Negative reaction to diagnosis

These days the diagnosis tends to be Autistic Spectrum Disorder but you'll sometimes also see Autism Spectrum Condition - some people prefer condition to disorder.

Sorry to go on because I am just repeating myself but, as I said before, I am having real trouble with this.

When I told people, they all reacted differently. My mum just said "well that explains a lot" and my sister was all lets have a party. Last night, my best friend tried to use it as an insult saying "you're autistic" and laughing but I ignored him.

 By the way, what is the correct term? I heard Aspergers is outdated now.

I needed to know about the medical classification partly just for my own curiosity and partly because due to my epilepsy I find myself in hospital a lot and they always want to know what medical conditions I have.

I never got obsessed about numbers and letters but I have thrown really big tantrums, sometimes in public, and then felt really stupid afterwards.

So I can relate to a lot of what you are saying, and, yes, I probably do need more than a week.

Good for you I guess said:

is autism a medical condition

Some would say so, I suppose, although it's also a personality difference and a way of being. Or a way of seeing. They say there's a genetic component, but it seems to be related to genes for intelligence. There's no medical treatment, and many autistic people wouldn't want one anyway.  You've probably heard it described as 'a spectrum condition' - that means a kind of umbrella covering different sets of 'symptoms', all linked by differences in social connection.

I was 'diagnosed' autistic a couple of years ago, and I would accept the description of a 'hidden disability'.  o one can see into another's mind, really, so it's bound to be hidden.

Good for you I guess said:

Is it a mental or physical health condition?

It appears in lists of mental disorders, but the general consensus is it is neither a mental health condition, nor a learning disability.  It can be a source of problems, but a lot of those problems are because other people misunderstand. Many people see it as analogous to a difference in sexuality.

Good for you I guess said:

Why is it seen by many people as a good thing to be diagnosed with autism?

For some people, it explains things - the way they seem to be permanently different, and trying to be the same as the majority isn't going to be helpful. Some people actually feel positive about being 'more unique', if that means anything.

Although there's no treatment, there are things that can be done. For example, some people are sensitive to certain lights, sounds or smells, and so the 'diagnosis' gives a reason for other people to accommodate that - including employers.  Other people may need a particular way to communicate, or extra time to process communication.

Good for you I guess said:

To me, ‘autistic' is a negative label and I am having trouble coming to terms with it.

That's understandable. It's probably going to take longer than a week - in fact, I still don't quite know what it means to me after a couple of years.  You might want to ask for a bit more feedback from professionals you have seen recently to try to find out what it is exactly that makes them think you're autistic.  In my case it was partly a lack of emotional signals (not that I'm unemotional), or not making small talk.

I am not surprised you are having g trouble coming to terms with it. My family never reayacxeptrd my difficulties.

I  was speaking grammatically formed sentences at 18 minrgs, then I regressed and stopped speaking. Then there were obsessions with letters and numbers and massive tantrums at home. I was assessed as being unable to adapt, rigid and black and white in thinking and lacking social intuition. But that was the 60's and it was called marvellous things but not what it would probably be called now.

But when I read about Asperger's in the 90's after another family member came under the spotlight, the fact that it was portrayed as lifelong and not something you grew out of, felt like a death knell to me and I also sensed my whole lifestyle and attitude to life were being called into question within family all over again. It a came at a real low point in my life and I did end up getting significantly depressed.

But you are still you, is all I can say. Don't listen to ignorant people, just use it to understand yourself if the cap fits, ignore it if not. I would suggest you see it as a card you happen to have been dealt with, rather that something that defines you in stone.

Good for you I guess said:

Basically, it has been a week today since I was diagnosed. I never sought out a diagnosis. I never wanted a diagnosis. I was surprised by it but my family and friends seemed to think it was quite obvious.

Sounds very familiar to me. Friends not so much, but family - if I had known that they wouldn't at least be a bit surprised I wouldn't have told them about it at all. I wanted them to tell me that it's bullshit, but they didn't do that, instead they seemed delighted somehow. You are certainly not alone with this.

Good for you I guess said:

Firstly, I need to know is autism a medical condition? Is it a mental or physical health condition? I’m guessing it is a health condition as that is what being diagnosed with something means to me.

It's classed as a medical condition, yes, but not sure, they call it a neurodevelopmental condition, so maybe somewhere in between? Is there a specific reason why it's so important for you to know. Maybe "in between" isn't very satisfying if you want a clear "mental" or "physical".

Good for you I guess said:

Why is it seen by many people as a good thing to be diagnosed with autism?

Suppose it can bring great relieve to find a reason why things haven't worked out and so on. It didn't have that effect on me either, quite the opposite, but think I can see why it can be useful. I may also give you certain rights and protection, although employers for instance seem to be able to work around this pretty well if they want to. But after all, you are the same person with and without diagnosis, so being able to understand your own difficulties and possibly explain them to others may help to make it easier to get on with them.

Good for you I guess said:

To me, ‘autistic' is a negative label and I am having trouble coming to terms with it.

I think "normal" has become quite a narrow window nowadays, you have to be a certain type of "normal" actually... Not sure who defines it though - if society as a whole did that then it should perhaps be wider. Anyway, I think a week is very little. Guess you will get on with the thought better over time, even if you may not come to a point where you think it's a good thing that you got this diagnosis. Guess that's where I am at the moment - I'm not quite so angry anymore with myself and the people that gave me that diagnosis but everytime I hear the argument that I'm still the same person as before I'm disgusted about the awful person I've been for all those years then, and I still doubt that things can work out after being told that it's real and it's actually me who is the problem.

Take care and try to give yourself some time!