ve come to the realization or confirmation that my neurodivergence is tied to being autistic, or on the spectrum.

As I’ve been processing or unwinding that, I’ve started connecting the dots between extended family relating me to certain TV characters like Sheldon, or Shaun on The Good Doctor. Admittedly, I’m having a hard time processing how I feel about that, especially after the fact.

This confirmation has been validating, even if the fact I can’t get an official diagnosis because doing so as an adult is difficult as hell, which occasionally makes me feel like a fraud. But it’s still been conflicting feelings. The validation is, very nice, I have to admit. But, as I’ve processed other feelings have come up. Including a sense of injustice that I’ve had to mask/normalize all my life just to “fit in” or mesh with normal society instead of just being me, fully and authentically