Recently, I've had nurses and therapists tell me I probably have autism, but that they're not qualified to make a diagnosis. This is not news to me; I'm 21 and have suspected I'm autistic since I was around 10 or 11 when I first read about it. Since then, I have read countless books and watched countless videos by autistic creators, have almost 100 pages of notes and journaling, and have started doing research in the academic field.

Through all of this research, as well as through my recent ADHD diagnosis, I feel like I've learned a lot of the skills and accommodations I need to get through life as an autistic adult. However, there are of course still things I struggle with; sensory overload can interfere with my day-to-day routine, and I also discovered the hard way that I can't live alone. Would a formal diagnosis be able to provide me with any additional support and accommodations?

I suppose another reason I'm considering a formal diagnosis is due to all the discourse surrounding self-diagnosis. While I've spent almost 10 years confident in my autistic identity, the discourse has made me worry I've been faking this whole time.