r/LateDiagnosedAutistic

I am Gayle Weill, an LCSW therapist who evaluates adults for autism, especially high-masking women and adults who were missed earlier in life. AMA about masking, late diagnosis, autism vs ADHD/anxiety, what evaluations are actually like, etc.
▲ 278 r/LateDiagnosedAutistic+1 crossposts

I am Gayle Weill, an LCSW therapist who evaluates adults for autism, especially high-masking women and adults who were missed earlier in life. AMA about masking, late diagnosis, autism vs ADHD/anxiety, what evaluations are actually like, etc.

Hi Reddit,

I’m Gayle Weill, LCSW, a therapist who evaluates adults for autism, with much of my work focused on high-masking adults and women who were missed earlier in life.

A lot of the people I work with spent years being told they were “too sensitive,” socially anxious, dramatic, lazy, depressed, or just “overthinking everything” before realizing autism might actually explain many of their experiences.

I evaluate adults through clinical interviews, screening tools, developmental history, and looking at the bigger picture over time rather than relying only on stereotypes or outdated ideas about what autism “looks like.”

Happy to answer questions about late diagnosis, masking, what adult autism evaluations are actually like, autism vs ADHD/anxiety/trauma, why people get missed in childhood, self-diagnosis, burnout/social exhaustion, or patterns I commonly see clinically.

Obviously I can’t diagnose anyone over Reddit or give personal medical advice, but I’m happy to talk generally about the process and topic overall.

AMA!

Proof: https://imgur.com/a/OOoRnSV

Edit: Closing up for the day. Thank you everyone for the thoughtful questions and discussions. This was genuinely really enjoyable for me.

I work with clients in New York, Connecticut, and Florida and am happy to provide consultations or referrals when appropriate. More information can be found on my website: https://gayleweilllcsw.com/adult-autism-diagnosis

I also have a course related to this topic here: https://gayle-s-site-e5f2.thinkific.com/products/courses/am-i-autistic

u/Key-Wrongdoer2708 — 1 day ago
▲ 5 r/LateDiagnosedAutistic+2 crossposts

How to differentiate between anxiety and ASD?

Hi all

For a while now I’ve been really confused about whether I am someone on the spectrum or whether I just have really bad social anxiety. I have always struggled with communicating with people and how people can so easily talk to and make friends. I believe I am very sensitive to people’s moods and bodily gestures and tone of voice, but struggle with things like sarcasm and do feel as if I am subconsciously monitoring myself in social interactions to give the ‘correct’ responses. I constantly worry about whether I am saying the right thing, how I come across, whether I will be rejected, etc. I know there is a lot of overlap between the two conditions and I was wondering if anyone had any advice or suggestions or had a similar experience? TIA :)

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u/Superb-Mud3212 — 1 day ago
▲ 53 r/LateDiagnosedAutistic+1 crossposts

I was diagnosed AuDHD a few months ago at 50. The relief was immediate — finally an explanation for everything.

But then fear hit. Then grief. Then anger about all the years I spent not understanding why I struggled.

I made a short video sharing exactly what that emotional journey felt like because I couldn't find anyone talking about it honestly from this age and perspective.

Would love to know if anyone else experienced that same emotional wave after diagnosis — did relief come first for you too?

https://youtu.be/RpGDkWz8P0Y

u/Wildly_Unmasked — 13 days ago

My therapist is wrong. I have tried to convince myself she was right but the meds they gave didn't help me at all and when I stopped them nothing changed. She says I have ADHD too which I agree with but I feel like the Adderall was overstimulating. I know I have autism, I meet the criteria and while I don't want treatment professionally it has been a serious struggle for me socially. I also think it has influenced my behavior, obsessions, as well as tendency to get burnt out, things that may otherwise appear as bipolar. The only reason I was even diagnosed bipolar is because of a stimulant induced psychosis. Should I look into getting a new therapist?

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u/uralliwanturallihave — 7 days ago

I (21F) vividly remember being in year 10 gen sci, and putting my hand up to answer a question about optics. I had a reputation for being smart and participating in class I guess, which everyone made me feel like it made me a drag. I had a good vocabulary. Anyway, I responded to this question, using a word I don’t even remember as being complicated and my teacher made a mean quip about how I was trying to sound smart on purpose. Next question I answered, I described refraction as a “rainbow” lol, because I was so confused. I felt humiliated and lost, and realized for the first time that maybe my word choices were not the same as everyone else. I’d never thought about it before then. Now that I’m getting diagnosed late in life it feels like a bittersweet moment, realizing that there really was a difference. Has this happened to anyone else?

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u/Apprehensive-Drop-36 — 11 days ago