Thirty Years Without a Name
My Journey to an Autism Diagnosis at 30
For most of his life, L.B. believed he was simply shy, anxious, awkward, and bad at fitting in.
He was the quiet child who followed the rules, the teenager who masked his struggles, and the adult who worked hard to appear "normal" while feeling exhausted by the effort. Throughout school, employment, friendships, and everyday life, he sensed he was different but never understood why.
At the age of thirty, everything changed with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
In Thirty Years Without a Name, L.B. O'Neill shares a deeply personal account of growing up with undiagnosed autism, navigating a world that often felt confusing and overwhelming, and finally discovering the missing piece that explained a lifetime of experiences.
From speech delays and sensory sensitivities to social exhaustion, anxiety, masking, and the comfort found in routine, this honest memoir explores the reality of late-diagnosed autism and the impact of spending decades without understanding yourself.
This is not just a story about receiving a diagnosis. It is a story about self-acceptance, resilience, family, friendship, and learning that being different was never a flaw that needed fixing.
Thoughtful, relatable, and inspiring, Thirty Years Without a Name will resonate with autistic adults, those questioning their own neurodiversity, parents, educators, and anyone who has ever felt out of place in a world that seemed designed for everybody else.
A powerful memoir of confusion, masking, discovery, and finally understanding yourself.
