Imposter Syndrome & Late Autism Diagnosis - 10 Things Autistic People DON'T Experience

When I tell people that I think I may be on the spectrum, they say, "We're all on the spectrum a little bit." It's a bit invalidating. Not that I want to be autistic, mind you. I just want answers, and the more I watch your videos and look back on my memories, the more things start to make sense. But then I have to ask myself: "Am I looking at my memories through an ASD only filter?" 🤔

As a late diagnosed high masking woman, i have been invalidaded in so many ways, both before and after my diagnosis. It is incredibly aggravating to be told I'm weird, to be bullied, to be ostracized, to alienate others, yet they don’t believe the diagnosis. At least I am kinder to myself now.

2:57 I had a psychiatrist tell me that he thought I shouldn't go and get evaluated for Autism and ADHD because he thought it would "make it more difficult for me to live a normal life". I'm neurodivergent and hide it well, but I'm never going to live a "normal" (neurotypical) life. It kept me from getting the support, care, and employment protections I needed. Always get a second opinion from a specialist, not the guy that makes money writing you prescriptions.

Hahaha this video is so good. “I’m a go with the flow kind of guy…. AS LONG AS YOUR FLOW DOESNT GET IN MY WAY.” 😂😂😂

I'm a "jack of all trades, master of SOME" because when I get a hobby, and I have many, I OBSESS. I MUST be perfect at everything I learn!! I wish humans lived longer! 😭

An alternate to being told off for speaking too loudly is speaking too quietly. I've rarely been asked to speak softer in general conversation, but I'm so very exhausted of being told to speak up, talk louder, stop whispering/muttering/mumbling, "I couldn't understand you because you speak so quietly," etc, etc. I've gotten so frustrated with this a few times that I did raise my voice and was then asked to stop shouting. There's no winning.

12:00 Being AuDHD I'm a jack of restricted interests, master of none. lol

I'm a go with the flow guy... as long as I know where we're going, when, why, for how long, and what we plan on doing afterwards.

My brain had to work extra hard with all of those double negatives, but I got there in the end 🧐😅

I got diagnosed 5 days ago at 43 years old. You are speaking directly to me it feels! Never stop making videos, they’re making me feel seen and validated. And laugh out loud. Also, your first name is very cool!

I fell through the cracks for quite a while until the YT algorithm suggested a video to me about ADHD and autism. I had been diagnosed with ADHD at 14 in one hasty appointment with a doctor my school made me see for school anxiety. I’m 44 now. I think none of my doctors ever put together all of the things that correlated to autism criteria that I experienced. I believe they thought I had a host of behavioral and mental health problems instead of seeing the big picture. The YT algorithm may have saved my life because it sent me down a rabbit hole of research and online assessments they use for official diagnosis. I realized I probably had autism, but I also gaslighted myself into imposter syndrome so much so that it took me over a year to bring it up with my psychiatrist. That was three weeks ago. We both decided I met the criteria for a diagnosis. I guess that makes me AuDHD. I’m in between acceptance/relief and imposter syndrome. I really needed to see this video. I can’t thank you for your timing enough! I needed the humor and to hear that my feelings are normal. ❤

"An autistic child that sounds like a professor? No... No, not me..." She says as she watches her son passionately argue with his dad about the space/time continuum

I think the reason I struggle with imposter syndrome is that I’ve been so high-masking for so long that I know I CAN do some of those things. I know I can suppress my stims for long periods, fit into a social group if I’m camouflaging well, I can transition quickly etc etc. What I’m trying to validate now is that doing those things hurts me, and I am allowed to stop. Now that I can clearly see the harm I’m doing to myself, I am working to unmask enough to protect myself from another burnout.

When you mentioned, "pop-in visitors" my stomach turned, lol. I also don't like random phone calls, which unfortunately most are. So I hardly ever answer my phone. When people on the other line interrupt me, my thoughts fall apart and I can't string words together after they do that to me. A few of the things you mentioned I don't have too much issue with, but I would say the majority I do relate to. I'm a woman who was diagnosed at 29 (I think women can have a slightly different experience to men). Some of these things I did have problems with as a child but as I grew older and started medication for anxiety, they've gotten better (not completely gone, just better).

Hey Orion. You are really helping me with my late diagnosis. Age 57 I was diagnosed. I have learnt so much from you. Keep up the good work mate. 👏

Orion, I just want to say thank you so much for all of your content. It is literally LIFE-CHANGING and LIFE-SAVING for many people.

Lovely to have such a validating start to the day, thanks Orion 🥰 If I may add another... Number 11: have you ever missed meals without realising and nearly wet yourself because you are so absorbed in whatever you're doing? Since I have partly retired and have more time to indulge myself in my special interests this has become increasingly common.

I was diagnosed in 2023 at 50. There are times I can not watch videos like this. It's hard for me to come to terms with my diagnosis. I used to work and worked for 34 year's. But I kept changing jobs every 3-6 months. Different types of jobs. So I know it would be difficult for me to get another job, I didn't fit in anywhere I was, so I decided to stop work when my last boss said after I informed them of my diagnosis and I quote " I dont think this is the job for you. But we'll give it a go. " I totally understand this 100%. On the bullying/people not understanding. Last year I was doing my weekly shopping and put everything on the conveyor belt. As I got to the till, I was asked to move my bags to check that I wasn't hiding things underneath the bags, this was the first time I had been asked (Shopped there for years). I tried to explain to speak slower and that why had I been asked and not the people in front, I explained I was autistic. The reply from the cashier was not surprising, very abrupt, and totally uncalled for. She replied and I quote "You don't have a lanyard or other ID saying your autistic. I treat everyone the same. " So not only did she upset me that she believed I should have a big sign on my saying I'm autistic, but subsequently after that I couldn't use that shop again. So I had to familiarise myself with another shop, causing more anxiety etc.

My youngest sonno hasn't been bullied at school, really, although still autistic. He's always been EXTREMELY socially anxious and highly avoidant and he's developed advanced masking skills because he's off-the-charts smart and one of his "special interests" is psychology. He's 18 now, very tall and handsome. He's so intellectual, creative and being his mum, I know that he's autistic because he's so like me!

The only one I dispute is the varied hobbies and interests, my dude. Us AuDHDers tend to have them piled up like cordwood. You left one lil sliver of imposter syndrome in place but I do think that one is an outlier, especialy if you match the others point for point. Because I have my little workshop and whatever I’m working on at the time becomes everything and food stops existing and sleep can wait and the bathroom is such a journey so I have to get really tough with myself and just go already.