I think a factor in my late diagnosis was parental denial. I say this because over the years I've heard things from my mother like I didn't want to focus on the labels I just wanted to get your needs met. I've heard things like the para professionals would say let's just wait and see. Basically meaning they just kept waiting to see if I'd outgrow my difficulties. It frustrates me because I can't help but think and wonder how long would they have waited if i didn't seek therapy for depression and anxiety and eveuntally my therapist was able to confirm I was autistic. I say confirm because years ago I was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder but as a result of diagnostic over shadowing when I was diagnosed with a co occurring genetic disorder the autism diagnosis was dismissed despite the fact that I continued to show symptoms. These days I've been expirencing alot of frustration and anger about these things and how they played out.