That's a good tip about compliments, thanks!

That is basically how we begin new experiences; I'll go to a place with my partner or parents and we sus out things like how to get there, parking, bathrooms so that when I go alone I can plan very clearly all those details that would cause anxiety if I was uncertain about them. I haven't come up against a challenge I can't conquer yet although a few places took a couple of accompanied exposures that is still a win. So it might take a little extra effort but there isn't anything I can't do.

We also do a lot of emotion recognition work with my daughter, not sure if it is helping but she definitely makes friends and doesn't appear to have much trouble in her interactions based on what I've witnessed out and what her kindy teachers have told me. DP and I do some practise reading each others faces also but we take it into a ridiculous direction of getting crazy and specific by adding a reason for the emotion. Fun game though.

I definitely think I can help guide and build up my daughter in an effective way as I know her so well and have been through a similar existence and part of me almost doesn't want us diagnosed because I think we would face extra criticism for homeschooling as though I am not opening her up to 'normal' people, sheltering her in difference and holding her back which couldn't be further from our intentions as we hope to expose her as much as possible to all kinds of people and experiences just in a way that would make the experience more comfortable and therefore beneficial. One of the things I love about her is that she will play with anyone; boys, girls, older, younger, dress ups to trains as she is so accepting and tolerating of all so we must be handling this whole concept of socialization pretty well so far. She will say hello to all others at the park as she feels it is polite to greet people who you are sharing space with. I only want my child(ren) to thrive which is what seems to be happening now and I just know exactly how I and her respond to feeling rushed and pressured which is to close down, so I'd like to avoid that obviously. That is what worries me about starting to introduce more health professionals and labels that they might lose sight of her and my expertise in my own daughter might start to be considered of less importance than the guidelines of a study.

What a diagnosis would bring for me is a sense of closure. That yes, I'm officially different and it isn't just in my head or me being difficult or weak or whatever. But I think I am okay without it because really, as long as those that care about me and I care about are validating and accommodating (and they are) then the rest don't really matter. People would judge and criticise me no matter what, a label wouldn't protect me and what I really need is to work on letting go of my concern over it rather than trying to find a shield.