I'm about the same age, and I take a similar approach. It was gradual for me. I knew I had to stop caring, but actually stopping that took some time. It doesn't matter what anybody thinks. Some people will automatically label me as "slow" or otherwise mentally deficient. It doesn't matter. My life is unchanged by their opinion. I also stopped beating myself up (for the most part) when my coping techniques don't work as well as I hoped or when I cop out and go into avoidance mode.