Vindicated!

Finally.

"You're weird, Geoffrey."

"Geoffrey, you're not 'weird,' you're more 'unique.'"

"Are you sure you belong to our family? You know, the milkman was a thing when you were born."

I've heard every one of those statements from people close to me. I've heard more times than I can count on how strange I am, how off-putting I can be, or how whatever I said was just "too off the wall" for some people. And now, after thirty-nine years, I finally have vindication as to why – autism.

Don't get me wrong, I've always known I was different. When I was in sixth grade, I often sat by myself at lunch. I was bullied in seventh grade, but I also wrote a book that was later destroyed by a girl's dad. That story could be its own blog, if you wanted to hear it.

In fourth grade, I was diagnosed with ADHD. Now, this was in the mid-nineties when ADHD's new solution – Ritalin – swept the country in a craze to help young boys get their behaviour in line. They figured the best solution to ADHD was to give kids speed to slow them down. It worked for a moment, until it didn't. I still didn't act "normal." I was still the weird kid.

The DSMs through the years. Not pictured are the latest editions, DSM-5 and DSM-5-TR.

Two decades, a few traumatic brain injuries, two degrees, and one mental breakdown later, a solution has finally been presented. The only reason why it took so long was the lack of understanding from the Mental Health professionals who authored the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). It is the Holy Bible of mental health. If your diagnosis isn't in there, it doesn't exist. According to Scott D. Miller from 2013, "Nearly all graduate programs teach it, research is organized around its content, and insurance companies and payers (including the Federal government) demand it for reimbursement."

With the first edition coming in 1952, based largely on the classification from VA symptoms and previous collected diagnoses going back to 1840, the DSM is the de facto standard of every mental health issue known to man, as of the time of writing. The current standard is now defined in the DSM-5-TR, published in 2022.

When I was first diagnosed with ADHD, high-functioning Autism was still called "Asperger's Syndrome," and it was strictly limited to genius-level kids who didn't have ADHD. I covered this in a previous blog – "Sex Jokes, Punk Rock, & My Dad" – so I won't dive into it too much here.

In terms of testing for Autism, I have been tested three times. The first time, I was in the Navy in 2017. They confirmed the ADHD, but the doctor told me I had Narcissistic Personality Disorder. This crushed me. In my mind, how could I be an authentic follower of Christ if all I thought of was myself? It made no sense to me, and it still affects me to this day, as I fear any undue attention on me is narcissistic, regardless of whether or not it's earned.

In the summer of 2022, I was planning to move to Indiana for a position at a United Methodist church as the Director of Family Ministries. I wasn't a pastor, but my newly acquired Master of Divinity from Lipscomb University would be put to good use. The Nashville-based neuropsychologist tested me and again affirmed my ADHD. The doctor said I was "too empathetic" and "didn't follow social cues." Their diagnosis – Borderline Personality Disorder. The doctor did affirm a key event in my life as possibly having happened, so I held onto that. Unfortunately, BPD didn't explain everything. It was like a shirt that chafed and was too small.

A typical post of Lauren Howard. She's such a badass.

In the summer of 2024, I came across the Threads account of Lauren Howard, the owner of LBeeHealth, host of the Different Not Broken podcast, and mental health advocate. She posted on establishing something incredibly critical to mental health – an affordable diagnosis. She leads a team of highly qualified doctors and specialists in providing care and support that can begin with a diagnosis for $485. Compared to the $15,000+ cost of the neuropsychologist in 2022, that price is unheard of. Two weeks ago, I began the process, and last night (18 Jun 2025), I got my official diagnosis.

Thirty-nine years of life, countless jobs, countless relationships, and an innumerable fury of questions later, I finally have what I need to accurately navigate this life. I am no longer a slave to misdiagnosis, with unknowing questions serving as prison guards. I can now have the appropriate amount of help, guidance, and assistance to give me an equal footing with everyone else. The struggle isn't over – it's simply found a foundation on which to fight.

Officially, nothing really changes. I can obtain ADA accommodations at work, which will be incredibly beneficial. But until I become a successful enough writer to do it full-time, it will be necessary. For now, you can keep expecting books from my little corner of the world, and that's enough for me.

If you'd like to obtain your Adult Autism Assessment from LBeeHealth, as I did, click the button below to get started. I earn nothing from this endorsement. I firmly believe in their mission and want to support them to the best of my ability.

Adult Autism Assessment at LBeeHealth

With All My Heart,

Geoffrey