9 signs you might have internalized autism

9 signs you might have internalized autism...

1. You didn't have a speech delay and you met all your early milestones as a child... but were mistreated a lot by classmates, peers, teachers, and other adults in your life for being "different"

2. You did well in school, so your academics were never an issue

3. You remember trying to copy your classmates so you wouldn't stand out

4. You learned to dismiss your discomfort, and got so good at it that even when it caused you extreme distress, you did everything you could to not let others see it

5. You've kept journals over the years so you could write endlessly about the things preoccupying your mind without social consequences 

6. You actively minimize your own needs so you're not a burden on others... but also have such a deep fear of being seen as one that you're constantly overcompensating by taking on others' needs to such an extreme degree that it becomes harmful to you

7. You've had issues with anxiety your whole life but have never been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (or have been diagnosed with several)

8. You've been diagnosed with other conditions that have never felt quite right, but since you're not an expert, you assumed the professionals must be right

9. You've struggled with your mental health your entire life but not a single medical professional you've ever encountered has so much as suggested you look into autism

(You can still have internalized autism if not everything on this list applies to you. ❤️)