Autism as a Way to Hold Your Own

Abstract

This chapter deals with the question how one should relate to the diagnosis once it is made. Is it suddenly an explanation for all the problems you had in life? Does this mean the quest for recognition is finally over? Can everything you experience and have experienced now be explained by turning to the diagnosis? Can the diagnosis help you to think about your own identity? Many respondents recognise themselves in the diagnosis, they can relate to what it stands for. In that respect, it gives them comfort to finally ‘know’ what is ‘wrong’ with them. Some people ask which parts of their past can be explained by autism, and which parts are due to other circumstances in life. Others say that autism for them is normality, but they are aware of the fact that this normality is represented by a mere minority.