Are you afraid of being misdiagnosed as normal? I initially thought getting a formal diagnosis was a mandatory part of the process so I could be accepted and for my autistic identity to be validated. Now, I know that it’s not 100% necessary, yet getting a formal diagnosis can still be extremely validating for some. The flip side, however, is also true. The fear of being misdiagnosed threatened to take away a part of my identity. Regardless of whether you seek a formal diagnosis or not, however, you can still meet other autistic people in the meantime and become a part of the diverse and welcoming autistic community.