For decades, I was misdiagnosed with behavioral health challenges, such as Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorder. The truth is -- I was Autistic, and all my challenges stemmed from burnout and exhaustion, navigating a world not designed for my brain. Autism/ADHD diagnostics have changed in the past decade, and more and more "invisible Autistics" are coming to understand that they may be n the Spectrum. and not lazy, broken, weird, or "crazy." For me, getting a diagnosis from a psychiatrist was an important step, but it is not the only option. Self-diagnosis of neurodivergence is completely valid. Whether you are an adult who, after researching (or the diagnosis of your child/close family member) are starting to suspect you're on the Spectrum, deciding whether to seek an official diagnosis is a complex decision. Let's talk about the pros and cons of getting diagnosed verses self-diagnosis.