Do you feel that you would be better off if you didn't know?

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I didn't know until just a few years ago, and now, as I near my 50th birthday, I wish I had been told / diagnosed earlier in life. It probably would have helpful in some of my relationships with others, as well as in my work.

Directly answering the OP's question; I absolutely feel that knowing I have high functioning autism, has been a GREAT HELP in getting ahead in life. I can see the point about maybe using it as an excuse for not trying hard, but when you use it as a tool to see things ahead of time and plan to handle them, or when you know you've done something that's extra-difficult for one of us, it's the best feeling. An analogy would be to compare it to driving somewhere, and you know you have a flawed map in hand because somehow it always gets you to the wrong place, no matter how carefully you study it. If you don't know what's flawed about the map; such as you don't know whether the flaw is wrong street names, or wrong distances, etc., you have no clue where to give some extra attention to avoid being steered wrong... Wouldn't it be better to know that the map is flawed by knowing that all distances on the map are short or long by exactly 30%, but most likely the problem is not wrong street names?

Knowing about my autism, makes me much more able to know when there's one of those social situations headed for the dumps, and I can do something about it ahead of time, before it all winds up in a huge trainwreck of a misunderstanding.

In addition to that, I spent my childhood hiding my special interests, or denying them to myself, as I hated being teased and called a lunatic for such things as wanting to listen to air raid sirens, or needing to stand and watch the trash truck driver operating the trash compactor, or when I was around 10 years old, dragging home dozens of old TV sets to keep and fool around with. All these things while other kids were playing baseball and riding skateboards; neither of which I had the remotest interest in. Trust me, I feel much more comfortable as a productive, respected autistic adult than being "that weird nut" that I would likely be, if I didn't know myself.

Charles

Having just figured out that I am in the spectrum at the age of 47, I wish I had know this about myself decades ago. I've been through multiple councilors and all of them have been giving me wrong treatment plans. They would suggest things like, "...that's normal, everybody does that, you just need to go force yourself to... and you will learn how to handle it..." All that has ever done is left me more and more frustrated.

I also wanted the typical life. You know, a career, a family with 2.2 kids, a couple of cars in the driveway, get away vacations with my family, etc. I've been in an overload state for about 13 years now, and I've been experiencing all sorts of physical problems. (Hence my screen name.) If I had know that I was on the spectrum I would not have taken on so much.

When I first learned about Aspergers, I had one of those “Aha” moments.

I found it both odd and fascinating that a seemingly random set of behavioral symptoms and experiences was not so unique. It also helped me understand those social difficulties I have had throughout my life (in childhood, in adulthood, with work, with relationships, etc.).

Though, I am still the same person. With still the same struggles.

The only change I noticed is that I try less in social situations. Previously (before the diagnosis), I tried more (and failed often). Now, I figure what’s the point. LOL.

But Adam started out in the Garden of Eden.

The OP is banished from Paradise ( "Pardise' meaning living normal life as a nt) whether he bites the apple or not.
So he needs to explain why one form of misery is worse than the other.

No. I'd much rather have some closure to the matter in knowing that I have it, rather than having under a shroud of mystery.

No. It is a relief.