By Therapy Near Me | July 2025
Wondering whether you might be autistic is perfectly valid—and increasingly common. Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD) affects how people communicate, think, and relate to the world. While only a professional assessment can confirm a diagnosis, self-reflection and informed understanding can help guide your next steps.
Keywords: am I autistic, autistic traits signs, adult autism self-diagnosis, autism masking women, autism diagnosis criteria DSM‑5, autism mental health comorbid, autism self test, mask autism signs, late autism diagnosis, ASD support adults
1. What Is Autism and Who Gets Diagnosed?
Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference characterized by persistent difficulties in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors or interests (APA, 2022; Wikipedia, 2025) Carry on Therapy+3Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3. It is understood as a spectrum—not a fixed label. While historically autism was underdiagnosed in women and marginalized communities, diagnosis rates have increased dramatically in recent years (Rippon, 2025; Guardian) The Guardian.
Autism is highly heritable—estimated at 80–90%—with genetics and prenatal environmental factors contributing to risk (Washington Post, 2025) The Washington Post.
2. DSM‑5 Diagnostic Criteria: What to Look For
The DSM‑5 and its text revision (DSM‑5‑TR, 2022) outline five formal criteria that must be met for a diagnosis (APA, 2022; Autism Australasian sources) Carry on Therapy+9IntelliStars ABA+9Autism & ADHD Advocates+9:
A. Social Communication Challenges (all three required):
- Difficulties with social-emotional reciprocity.
- Issues with nonverbal communication.
- Problems forming and maintaining relationships.
B. Restricted or repetitive behaviors (at least two required):
- Repetitive movements or speech, intensity fixation, rigid routines, or atypical sensory responses.
C. Early Development: Behaviors must have appeared in early childhood.
D. Impact: Symptoms must cause clinically significant impairment in areas like work, relationships, or self-care.
E. Differentiation: Symptoms cannot be better explained by intellectual disability or global developmental delay.
If these align with your lived experiences—especially across settings—consider documenting specific examples for each criterion (Everyday Autistic guide, Warner, 2024) Autism & ADHD Advocates+15The Everyday Autistic+15Autism Speaks+15Wikipedia.
3. Common Signs of Self-Reflection
Many adults reflect on questions like:
- Do I find social interaction consistently exhausting or confusing?
- Do I rely on routines and routines cause distress when disrupted?
- Do I hyper-fixate on specific interests or perceive sensory input intensely?
- Have I masked or camouflaged many traits to fit in?
Masking—actively concealing autistic traits—is common, especially among women, and often contributes to delayed or missed diagnoses (Wikipedia, diagnostic overshadowing; Brede et al., 2022) Capstone Mental HealthThe Everyday AutisticThe Guardian+3Wikipedia+3Verywell Family+3.
4. Self-Assessment vs. Professional Diagnosis
Self-diagnosis can be empowering if informed by research and autistic community insights (Simply Psychology, 2023) Verywell Mind+2Simply Psychology+2Embrace Autism+2. Many use screening tools like the AQ or behavioral journals, or join peer forums. However, major clinical guidelines recommend formal multi-disciplinary assessments—often involving tools like the ADOS, ADI‑R, and structured developmental interviews—for an accurate diagnosis (Autism UK; Wikipedia ADOS & ADI‑R) National Autistic SocietyWikipedia.
Formal diagnosis offers access to supports and accommodations, and often brings personal clarity (AP News, 2025; FT personal essay, 2025) myautismmind.com+8AP News+8Financial Times+8.
5. Mental Health Implications
Autistic individuals face higher rates of co-occurring conditions—anxiety, depression, OCD—with about 80% experiencing a mental health issue in their lives (Wikipedia comorbidity; Lai et al., 2019) Wikipedia.
Misdiagnoses are common due to overlapping symptoms. Diagnostic overshadowing—where autistic traits mask other mental health needs—can delay treatment (Wikipedia overshadowing; Botha & Frost, 2020) Wikipedia.
Better recognition and support tailored to autistic mental health needs is emerging as critical (Sciencedirect, 2025) sciencedirect.com.
6. Next Steps: What You Can Do
- Reflect & document: Use the DSM‑5 checklist templated with real examples across your life.
- Use screening tools: Online self-assessments like the AQ can guide your thinking.
- Seek professional assessment: If possible, access a clinician experienced in adult autism diagnosis.
- Connect with autistic communities: Peer support helps validate experiences and reduce isolation.
- Prioritize mental health care: Even without diagnosis, therapy, support groups, and psychoeducation are beneficial.
References
American Psychiatric Association (2022) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM‑5‑TR. Arlington, VA: APA Publishing.
Everyday Autistic (2024) ‘Am I Autistic? Breaking Down the DSM‑5 Criteria for Autism (with Examples)’ [online]. Available at: automatic link [Accessed 17 Jul. 2025].
Guardian (2025) Rippon, G. ‘Why the antagonism over the rise in autism diagnoses? It’s actually good news’. The Guardian, 21 Jul.
Lai, M.‑C. et al. (2019) ‘Prevalence of depressive disorders in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: a meta‑analysis’, J. Abnormal Child Psychology, 47(1), pp. 165–175.
Rippon, G. (2025) Commentary on rising autism diagnoses. The Guardian, 21 Jul.
Sciencedirect (2025) ‘Mental health in autistic adults: Key stages in the journey from self-recognition to care’, Clinical Psychology Review.
Simply Psychology (2023) ‘Is It Valid to Self-Diagnose Autism?’ [online].
Warner, J. (2024) ‘Am I Autistic? Breaking Down the DSM‑5 Criteria’ The Everyday Autistic.
Washington Post (2025) ‘What we know (and don’t know) about autism, according to science’, Washington Post, 23 Apr.
Wikipedia contributors (2025) ‘Autism’, Wikipedia, updated July 2025; ‘Diagnostic overshadowing in autism’; ‘ADOS’; ‘ADI‑R’.
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