I realize this is a venting thread but I don't want to make a whole post. I've been seeing a take recently that we should try to move beyond pathologizing autism and work to recognize it as an identity. I was curious what you all think about that.

For context, I've essentially spent the last year coming to identify as autistic and someone that just got labeled as gifted because I did really well at school, but I don't have any kind of diagnosis, and I'm not sure I want to pursue one. But then, I feel somewhat uncomfortable embracing the identity because I feel like I could be wrong and taking up space from someone that is "actually" autistic. I also know that self-identification is generally accepted in the autism community, but I was raised with very pathologized views of neurodivergence and essentially anything to do with mental health. Would really just live thoughts from comrades etc I guess, it's taken me a long time to feel comfortable enough to even post something like this. :meow-hug: y'all, hexbear is easily my favorite place on the interwebs.