Question about autism diagnosis

Hi everyone, I just wanted to ask you about how you knew you were autistic before going to a specialist and getting your official diagnosis, I've been investigating a lot, reading a lot of articles, and I feel identified with many, but at the same time, other make me feel like maybe I am wrong, maybe I'm not autistic because some articles make it feel like you MUST have certain characteristics to be autistic, and others make it seem more flexible on the matter.

For context, I am from a country where autism is heavily stigmatized, people think that you have to be a certain way to be autistic, like for example being non-verbal or maybe screaming when you are overwhelmed, I know those things aren't true to everyone, but still, they make me doubt if maybe I'm on the right path by suspecting I might be autistic or maybe I'm just delusional or something, I don't know, and that's what leads me to ask you.... How did you know you were autistic? How were you able to get your diagnosis or maybe confirm or know even before a formal diagnosis?

I ask these things because in my country getting a diagnosis is extremely expensive and you basically need to fight for an hour with the doctor, to then be dismissed immediately because you aren't non-verbal or don't have a strong interest in dinosaurs or trains (which for some reason they think that's a MUST for autism)

Well, I hope you could help me a little bit with my questions and maybe offer some instruments on the matter that could help me know if I am autistic or not before going to see the doctor and going bankrupt because of it ;w;

Thank you everyone for your time and have a great day!!!