I am Autistic. My hope in sharing this is that it may help explain 'me' a bit better to those who have known or know me (Family and Friends). I was always considered shy, sometimes "painfully shy." I did a personality test at church some years ago that stated I was also an INFJ Introvert. In time I discovered through other personality tests that I was also both a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and an Empath. It didn’t stop there though, during Covid I went to a Mental Health nurse who said I had Social Anxiety (NHS). Then only a couple of months ago I was diagnosed (NHS) with what was once called Aspergers, High Functioning Autism, Level 1 Autism or Mild Autism. Generally these days it is known as Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) or just plain old Autistic due to the baggage other labels sometimes carry. It also falls under the category of neurodiversity. I'm not sure where things go from here. I am in a late diagnosis support group run by Autism Initiatives which runs into the early part of December. This is a late diagnosis, for sure, but in a way explains so much. I don't believe this is a disorder, disease or demon. It is merely a difference, a neurodivergence. If people do wish to pray or heal things away, may it be abelism in our society that they turn the fight against. Prayer for tools to manage life are certainly fine too. It seems much of my personality traits and the anxiety were perhaps aspects of the condition. Even my shyness, dislike of crowds and noise are likely part of the condition. Thank you for your patience if you have ever experienced me a bit out of the box or too much in it for that matter. Anyway, if you got this far thanks for reading. I am Autistic and that is OK. 🙂