CHAPTER 7: INTEGRATING YOUR IDENTITY

Early Access to Chapter 7 of Dr. Angela Kingdon's memoir and self-identification guide, Am I Actually Autistic? for Sustaining Supporters The Autistic Culture Podcast

You’ve done the tests, analyzed the data, maybe even gotten a peer review—and now you’re sitting there wondering: What the hell do I do with all of this? Welcome to the most personal chapter of the book.

This is where we talk about the real work—grief, clarity, rebuilding, and stimming your way into a life that actually fits. From the trauma of misunderstood childhoods to the quiet power of watching a sunrise in your own time zone, this chapter is all about what comes next when you finally realize you were never broken—just misread.

You’ll walk through the Autistic Hero’s Journey, explore how identity shifts over time, and get tools to start living like your actual self—not the masked-up version the world demanded. Whether you’re ready to stim in public, rewrite your life script, or just start saying “no” more often, this chapter will help you figure out how to take all that diagnostic insight and turn it into something healing, sustainable, and authentically you.

There’s no deadline. No right way. Just one badass Neuroswan stepping into their own.