What's it like Growing up as an Undiagnosed Autistic Person? | My Mom Interviews Me

I remember that from a teenager on I always felt different, strange Like an outsider. Everything was more difficult for me than for others.

People always tell me that I seem to have it all together, too, but they have no idea how hard I have to work to keep it together. I'm retired now, so I don't have to work so hard, but when I was working, I used 98 to 100% of my capacity every single day, and if I didn't keep up the mask of having it together everything would fall apart. We work so hard to just make it through a day. In other news, a singing cat! And... You only need 68 more subs! Also big thanks to your awesome mom for being on your show! She's a star!

The "you're just being a drama queen" resonated with me because I grew up hearing that I was just "attention seeking" from my family. That along with the fact that not everyone is accepting of self-diagnoses is what made me seek an official one.

As an undiagnosed Autistic, for me and my life this is how I felt. Like I was lost in a foreign country. With no language skills, unable to communication with others, nor they with me. I was shunned because I was so different, which was highly painful at a very deep level. I felt totally lost!

II think you have handled all of this really well. So many of us have had terrible trauma that makes us seek validation from others when it might never come. Knowing the traits that we are working with and not judging ourselves by other people's standards, finding out that we have our own tribe, that we can cope better than we anticipated by not participating in social things past our own tolerance, these are important healing tools. I am 65 now and I will never be diagnosed, but that little girl I was, who "couldn't keep up, couldn't catch up and couldn't make up" was not a failure, she was a brave soul! I try not to anticipate understanding or rejection, but just to remember that I have way more in common with neurotypicals than our differences would suggest. Bravo to you and your mom, and God bless you!

2:30 SAME, SAME, SAME! In my case it was also a video from Youtube! It was like someone was pointing out my deepest characteristics to me.

09:02: i think many who find out that he / she is on the spectrum feels the same. Many times if i remeber a situation in the past, I start to cry, regarless if its a bad or a nice memory. It ist always so overwhelming.

You are so lucky for having found out earlier in life than some of us. Glad you could process much of it with your Mom. My mother would have totally denied it. She is already passed on. Good job, Mom, for bringing up this idea and having the courage to accept your daughter's diagnosis! Hope you can be together, again, for the holidays. Make every time together count!

I really relate to you, and I think autistics are actually often “better”, society should work around us. Congratulations

Gosh! I’m 58 and just finally found myself…on the Autism Spectrum, and told my own dear mum. We chat about the very same things❤️. By the way, I must comment on how beautiful you both are, just like me & Mum. Thanks for these videos!

Always lying to one another. So true. It's so bizarre. And then everyone is expected to pretend that nobody lied. 😮

Really enjoyed the video. I am interested in hearing about women who have been diagnosed later in life as autistic. After watching videos and reading several books I have started wondering if I might also be an undiagnosed women. So thank you for taking the time to share your story and experiences.

Hi Claire, I loved every single minute of this interview. You have a great mom. I still can't "come out" as an adult, because I was raised in a very toxic and dysfunctional family.

The question around 20 min. in, -very well said regarding cultural perceptions of the past and present. There is a wonderful advocacy renaissance now. This helps people's future possibilities, too. The more understanding of how to adapt and navigate in healthier ways than masking, the better.

This video came up in my feed today, and I just wanted to thank you for doing it. A lot of this resonated with me.

A great video Claire. Kind of a hard watch for me, received my diagnosis last year age 47. My mam passed away in 2008, so I can never have this conversation with her, which hurts alot.

This video was great. Very relatable and validating. And you have a lovely mum with great questions✌️😘💕.

A cat! I have to upvote! I am a cat type! A beatutiful cat by the way😍

Warm-hearted regards from rainny Brazil 🌷🐾❤️🐢🐊🐍🌼🍑🌿🌴🥥🌺🐠💐🏖️🐠🦀🦑🐙🦊🐗🐴🐓🐦🕷️🕸️🦆🐞🐡🦂🦉

Super video, thank you! I'm male, 68. If only I had known, 50 years ago when I was a teenager. Life as a teen in middle school and high school was horrific. I could not act like the other boys and was in agony as to why I was not like them. I like what you said about feeling "mortified" about your behaviour.