I always knew I was different, but it was only at 33 that someone suggested I might have it (I was getting myself checked out after my father passed), so I talked to a doctor about it a couple of times but never truly did all the tests.
It took me having both kids diagnosed to go through the entire process to get my diagnosis (same as the kids, unsurprisingly), and I cannot avoid cursing myself at 33 for not doing it sooner. Everything I learned in the 10+ years between both things could have made that period a bit smoother, using all the tools and techniques I have acquired since.
I had a similar experience. Always new I was weird, but figured that was because I didn’t get the proper how-to-be-a-human training from my family. My diagnosis journey began when I told a therapist that I was sick of all these relationship problems I was having, and literally asked her, “What’s wrong with me?” She said nothing was wrong with me, but that I seem like a person that was highly sensitive to sensory and emotional stimuli, then explained how it was useful to have people like that in tribes back in the hunter-gatherer days. Cue special interest in highly sensitive people. Like 1.5 months later, an ex-friend that was trying to insult me called me autistic at a social gathering. To get him back, I took online autism assessments the next day thinking that the results would prove that I wasn’t autistic and could send him the results. However, I kept popping as high likelihood for autism. I was almost convinced, but felt like I was maybe I was trying to find an excuse. I got an official ADOS2 assessment about 1.5 months after that that confirmed it. It then took another 6 months for me to be certain I was autistic. It’s been a wild ride of self-discovery and WTFs, but I’m happy I found out. I’ve made lots of adjustments that have been helpful. The latest one was going to an amusement park with ear plugs in. WHAT.A.DIFFERENCE! Despite the changes, I still have lots to go. In summary, I pursued a diagnosis because I was so sick of all these issues and was running out of options. This meme has been happening since:
Also, your name and post reminded me of this song: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=zaaIZ2cp-FU&si=aa4c1U3FDP1LWFbb
Ear plugs are a remarkable tool. Since I did the first one, they have helped me so much. Nowadays, I take them with me any time I leave the house, and they help so much.
Hope those relationship issues are also getting better, along with the improvement in other areas you already mentioned.