Didn’t consider myself someone who struggled with binge eating but in hindsight, my sugary snacking was a real problem that, at least for now, has gone. Chocolate bars in the house for over a week without me touching them - unheard of for past 40 years.

All so true. Also adding to the exhaustion is working with people who can’t seem to understand that life would be easier for everyone if we were all just honest rather than sneaky and conniving (having a bad day here if you can’t tell).

Needed to hear this today. Thank you.

I had colleagues complain to my head of department that I didn’t greet them effusively enough when I arrived in the office in the morning. Funnily enough that complaint disappeared when I produced paperwork confirming my autism diagnosis.

Slightly more complicated than that and I suspect complaints that were more obviously discriminatory and about my autism were redacted but can’t believe I was so worried for so long.

Tricky part for me is working out the balance between issues with colleagues if I unmask and the exhaustion that comes with constantly masking. Definitely worse since my diagnosis. Aware I will always have to mask in some settings and working out the balance between mask/no mask is really hard.

A big part of the issue is that it isn’t something taught at medical schools. An increasing number of doctors (like me) are realising they are autistic but still a lot of ignorance. I got lot of funny looks when I suggested an 80 year old woman might be autistic (lifelong non-NT behaviour).