“When I was out during the day, I was being who people needed me to be, then I would come home and put my dukes up. I felt like an imposter in the life I had built.”
‘Why are you seeking a diagnosis?’ They didn’t believe me. I was an imposter living a neurotypical, picture-perfect life.’: Woman diagnoses herself with autism after decades of ‘masking’
‘You’re just NOT trying hard enough.’ I KNEW I was different, but I tried to brush it off. Then something magical happened.’: Woman diagnosed with autism shares journey, ‘I will live a BEAUTIFUL life’
“‘You’re WAY too sensitive.’ They don’t know I am constantly aware of the clock ticking, people typing, colleagues moving, screens shining, lamp shining, them laughing, the radio playing. This world is so LOUD.”
‘I want a divorce.’ I was blindsided. In one moment, my entire life turned upside down. I needed to escape it all.’: Woman shares healing journey after divorce, ‘You WILL be happy again’
“They say in New York you only get two out of three: a great career, love, or apartment. I had all three. By all accounts, I had a perfect life. Then my husband dropped a bomb on me.”
‘She was hit by a tractor. She didn’t feel anything.’ I started crying hysterically. She was my soulmate, how was I supposed to move on?’: Woman with autism finds ‘special and strong bonds’ in cats
“The farmer didn’t notice. His daughter had found her body an hour later and put her in our driveway because she knew she was my cat. It was my worst nightmare coming true. I started screaming NOOO and crying hysterically.”
‘I guess you’re wondering about the results.’ It was like lightbulb after lightbulb going off.’: After diagnosis, woman advocates for autism in girls, ‘Representation matters’
“I’ve felt different my whole life. By high school, I was beginning to figure out I was queer. I’d assumed that was the thing ‘different’ about me. That’s not what happened. I was different at my core.”
