Autistic Musing: My late diagnosis...

[@wualli2494]

Hi Mackenzie. I enjoy watching your videos. Don't feel bad about being diagnosed in your early 20s. I'm in my late 50s and don't have an official diagnosis yet. 50 years ago practically nobody knew anything about autism. There was no internet, no social media, no cell phones etc. I've had a strong suspicion for many years that I am autistic. But, after doing a deep dive in studying autism this past month I'm about 99% sure that I am. I'm just not an obvious case and I've learned to hide or masked it well. However many of the signs are there. I suppose getting a diagnosis at my age is just about putting my suspicion to rest. Unfortunately there is a long backlog in testing around my area so I won't be able to get an official diagnosis for another six months to a year. Thanks for what you are doing. LOVE YA

[@connieberkbigler3054]

Hi Mackenzie, I am a mother of an autistic person who is 21 now. They weren’t diagnosed late, but not early either, it was at the end of second grade. I carry a lot of guilt on my heart to have been participant of that gaslighting in their early years and not have had the knowledge and skills to be a better parent and support for my child. I appreciate you put yourself out there and your experiences to help bring knowledge to others who maybe autistic or have a loved one who is autistic. I am still learning new things everyday that help me be a better supportive parent to my adult autistic child. Thank you

[@autisticmusings7429]

Hi, I’m happy to hear you enjoy my videos. That sounds like a very hard experience, I can’t imagine going that long. I hope the wait time passes quickly, and good luck with your assessment. I’m sure it will put your suspicions to rest. Thank you for all the appreciation, I value hearing about your experience.

[@autisticmusings7429]

It’s always wonderful to hear about parents who encourage and support their autistic children, even when there in adulthood. The fact you’re seeking out knowledge and are still teaching yourself had better support for your child is lovely to hear. Thank you for commenting, it was nice to know why you came to my channel and I’m happy to know me sharing my experiences is making a difference.

[@naomi7546]

Good day to Mackenzie from 🇦🇺 I also have grandchildren who are autistic. My daughter and son have sought assistance and she's on the spectrum, my son adhd. Well let's not forget the elephant in The room, you guessed , I'm undiagnosed as such but I'm dyslexic diagnosed, ADHD, autistic. I do and speak reverse and when the children were younger we spoke our own language fluently. No one understood us. LOL. I totally get what you spoke about tonight. Thanks for your time in sharing. Hi to the room.

[@lizzymka]

I found your page! Yay! Loads of material and content to catch up. I saw the info dumping one and the names of the other videos✨💛 Thank you for putting this out there and sharing so sensitively too! Glad I came across your channel!

[@autisticmusings7429]

Thank you for watching MK! I’m happy to have you here. I hope you have fun catching up❤️

[@FSDraconis]

I am sorry to hear about your gas lighting. The closest I can relate to that for me was a friend I had for over 20 years that was a controlling narcissist and I couldn't ever see it until things got seriously bad because I refused to choose them over another friend. The manipulation and games. All that stuff never does anything good for us especially when we get to the end and start questioning everything you experienced trying to find out how you failed to see or not see something. Like you, I wasn't diagnosed until just a few years ago around about the age of 40. It has been really all over the place. Some of the stuff that I have experienced were like bells going off. Hey, that's me sort of thing. Then other things I am still trying to get to grips on. I still have days where I wonder why I am even here on this planet. I'm not like other people. I'll never fit in with other people. I have spent most of my life just being alone. Dating is another nightmare.

[@georgebates172]

Thank you, Mackenzie, for posting your videos. I discovered my autism in my 40's. I don't really have a peer community locally. Though viewing your posts and those of a few others helps me by showing me I'm not alone. God bless you.

[@autisticmusings7429]

You’re welcome! I’m happy to hear my posts help you feel like your not alone. Thank you for sharing that with me and watching!

[@heedmydemands]

❤

[@MundtStefan]

Thank you very much. I wasn't consciously aware of the gaslighting I experienced as a child. But thanks to your video I have a name for it.

[@TheDavveponken]

Just got recommended your stuff from the algorithm and listening in. I have to chime in with some friendly advice though and say that you really have to take a look at sound levels as the intro pretty much blew my mind (and not in a good way) since it was like four times higher than your speech. All the best.

[@autisticmusings7429]

Thank you for the feedback, I appreciate it. I am having trouble with the sound on my videos. I will look more into it and attempt to fix it as soon as I am able.

[@dnkard1414]

And yes feelings always everywhere and can be messy and painful to process honestly lol

[@artemisXsidecross]

I am 78 years old who lived in a time period where the autism we exhibit was not even recognized until the 1980’s. I survived and flourish by learning to trust myself. If you expect most other people to reinforce your persona, you will be waiting in vain.

[@artemisXsidecross]

‘Finishing’ work, is what gives the artist the humility necessary to begin again… This is the reality of an artist’s existence, and is what gives the artist the awe and respectfulness that is the mark of a good one. Even consumed with purpose, convinced that what they have to say is going to be important for the world, even then, with all that noble fire to create, it is still a process of failing. A process of persevering despite the failures and raising a quiet pride in the ability to keep failing, and hopefully, as Beckett would have it, fail better.’ Kae Tempest On Connection

[@dnkard1414]

Yes so hard to process that we never had help but do actually need it. The constant struggle 😄💀

[@taffybooth5884]

What a privilege to gain insight into life as a neurodivergent - thank you for sharing! I agree that children embrace Autism as part of their identity and I think it is the early diagnosis that gives them opportunity to be themselves and self advocate. I’m sorry about your experience - as a parent I truly understand the gaslighting - we experience it on behalf of our children. I’m often made to doubt myself/my child who is autistic but being around others like yourself validates my child’s experience 💙

[@edwardyork1773]

I love your videos. You're very intelligent and extremely beautiful. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰❤

[@autisticmusings7429]

Thank you so much! That was so sweet of you to say :-)

[@dnkard1414]

My name's Darci and I'm 27 and self diagnosed autistic and adhd trying to get the resources I need to get my official diagnosis

[@autisticmusings7429]

Awkward question, but where do you live? I know most about the process for California, but I know a few people I can Recommend you even if you don’t.