Hi LetterNeverSent,
Welcome to the forum. I am new myself and just 'self-diagnosed.' It may be helpful to scan the forum here; it seems like every month or so there is a new person and they ask exactly what you and I did. (My post is a few below yours titled 'Self-diagnosis, Now What.' It may be helpful to look at all the threads in this Aspie forum.
I recommend research, it seems like all of us started that way. Check out different websites, forums, and even YouTube for tips from people that have Aspberger's. I recommend AnMish's channel on Youtube. I'd give you the link but I'm not allowed because I'm a Newbie to the forum. On the bottom right corner of the screen she has 22 videos of her experiences with Aspberger's. I found them helpful, she even has a video called Diagnosing Aspberger's Syndrome, talks about do lots of research and find lots of people online in the Aspie community, or even a local Aspie support group.
Try not to get too obsessed with online research (as I did, whoops)
But looking at different websites will help you. Know that each website has 3-5 similar characteristics, but some websites list different symptoms than others. I have not found websites with 'cookie-cutter' symptoms to be very helpful as every Aspie may have the fundamental symptoms, but to different degrees.
Good luck to you, friend. I am 28 and just found out about this about 2 months ago, but dismissed it many years ago. I found it very healing- much of my life makes sense when lined up with Aspberger's. I too am contemplating an official diagnosis- I don't want that to follow me if I tried to get health insurance.
Most importantly, listen to what your body is telling you. Unless someone knows your symptoms, all of them, a part of me believes they are not really qualified to tell you yes or no, just listing a few symptoms is not enough for a diagnosis. If it feels right and you have symptoms listed, there's a good chance.
I have found, as a young child and in my high school years my symptoms were more prominent, but I have learned to cope a little better with my Aspie symptoms. By the grace of God, he has always placed me in customer service jobs, and while I struggle socially a LOT, it has improved a great deal since then. Aspies never are 'cured,' or it never goes away, but you can learn how to cope with your symptoms. It may be that when you were younger your symptoms were more prominent, but you have learned coping skills.
Sorry for the novel, but I find myself in your shoes. I am a VERY late bloomer, just got married, but still work part-time as a cashier at a department store. My life has not been easy as I have often been misunderstood, told to 'try harder,' and even that my depression was a way of seeking attention. I have not told my parents, I may wait for a diagnosis to tell them. It would be like dropping a bombshell in my family. Emotions are NOT talked about. I want to be a b s o l u t e l y sure I have it before telling them.
Ok, I'm done now I promise. Good luck to you. Pray pray pray.
I can't give you the link again, but search for GRASP's website. it is GRASP followed by org. An aspie website, at the top it says "what is AS, Myths, and FAQ's.
P.S., try to keep finding Aspie communities, I think you'll find it helpful.
