If you read my post “Unraveling My Autism Diagnosis: A Puzzle of Self-Discovery,” you learned how I struggled emotionally after receiving my official autism diagnosis. I felt a lot of grief and shame at that point. It took me a lot of time and work to unravel those emotions and undo the internalized ableism I had.
And if you’ve read my post “I Figured Out I’m Autistic, So Where Do I Go From Here? 7 Steps for Autistic Adults” you know that I also floundered at the time with what to do next. I didn’t receive much support from my diagnosing psychologist and had to build my own knowledge and support system through countless hours of research.

What is my biggest regret after my autism diagnosis? What do I really wish I’d had at the time? I wish I’d had Proud Autistic Coaching! I don’t wish I’d had it as my own business, but as a business I could have gone to for support. I wish I had hired a coach at that point to benefit from their expertise to help me understand myself and my needs.
I wish I’d been able to talk to another late-diagnosed autistic adult who understood me instead of reading book after book about other people’s experiences.
I wish I had been able to learn about co-occurring conditions from someone who knew me instead of from social media.
I wish I could have processed and problem-solved my struggles with an autistic coach instead of with a string of therapists who didn’t understand autism.
I wish I could’ve benefitted from the autism-positive Sensory Empowerment Program instead of hiring an Occupational Therapist who tried to “desensitize” me.
I wish I could have discussed parenting with another autistic parent of neurodivergent kids instead of watching a stranger talk about it on YouTube.
I wish I had the opportunity to undo my internalized ableism with a coach who could see through society’s toxic messages instead of over years of trial and error.
I wish I’d had a support person who believed in me and knew from experience that everything would work out after my diagnosis.
I could go on and on! But I think you get the gist. I started Proud Autistic Coaching because it’s exactly what I wish I could have had earlier in my autism journey. And I could have benefitted from it years after my diagnosis too. That’s just how long it takes to learn about one’s autism when you have to do it all yourself (and this is coming from someone who practically lives in autism books and social media).
So, yes, my biggest regret after my autism diagnosis is not hiring an older and wiser me to talk to! The current impossibility of time travel notwithstanding, I stand by this regret. Don’t make the same mistake I did! 😝
If you find value in this content, please consider leaving a tip.
Want to get this straight in your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter!
Comentarios