I have lived my life pretending for others that I am "normal" and it exhausts me every day. I do have a small friend group that I can be myself because everyone else in our niche group also have a disability that isn't visual enough to notice. I do appreciate them.
Whenever I was honest to someone about my autism, I notice how they start acting differently. Or worse they say, "You don't look/seem autistic." Like no shit dude. This makes dating a minefield sometimes because I felt obligated to tell them.
It has affected my ability to get a job, leading to me having to lie even more. I feel like a horrible person that I was forced to lie about myself in so many aspects of my life.
My autism gives me so many pieces of insights on a topic that a neurotypical person may not notice. For example, during a speech class in college. We had to solve these murders, and I notice something about the details, I was adamant about it but because the group I was sticked with had gone to my high school and knew of my autism, they just blew me off and got the murder wrong. "Just let me say it, we will write a different answer." were her words as they turn the assignment in. Fortunately, I was able to ask the professor if I can submit my own answer and get the full points, she let me.
My own father had tried to lecture me about this, and I told them that he will never understand what it is like to be in my situation. He grew up with no issues and never bullied for being different like I was growing up.