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What have you achieved from getting diagnosed?

Kitsune

I was diagnosed with ASD (Aspergers) in December of last year and the last week or so have been feeling a bit despondent about it. I spent a few years prior to assessment and diagnosis focused on analysing my life and getting the diagnosis, like somehow getting a diagnosis would ‘fix’ me. Since diagnosis I’ve thrown myself into ‘being autistic’ and I spend a lot of time socialising with other autistic people which works well actually. But I can’t help feeling that I haven’t really achieved anything by getting a diagnosis, it might explain why I am the way I am but it doesn’t change anything, it doesn’t change me, it doesn’t make me any less weird! I’m just the same person that I’ve always been, life carries on regardless!

So I just wondered, what do other people think that they have achieved from getting a diagnosis?

  • I haven't been diagnosed. I am really very certain that I have aspergers though. A diagnosis wouldn't change anything about the way I act. I have always accepted that my behaviour is weird and never really been bothered about it.

    What I do want a diagnosis for though is for situations that are made awkward by not be able to be socially normal. In particular interviews for jobs etc. Almost every single job interview I have ever had has been a complete failure (and I have had A LOT of interviews). I have had several jobs but each of them required no interview. Unfortunately it is rare that no interview is required. Interviews for most jobs seems to be largely a case of how well people click with the interviewer I think. I understand that I come across as flat, maybe not particularly friendly but to the point. I have also had interviewers literally shouting at me and telling me off for being too straightforward with my answers before!

    A diagnosis would at least let me point to it and say "Look, my interview technique is terrible, but that doesn't even matter for the job. I am more than capable of doing the job to a very good standard, so please just recognise that I have aspergers and base the interview on how well I can perform in a job rather than how genuine my smile looks and how good my 'banter' is (or isn't at all!)".

  • I’ve been diagnosed nearly a year now. For me the biggest thing is that I’ve stopped blaming myself for things I can’t help. It’s had a massive (positive) impact on my mental health. It’s also allowed me to recognise when I need to take break from eg ‘peopling’ or sensory problems, which has meant way less meltdown/near meltdown situations. 

    I do still have moments when I get really down over the whole ‘this is forever’ ‘life will always be difficult’ but I guess that’s natural. Everything isn’t going to magically improve over night. Are you just in one of those dips do you think? Overall I’m so pleased I got a diagnosis. Like you I’ve met a lot of amazing autistic people since diagnosis and I think that’s actually a really big thing so good on you.

  • in reply to Plastic

    It's early days for me (diagnosed this week) but I am hoping that one of the positive outcomes of getting the diagnosis is being able to

    Plastic said:
    separate my strengths out of the mix so I can concentrate on doing good things and not wasting my time attempting things that I will fail at, regardless of knowledge.

    Couldn't have put it better myself. For too long, I have tried to battle on with the socialising etc. thinking maybe one day this will suddenly get easier. Now I know why this has always been a problem and why it always will be. Instead of beating myself up about being crap in these situations I can hopefully be more understanding of myself and adapt accordingly. 

  • You're being hard on yourself - it takes time to measure if there are any changes.   The fact that you're out socialising with similar people is brightening up the lives of others who might not have many other friends - a worthy use of your time.

    I've been diagnosed for over a decade - I would say I am a much better person when compared to who I was.    I know that I have a load of unhelpful programming code built into me that will - if I let it - get me into trouble and cause no end of stress for me.    I understand that I can get frustrated by NTs so that knowledge allows me to build in more allowances for people and to be less harsh on myself.

    Knowing that stress is bad for me, I can arrange my life to reduce stress and I know when I will likely be in a vulnerable position so I can take steps to get support when needed and find ways of doing things differently.

    I also am able to separate my strengths out of the mix so I can concentrate on doing good things and not wasting my time attempting things that I will fail at, regardless of knowledge.

    I cannot do phone calls so it's easier to sub that chore out to the wife leaving me to concentrate on solving all the big issues like building a house.   I'm good at some things and terrible at others and, because my wife is a people-person, she does all my interfacing with the difficult bits of my world for me.

    You've got lots of time to look at what you're doing - and want to do - but self-flagellation is a common autie trait. Smiley