About
Receiving my autism diagnosis brought relief and understanding, but I wasn't prepared for many of the things that happened afterward. I experienced grief alongside clarity. Old memories began making sense in ways they never had before. Some relationships changed. I started questioning expectations I'd followed for years, protecting my energy more carefully, spending more time alone, and discovering how different life could feel when I began supporting my nervous system instead of continually pushing through. '25 Things I Wish I Had Known Would Happen After My Autism Diagnosis' is a collection of personal reflections about what I experienced after being diagnosed later in life. I share what surprised me, what I began understanding differently, and what I've learned along the way—as both an autistic adult and a therapist. Some of the experiences I reflect on include: • Grief after diagnosis • Seeing old memories differently • Recognizing support I didn't know I needed • Changes in relationships • Masking and the energy it required • Autistic exhaustion and the cost of pushing through • Protecting my energy and doing less • Spending more time alone • Listening to and supporting my nervous system • Rethinking productivity, rest, and success • Questioning old expectations • Self-trust and self-acceptance • Building a life that fits me better These aren't 25 things I'm suggesting will happen to everyone after an autism diagnosis. They're 25 things that happened to me. Your experience may be very different. But as you listen, you may recognize pieces of your own story—or finally find words for something you've been experiencing but haven't quite known how to explain. My hope is that somewhere along the way, you'll find yourself thinking, “I've been wondering about that too.”