As we all know, a major part of life is learning who we are and how we fit into the world. I was 19 when I was diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, Executive Functioning Disorder, and Asperger's, and until then I always knew there was some part of me that was missing. I felt so lost and confused; there was a large disconnect between what I thought I could do, what I was told I could do, and how I actually navigated the world.
Because I was classified as gifted by the school system, a lot of the symptoms I experience were excused and not explored until I was about to fail out of academics for the fourth time. It was a long and frustrating journey to finally get the diagnosis', but I am so grateful for all the information that is now available to me. Having the language to explain what you're going through and what you need is an extremely powerful tool that has completely transformed how I approach my life.
Not everyone experiences the same disability the same way, especially when there are multiple. If someone you know has social or functioning disorders, don't be afraid to ask questions to learn more about how they process their experiences in the world and how you can support them through it. Sometimes it can be scary and feel intrusive, but having an open and honest dialogue can really make everyone more comfortable and understanding over time.