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.

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.

A great video. Of course children are important, but adult autists who were not diagnosed until very late, especially women, should get more attention. A lifetime of coppng and masking is so tiresome that it drains your energy. And it comes with a heavy cost. I have been depressed and anxious all my life, and had eating disorders and all kinds of mental troubles and problems. Not until I was in my sixties I understood that I might be autistic. My son was diagnosed in his twenties and we were very similar. The public healthcare did not want to diagnose me. The psychiatrist said: ”You have been socialized in school, you have no problems, go away.” It was so cruel. I went on to have a private assessment and was diagnosed with autism and ADHD at 64. The private psychiatrist said that my high cognitive skills had camouflaged my autism. They had helped me to cope but as I said, the price was high.

Formal diagnosis age 74. Paid for  by me. No help from insurance. Medicare and a supplemental.
So then I looked around for "help".  AANE, New England organization, no help.
I live in Florida.
I now see a psychologist with insurance, but she doesn't know much.
I have extreme sensitivities of sound, touch, smell, taste.
Why am I writing this.
To let you know I never thought I was stupid. Never. I thought I was clever and funny and smart, but anxious and depressed. Not so good with social anything. It really feels like a social disorder.
I am now 76 living alone.
It is okay this way, and I am  creative and introverted. But it would be nice to feel understood.
Well, my dog and cat understand me.
Someone should study me.
I have a lot to say.

At 15 I asked my Mom "Why am I different from other people?" She began to try to answer, but my Dad shut her down immediately with look and a head shake. I'm 64 now. It's so obvious to me now that it's a topic my parents had considered; and somewhat hurtful, or maybe even shameful, that they didn't think it should be talked about with me. That it was ok to sweep the entire question "under the rug", and that I didn't need any help to understand that inner experience of being different. Life could have been less painful. My whole life, that strange situation of others seeing something in me that I didn't myself see or understand has followed me, and happened over and over, reflected by "casual" remarks by others I have puzzled over. For example:
A new boss on my first day- "Do you think you'll be able to 'fit in'?"
A graduate school classmate I didn't even know- "You're too trusting of other people."
A good male friend from high school- "I love the unusual way you speak..." ( me thinking- What???)

I really appreciate these talks Professor Frankie. Thank you! Please keep sharing on YouTube.

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 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 YouTube 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!

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

Just the other day I was telling someone that I used to think that I felt different from other children and put it down to having a foreign parent. Later on I learned about Autism and have recently been diagnosed at age of 72!
As a grandparent now I would like to take part in more Autism related research and outreach. I have to face up to the fact that much of my family does not want the stigma they fear will result.

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)

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

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 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!

I went to SMC and it makes me so happy to see the increased awareness and support for neurodivergent students! <3 Feedback on the video: please include closed captioning! It's ironic that this video is meant for people who may struggle with auditory processing and that captions aren't available LOL

Unfortunately I can’t follow this as no captions -but I am interested in learning more about my condition -diagnosed autism at 43.

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

The Sound change was horrible but the talk was good ❤

I was the clingy 🎉

Very valuable, thank you!

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