Thanks! Ummm...it's actually rather difficult to say whether a formal ASD diagnosis makes it easier to deal with or not.

For me, I think it helped to lift my depression. It changed the very negative view I had of myself (I felt like I was a mistake, I was wrong and not put together properly, which is very depressing) into acceptance of myself for who I am. It explained all these things that I believed was "wrong" with me, and I realized I was just different, and not some kind of mistake.

Finding out does not alleviate the condition I would say, but it gives understanding and closure mostly, which then may alleviate co-morbid conditions like depression and anxiety for example. But, it still takes time I found.

It reduces the confusion (and resulting negative thoughts) about one's own self basically.

It's at this point where a very difficult decision lies for the autistic individual, once the diagnosis is known.

That decision is:

(a) Do I go for some kind of cognitive therapy in order to minimize and iron out the autistic traits, in order to become more functioning and "normal" like society deems is good? or,

(b) Do I embrace my being different and allow myself the freedom to use my very valuable and unique traits to bring about something in the world which nobody else can, rather than spending my time trying to integrate functionally and normally into society?

Each choice is going to have consequences, some good and some very detrimental. If you go with choice a, that's all good and well, but you have to remember you will never truly be normal and it's going to be very hard work for many years. But, eventually, you'll pretty much be a fully-fledged card-carrying member of society, with all the social benefits thereof, etc. If you go with choice b, you pretty much have to realize you are going to be isolated and lonely, and it's pretty much the high-risk option. But with great risk can come great reward and it is possible to have a world-changing effect with your life (e.g. most of the "mad scientists" of centuries gone past were on the spectrum).

It's always going to be a tough choice and it will solely depend on the individual. Sometimes, depending on how far you are on the spectrum, you may not even be able to choose either, someone might have to make that choice for you. It can become very difficult indeed.