I Think I’m Autistic — What Should I Do?

First things first, it’s perfectly okay to be autistic, completely okay. There is nothing wrong with a brain that’s wired differently, and if I’m honest, I think it’s some superpower. So if you’ve landed here because you’re turning that thought over in your head, “I think I might be autistic”, take a breath; you’re not broken, you’re just wired differently, and that’s the whole point of this post: working out what to actually do with that thought of yours.

Do I need an official diagnosis to be autistic?

No, and this is one people get stuck on constantly. Some people feel like seeking a diagnosis would genuinely help them, and if that’s you, then act on it; it’s worth speaking to your GP as a first step. Just go in with your eyes open; waiting lists for an autism assessment can be really long, so it’s worth starting that process early even if you’re still unsure how you feel about the label. Other people don’t feel the need for a diagnosis at all, and that is just as valid, just as okay; no rule says self-understanding needs a form signed off by someone else.

What if I don’t want to go through the diagnosis process?

Then don’t, not right now, or not ever if that’s what feels right for you as an individual. Diagnosis or not, plenty of people find that simply identifying as autistic is helpful in itself; it gives language to things that never quite fit before, and it opens the door to tools and strategies that are actually built for an autistic brain rather than a neurotypical one. For some, even just identifying with the label can offer huge amounts of self-compassion. You don’t need a piece of paper to start figuring out what works for you.

What should I actually do first?

Start where you are. That might mean booking a GP appointment to talk through an assessment referral, it might mean reading and researching in your own time, it might mean finding autistic-led spaces online where people talk honestly about their experience, or it might mean bringing this exact thought into therapy so you’ve got somewhere steady to process it as it unfolds. There’s no wrong order to do this in, and no timeline you’re failing to meet. Every journey is unique.

Does being autistic mean something is wrong with me?

No, fundamentally, nothing is wrong with you. Autism just means your wiring is different, and different isn’t a deficit; people with autism can do incredible things that a neurotypical brain simply isn’t built for. The goal was never to become more neurotypical; the goal is understanding how your own brain actually works so you can stop fighting it and start working with it, and harnessing that power.

Where can therapy fit into this?

Therapy isn’t about giving you a diagnosis; that’s a GP or a specialist assessment’s job, but it can absolutely be the space where you make sense of what this realisation means for you, your relationships, your day-to-day life, and your sense of self. No jargon, no pressure toward one path over another, just steady support while you work out what feels true.

If any of this is landing for you, you don’t have to work it out alone. Get in touch with me, and let’s start where you are. If you are still undecided if you think we would be a good match, I offer a free 20-minute consultation.