always has been

Wait, doesn't everybody follow a very long list of specific rules for how to behave in a variety of social situations???

Just avoid social situations forever, problem solved.

Me telling my 70+ yr old Dad, who brags about his weekly routine, has a WW2 special interest, has PDA, and absolutely must have his food a particular way or he will rage.

Life will be different, perhaps better, when diagnosed early? smh

If I had been told at 15, when my GP told my mum to get me tested for Aspergers but she kept it secret from me, that I could be autistic, then I wouldn't have grown up hating myself. Life wouldn't have become a bed of roses, but I would have had self acceptance, better understanding of myself and not grown up hating myself for feeling like a useless failure who was just inherently dumb. Sure, the rest of the world and my family wouldn't have changed their behaviour towards me all that much, but I wouldn't have internalised all the criticism and condemnation as much.