I waited months for it and I was super hesitant. But because my insurance covered it all except $200, I took the leap.

I was stunned when the neuropsychologist was so validating. As we talked she explained that what I was told were quirks or a random symptom of ______ (enter any mental health diagnosis basically…. I’ve been given so many) really seemed to be high masking autism. She said that most of her later diagnosed clients (esp women) had the same symptoms and gave me a few things to look up/learn about. And that it seems like I spent a lot of my life without coping mechanisms, and spending a lot of energy just keeping up via masking.

I nearly cried when it was over - I cannot express how refreshing it is to have somebody who just listened, asked clarifying questions, suggested topics to learn about and was validating. She was also super patient when I kept asking clarifying questions, or had questions that were more literal in nature - which I feel like many of my past providers were frustrated by. In the past I feel as though clinicians were very caught up on my diagnoses (some of which were highly stigmatized or more behavior based so they didn’t really help in guiding my treatment anyways).

I have my session Monday to receive and go over the formal results, but even having a clinician take me seriously was so refreshing.