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Is it worth seeking diagnosis?

NAS38341

Hi everyone, I'm mainly posting this to seek some experiences from others who may be in similar positions, to see if I think it will be worth going through the process.

I'm a woman in my thirties, I first came across the idea that I may be on the autism spectrum several years ago but dismissed it, but have been looking into it more and more recently. I seem to fit the descriptions and scored highly on the AQ test. I've been treated for depression over the years, and been through therapy for anxiety, but never with autism as a consideration.

Seeking professional help is always a harrowing experience, I get extremely anxious at the GPs and have utterly failed to describe what was wrong on several occasions (e.g. wanting to ask for help for emotional/mental issues, and just listing physical symptoms instead as I get too anxious).

Because going to the doctor's is so difficult for me, I want to know what the benefit of getting a diagnosis could be. Is it worth putting myself through the stress? 

I'm employed, and I have a very supportive partner, but I have quite severe issues with social anxiety, have very few friends as a result, and find work difficult (I sometimes take sick days for anxiety). I also have real problems dealing with changes to my routine, and any unexpected events coming up. Might getting a diagnosis  (if correct) help me work through this? What kind of support is out there?

Parents

  • I'm going for a formal diagnosis for a couple of reasons, a) Anyone can read symptoms or do tests online and falsely pigeon hole themselves to something they're not dependent on their thinking of the time and b) I crave hard facts, everything needs to be black and white to me so I need that bit of paper telling me I'm not or I am. 

    From my extremely limited understanding there is no benefit of diagnosis that's going to help you anymore than not having the diagnosis and still working through the issues because whether you're autistic or not it would appear that you are still going to have to work through the issues that are causing you a problem. 

    I'm sure someone with more knowledge will pop along shortly but I thought I'd add my two penneth as I know it's nice to get any response when you're feeling a bit lost and confused :) Good luck.

  • in reply to 1986

    I too am very black and white and could not tell anyone I am autistic until it was confirmed.

    diagnosed just last Thursday I’m incredibly happy I went through it.

Reply Children
  • in reply to Thegoodly

    Congratulations.. I suppose lol. Feels weird saying that for some reason. This is a very new journey for me. I'm quite different though in the fact that I can't keep anything quiet, doesn't matter what it is if it's about me I have no off switch, yet I can keep others secrets. I don't particularly want to tell people but I seem to be compelled to. 

    It's like at work, we have someone that can't be trusted for anything and I had a run in with her months ago, she's seen as a snake by all her old employees (we went through a merger of sorts) and despite our run in she will often come and chat in my office and even sat in there working for a few months, despite all this it never once stopped me venting about the company or other people even in full knowledge she would take things away and use it if she could (she's power hungry), I just can't help myself with things like that, it's really weird.