Most people view being diagnosed with a condition to be some huge thing that makes the person totally different from a “normal” person. To them, a weird person is just a weird person - significantly less removed from the norm than a full diagnosis. It’s the same reason why a lot of people don’t want to get diagnosed, because it would make them believe they’re “broken.”
It can be both – fear of admitting to yourself that maybe the bullies were right and there is something “wrong” with you, and learning to accept that you are different and this is how / this is what helps.
Most people view being diagnosed with a condition to be some huge thing that makes the person totally different from a “normal” person. To them, a weird person is just a weird person - significantly less removed from the norm than a full diagnosis. It’s the same reason why a lot of people don’t want to get diagnosed, because it would make them believe they’re “broken.”
I feel the opposite, Getting late diagnosed made me feel less broken as things started to click why I am how I am.
Rather than trying to blend in and “fix” who I am, I’ve started to just not bother trying.
It can be both – fear of admitting to yourself that maybe the bullies were right and there is something “wrong” with you, and learning to accept that you are different and this is how / this is what helps.
Absolutely 100%, lt is very difficult to get out of that mindset of it being wrong/bad to be on the spectrum.
I’m not totally and doubt I truly will ever be.