How do you know you're autistic? 9 Common Ways to discover your autism as an adult

My ex girlfriend said years ago ( 2019 ) that I have to be autistic. I made an AQ Test back then. I scored 38 back then. So more likely than unlikely. I told two psychotherapists in different psychiatric clinics that I think I could be autistic. The first one ( 2021 ) said after one minute that she can’t „see“ why I should be autistic. The second one ( 2022 ) a year later said that autism is a modern myth. Yep. One year later ( 2023 ) I found a cleaning channel of an autistic man ( Midwest Magic Cleaning ) on YT and I was like. ‚ Autism? Again? , this time I decided to spent time with the topic autism. I talked to my current local psychologist about it and she mentioned that it could be possible. We made the ADI-R Test and I scored high again. Also the AQ was higher this time. It was 44. The first time i didn’t took it sooo seriously. After Tests over Tests, tons of research and spending a lot of time in groups and such I got my Asperger Diagnosis confirmed ( 2024 ). Never stop searching for a diagnosis just cause uninformed doctors or uninformed parents or friends hold you back in a way. It was a long journey so far but finally I can understand myself.

I'm 48 and I just found out I'm autistic about a week ago when I went to talk to a psychologist about chronic depression and possible ADHD (Was diagnosed as a child). After my first session, she told me it was extremely obvious I was autistic and not ambiguous in any way. She referred me to get assessed (which I have not done yet as it's bloody expensive). It all makes so much sense now, and it has brought me so much peace knowing that I was not some sort of alien that was born in the wrong planet.

Among countless telling moments across a long lifetime (I'm 66 now) that puzzled and nagged me, and seemed impossible to express to others, was once maybe 15 years ago when friends in America (I was overseas) sent me some photos from a reunion of seminary friends. This couple's younger son was autistic, in the full popularly understood sense, lots of stimming, limited communication/emotional response, etc. In one of the photos the boy was tossing leaves (it was fall) up in the air repeatedly, watching them as they floated back to the ground. The moment I saw the photo it seized me viscerally, practically as if I was teleported into the photo and the boy's body, doing exactly what he was doing and, to the point, knowing exactly WHY, knowing exactly how that felt, in the "gut" and what it was about that cycling, absorbing patterned (yet also, within boundaries, randomn and chaotic) motion was mesmerizing and psycho-emotionally nourishing. It was stunning to me, like a bolt out heaven. "I know why he's doing that. No, I mean I really KNOW what he's doing and why, I can FEEL it!" It was bewildering and yet at the same time weirdly as plain as day, yet I had no real words for it---because, naturally, I'd never have concluded I was "autistic" (as I understood it then). But that moment never ever left me. It haunted me ever since. My ASD discovery last year cast a life-changing clarity for me not only on that moment but on a whole lifetime.

My therapist actually did suggest that I was autistic when I was 19 but I didn't know very much and disregarded that. Then, years later, I went to full time work and experienced a really bad burnout, I started reading about autistic burnout, found this channel and a year later got a diagnosis! Wild journey, I'm really glad that there are more resources and information out these days

Mine was - me wondering 'what is wrong with me' my whole life. Thought it was bi-polar, then maybe BPD, then I knew it was C-PTSD, then I found out maybe autism too, then ah yes ADHD too!! Mind blowing. All discovered without a 'professional', really from desperation to understand my 'crazy'. Thanks Lovely, I forget your name suddenly.

Diagnosed at 18, months before graduation In the 16 years since that diagnosis, I have been called lazy and told that I "can't have Asperger's" because I don't speak in monotone and have an intelligent vocabulary; the former was from my mother and the latter was from a guy I met thru online dating (between insulting me and having zero concern for my safety while planning a first date, I refused to go out with him).

It took a major burnout and time on YouTube before the algorithm led me to your videos. Then it all clicked. All the depression, job-hopping, BPD diagnosis that didn't really fit -- it all made sense. Thanks again, Paul, for another video that helps me turn what seems like a chaotic and tragic life into a compassionate, life-giving narrative.

My realization came from a combination of 5+ year burnout and crisis when I finally found a counselor who realized I was autistic. 11 months into this journey, and I have hope my life is worth something. Finally.

My diagnosis journey started in 2018, when I found myself in a conversation with clinical psychatrist, who worked with middle-aged autistic men. As she went through the symptoms, I couldn't help think "that's me", "that's me", "that's me!".... After umming and arring for a while, I went to my doctors to ask for a diagnosis. Then after three two-hour video consultations (this was during the pandemic), I was diagnosed and the rest is history!

I will be 59 years old next month, I am a mental health clinician and I have worked in mental health for 35 years, I did not have a good understanding of autism. obviously, I trained 35 years ago so not as much was known then and it was generally considered to be a childhood disorder. I was aware that I had struggles in my life but never considered that I might be autistic until I was watching videos on YouTube about circular knitting machines, Okay... I watched them continuously for about 3 days, that might have been the clue, but that was when a video about autism in women popped up. I was astonished at how much it resonated with me. I have since done several professional development courses about Autism, I was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD this week. I am very passionate about clearing up misconceptions about autism, Clinicians are becoming more aware, but we have a way to go. I am also frustrated with the cost of assessment. My privilege meant I could pay for my assessments, but there are a large number of under and unemployed autistic people who cannot get a diagnosis and could benefit from some NDIS support. I love your videos, Paul, I often share your 12 fast facts about autism video.

I was seeing a psychologist because of the issues I was having with my then undiagnosed Autistic partner. I suspected I was on the spectrum myself, but self-diagnosis is/was frowned upon. At our last session as I was heading out the door she said “you’re very interesting, I think you might have borderline personality disorder. Bye.”When I was very much more certain I was in fact autistic I wrote to her & set her straight about how damaging this off the cuff erroneous diagnosis had been as we were saying our goodbyes. Another psychologist who also wasn’t skilled enough to pick up the bleeding obvious showed me a diagram of a mob of cows with one cow on its own, she told me that the cow on its own was destined to die, because it had isolated itself from the herd. Ffs. I had been recently suicidal. Some psychologists are beyond useless.

Your videos were right there at the beginning of my discovery, maybe even the initial spark if I remember correctly, in spring of 2023. You played a crucial role. Thank you!

Up to a point, that is how physical illnesses are diagnosed, but first we feel ill and we have to go to the doctor. Doctors aren't walking down the street handing out suggestions to every person who coughs or looks pale, so in that sense, we always have to take the initiative about our own conditions.

#9 for me. However, I have worked with Autistic children, young people and adults my whole life. And had autistic friends and thought the myth “everyone is a little autistic”, I now know better. For me it took everything falling apart, job loss, family breakdown, friendship breakdown, relationship br… I wish!Generalised Anxiety (2014) and Reactive depression (2016) diagnosis’ came first. My ASD diagnosis wasn’t until 2023! And because my psychologist put it to me as a possibility in 2022. Thank you Autism Awareness Australia for your support in getting my diagnosis.

Mine was like a combo meal deal. I had gone through a major life change, had massive burnout and then I started getting videos recommended to me on YouTube.

Im going to be 31 this year. I'm a full time therapist. Last year I went home for the holidays and one of my siblings blabbed the family secret: I'd had a childhood autism diagnosis that my parents had kept hidden from me. Everyone in the family knew but me. Everyone. The entire family knew and kept it from me. Now I don't use your videos for clients but for myself as well and it's begun an emotional journey beginning the process of figuring out where the masking begins and I do. My score on the rads was in the 200s when I took the test a few months ago.

Burn out at work and struggling to keep a job kind of left me questioning who I am and if there is anything wrong with me. And that was followed up with clicking on YouTube videos that started to show up in my feed. Your channel was my first introduction. After watching a lot of your videos I started getting other channels in my feed as well.

Mine is definitely a long time search. I’ve always had this “something’s wrong with me” thought, constantly feeling out of touch and thinking of myself as an alien or a silent viewer to other people. I don’t remember myself NOT feeling like this. I never sought professional help because I was raised believing I’m “a smart girl who can fix all her problems better than any therapist can”. I just lived my life accepting I was odd and thinking I was just both this way with no real reason behind it. 28 years later, it hit me. I’m still fighting through my imposter syndrome, but I’m pretty sure now that I’m autistic. And some days this realization makes me hurt bad, while others it actually liberates me and makes me feel more free and less guilty of the social mistakes I make. I still want to be with people and will have to find my way into the society. But at least now I know which way to look for answers.

I was researching trauma and CPTSD on YouTube and one of the accounts who addresses that (Dr. Kim Sage) did a video about autism and trauma. I almost didn't click it because I thought it was irrelevant to me, but in the video she was expressing her shock to discover that she herself might be autistic. She talked about how it presents differently in women and how it is often missed. I was intrigued and dug in deeper. The more I learned the more obvious it became to me that it all fits. It was a huge relief that made most of the difficulties in my life make more sense.

I've taken 6 different online tests. Admittedly, they all asked similar questions. My scores on all the tests indicated that I'm very likely to be autistic. I told my husband and he just laughed at me and said I'm not autistic. He only knows one autistic male who is quite severe. I've been diagnosed bipolar, anxiety disorder and I'm sure I'm adhd too. Growing up, teachers always told my mum that there was something wrong with me and suggested I have my hearing checked. I cried alot at school. I'm artistically gifted and I'm constantly humming and singing. People always guilt me that I'm not a professional singer too. Im obsessed with psychology, science, art, gardening, self sufficiency, knitting, interior design. I'm also a closet architect. I get so stressed because I can't decide which hobby to attend to in my precious spare time and it's so everwhelming. I can't sit still and never been able to hold a job for long. I hate socialising but feel lonely sometimes. Even going shopping really stresses me out and procrastinate like crazy before going, which is exactly what I'm doing right now.