Family can be a total nightmare. I still don't know if I'm autistic, but I can relate to a lot of what you are saying, and boyfriends used to call me needy, which really hurt! I just wanted to feel loved. Goes to show we weren't compatible, I guess. My husband has never said that. If I need him, he's there.

The family though, I don't try to say I'm autistic because my sister says I am, and the assessor said I'm not, and I don't think me choosing a side will make an inch of difference to how other people treat me anyway. If they're gonna judge harsh they will do it. But my sister's assessment does I think, mean she's more likely to cut me some slack, which is welcomed.