Diagnosed at 52, now 55. When the person in the short video said "I challenge you to live in a world where you're never allowed to finish what you're thinking, and never allowed to actually say everything that you want to say," tears unconsciously appeared in my eyes, and I couldn't stop crying. Sometimes it just takes one random person to put something into words that affects your entire being.

This is so important. I raised two autistic daughters and did not get diagnosed myself until I was 72! I read everything that was then available when my kids were dx’d and it never crossed my mind that I was ASC as well. I have gone through quite the grieving process about this but I now see myself with much greater compassion. Thank you for this video

Thank You Professor Happ'e! As a psychiatric nurse of over 35 years, I should not be learning about this subject, and my own diagnosis, because of a KZfaq algorithm, particularly considering suicide is the second leading cause of death for those like me. This should be mandatory education for all health professionals, not just those who happen upon the information due to a curious interest!

Two years ago I started watching videos about autism as I have young family members who are diagnosed as autistic. I started to see myself in them so I then did some recommended online tests and scored reasonably positively. I am now 80 and have felt stupid and lonely all my life, struggling with anxiety , swpression and suicidal desires. But I'm still here. I failed totally in school but later in life, around fifty and divorced, went back into education and ended up with an honours degree which proved to me that I'm not stupid. Life has been a struggle always but I see no real need to fight for a diagnosis now, as I feel sort of vindicated now and have discovered talents I never knew I had.

I was told by my psychiatrist that because I could carry on a conversation with him, I could not possibly be autistic. I was then diagnosed as having BPD traits, and told I wasn't special because loud noises really bother me. I will be finishing up the assessment process (with an entirely different doctor) on June 26th. I WISH all psychiatrists could get on board with the facts about females and autism.

Thank you for this ❤ I'm 40 and only recently self diagnosed, this is so validating, especially when people don't belive it when I say I’m autistic.... KInowledge like this helps me explain and teach others who are willing to learn and mean well, just lack the knowledge as I did for all my life.

I grew up being abused in any possible way there is, in a middle class family. The signs were always there, being but I started off thinking I had BPD (at 30) to Autism ( at 35, which I didn't believe) to being an HSP (at 40) to CPTSD (at 49, which I definitely know) to being neurodiverse (at 52) back to thinking I'm Autistic (which I'm sure of), three weeks ago (at 52)

I went to SMC and it makes me so happy to see the increased awareness and support for neurodivergent students!

This video deserves more of an audience. I hope this comment helps this video get views..

I was diagnosed ASD level 2 (I live independently though) last year at the age of 53. I spent 20 years in and out of hospitals/treatment facilities for severe/chronic eating disorders (diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa restrictive and purging type; Atypical Anorexia Nervosa; as well as ARFID and EDNOS at times). My eating disorder began around 9 years old and was severe for multiple decades until I was 45 years old. I was misdiagnosed all of those years with mental health disorders I did not have and drugged with medication I did not need and that harmed me terribly. I was traumatized by the so called "treatment" I endured. I have severe anxiety related to my autism (and social situations) and I also have PTSD due to abuse/bullying all of my life as well as being abused and horribly mistreated by psychiatric and psychology professionals. I refuse to have any contact with the psychiatric/psychological system/professionals, and even the medical system/doctors (if I can help it) again!

Damn! The most interesting Question was answered muted…!!!

Thank you, this is excellent; validating and very helpful.

Very valuable, thank you!

This is an amazing session, very eye opening and good information, thank you

Does anyone have the link to the Nasen guide mentioned at 35:25?

The Sound change was horrible but the talk was good ❤

Interesting that there is a link between anorexia and ASD but I am surprised that ARFID wasn’t mentioned. As a child my doctor was very perplexed about my extremely limited diet but yet I didn’t have a poor body image and wanted to eat. My issues were sensory in the most part, and now when reading about ARFID that explains it perfectly.

This s great and all however people are not their diagnosis. I’m not sure how stating you are autistic will help with much.