I hate being labeled as autistic

I feel like when people picture an “autistic“ person they picture a violent, non-verbal, severely delayed person. Either that or Rainman. It feels very uncomfortable to be put in that same category as a person who has always been intellectually well off, and who is functioning somewhat normally in daily life. I’m a full time engineering student, living on my own, taking care of everything myself. I never had any speech delays, ect.

Like yeah I’m sensitive to sound, struggle with some executive dysfunction, gets tired easily, and get nervous in social situations and especially group settings. but I don’t like those traits being put under the same umbrella as people with the cognitive function of small children. I just got this shitty label slapped on me as a 16 yo. when I sought out help for my depression, suicidal thoughts and eating disorder, not a fun thing to get told at a vulnerable age “hey you’re socially stupid and we think you’re on par with severely delayed people“ (not what they said but that’s how it felt).

I’ve read many horrific posts from parents of autistic kids, like kids and adults with minds of kids being violent, disobedient, not comprehending the world around them, smearing shit, running away, and sorry if it’s ”ableist” to say, but I feel extremely uncomfortable being put in that same category as people like that.