Embracing the diagnosis after several years

Before I got diagnosed with schizophrenia, I knew that I was autistic. Figuring out my autism was a transformational experience. Many things about myself finally made sense.

Later, after having my first psychosis episodes I was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia. I thought that a schizophrenia diagnosis was good to have for practical reasons, but I didn’t really identify with it for a long time.

That has changed only recently. I have realised that while some of my experiences are attributed to autism, some others are clearly schizophrenia.

Discovering Reddit and this community has been interesting. Here I have read about other people’s experiences that are very similar to what I experienced in the past. This has made me feel like I am not alone after all.

I am still hoping to find real-life autistic/schizophrenic friends, but I am thankful for the peer support that I have got here, reading other people’s stories.

Thank you for being there.