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To diagnose or not diagnose? That is the question

Deleted User

Ive been watching Agony Autie this week. She is very empowering. "If you identify with autistic traits then why wouldnt you be autistic?" She mentioned that diagnosis might not be right for some people. I dont know if it would be right for me.

If i were to go through with the process and get an outcome of ASC my ideas FOR this would be a) validation b) evidence as i wouldnt be believed otherwise c)a better understand of myself (altho i am part way there from doing my own research).

Ideas against - a) declaring to prospective employers (do you HAVE to do this?!) Im pretty sure my current ones would be very supportive and i dont think id require an special adaptations....b) coming out to people and having to explain or justify myself...but most ppl i know are very open minded / laid back anyway....c) limiting myself. However this could be interpreted as knowing my limitations and not doing stuff just to fit in any more.

Waking up in the morning and looking in the mirror and seeing the label on myself every day for the rest of my life. I am in no way saying this is a bad thing but im not sure how prepared i am for that. And the emotions that woukd come along with it.

What reaons did you have for seeking a diagnosis / do you have for not seeking a diagnosis? Can anyone add to my list as it will give me other strands to consider.

Thank you.

Parents

  • On the "for" side, I agree with all of your points - the self-knowledge and taking away the doubt have been extremely worthwhile for me. It also gave me the licence that I felt I needed to fully take part in communities like this one, which has been a massive help (though I realise now that the autism community would have been open-minded enough for that not have been a problem.)

    On the "against" side, the only one that's presented any problems has been working out to what extent I'm limited, what I have to accept, and what is amenable to change. But that has only really been a matter of looking at something that I had always struggled with my whole life from a new perspective - in reality, I always had been questioning why I seemed so limited in some areas, and whether I should withdraw from certain things because of the anxiety that they provoked. The difference is that now, these things can be conscious, rational choices rather than aversions forced upon me by poor self-esteem and mental health problems.

    Disclosure can be a tricky issue, but there is absolutely nobody that you are required to tell, nor are you obliged to change your behaviour in any way at all if you don't want to. However, you will at least have some evidence to back you up if and when you do decide to disclose. Even if you don't need that right now, bear in mind that autism is life-long, and it's better to have that confirmation now than have to scramble for it later due to some future crisis.

    On the whole, I'd say that absolutely nothing has to change after diagnosis unless you choose it to, but for me, it has opened up new options for making improvements, and has given me much more sense of being in control over what options I choose.

  • in reply to Trogluddite

    Thanks Trog. For me I think it would give me more confidence to explain why I find something difficult or why something makes me anxious. Things that normal people don't understand. I also think it would help me going forward in life to get support for any future life events which (for "normal people" are difficult anyway) but for me seemed a lot more difficult to deal with.

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  • in reply to Trogluddite

    Thanks Trog. For me I think it would give me more confidence to explain why I find something difficult or why something makes me anxious. Things that normal people don't understand. I also think it would help me going forward in life to get support for any future life events which (for "normal people" are difficult anyway) but for me seemed a lot more difficult to deal with.

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