[dyscrete]

I just read your post, and though it may be hard sometimes just remember we are all unique and you shouldn't use autism to define you as a person. A lot of intelligent people experience these symptoms and psychs are always looking for your weaknesses to put labels on and prescribe pills for (I've been diagnosed differently 3 times, once with Aspergers). You are a smart individual, you don't need Aspergers to tell you that. Good read nonetheless, thank you for sharing.

EDIT: changed some wording

[mst]

I know some people who consider it an important part of their identity - because, as exch says upthread, "All the weird and inexplicable things I saw in my past, suddenly fit. Like a giant puzzle you've been trying to solve for 30 years and in a matter of weeks, every piece just falls into place."

I also know plenty of people who're diagnosed and consider it one fact among many and not worth much mention.

So I'm not sure "shouldn't" is quite accurate.

Maybe "even if autism is, to you, an important part of your identity, remember that a diagnosis is meant to enable you instead of restrict you" better expresses the meaning I -think- the rest of what you're saying implies you were aiming for?

[comex]

On a related note, here is an essay written by a high-functioning autistic person which I read once and found illuminating on the identity issue:

https://www.fysh.org/~zefram/allism/allism_intro.txt

[mst]

Can recommend. He and I have worked together on many open source projects, and drunk beer together.

He was one of the people I was thinking of as "part of identity".