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Do I need an official diagnosis?

BassFace

Hi everyone,

I'm a 20 year old female university student and I have semi-suspected for a long time that I am autistic but only in the last week have I actually confronted it and discussed it with my parents. That was very hard for me because I was so scared they would be angry, because I'd seen them react quite meanly to my uncle getting diagnosed. Actually they're being really supportive and even said they would even pay for private diagnosis if a diagnosis is important to me.

For ages I kept thinking maybe I am autistic, or maybe I'm just making it all up and I kept doubting myself. I felt guilty for wanting to think of myself as special, and I thought maybe everyone faces the same challenges and I just lack resilience or something. But finally talking seriously about it to my parents and an autistic friend made me stop doubting myself, they agree it's definitely real.

I am so relieved to finally be certain, because I finally feel like I actually know who I am and I don't have to keep all my issues to myself anymore.

However, I'm not sure if I need an official diagnosis or not. 

I manage very well in most situations, and I think a lot of people wouldn't believe I'm autistic. However, I can't keep up the mask when I get really anxious. It would help me to be more confident and independent if I could disclose autism, because I wouldn't have to worry about my mask dropping in difficult situations.

It might be useful to be able to put it on job applications, because I get extremely anxious and therefore act weird in interviews, and I'd like the interviewers to know why, to help my job prospects.

Do you need an official diagnosis to put it on application forms and things, or is self-diagnosis good enough for most things? I would feel bad taking my parents up on the offer to pay for a diagnosis if there are no significant benefits in my case.

Thank you Slight smile

  • in reply to BassFace

    last paragraph, yes in academia much is tolerated if u are pushing out papers which is good Slight smile

  • in reply to aidie

    Thank you, I will bear that it mind to think carefully about when I disclose. 

    50% of applications being binned because of autism sounds very extreme doesn't it? Wouldn't it depend on the type of job? I wouldn't even apply to be, say, a salesperson or a waitress because I know I'm bad at things that have such a big social aspect. I don't think I'd want to work somewhere where being a bit weird is seen as a really bad thing.

    But if I were to go into a career in academia (I am a maths student and I'm considering this) I feel like it wouldn't matter that much, and they'd be more supportive?

  • Hello :) Getting a diagnosis will at provide you with some answers and piece of mind. It really does help explain the way you are and you can help you cope better or avoid situations that make you stressed out. It will then allow you to seek help with your anxiety, whether that be medication and or CBT.

    But I totally agree with aidie, in that I would never put Autism on an application form. Best to keep quiet about it and if you got hassled in the workplace, then that would be the time to say you have Autism , I don't think you are a obliged to disclose you are Autistic.

    In my case, my anxiety was getting worse and I was getting more outspoken at work, especially, when Managers were blatantly lying, yet we were forced to complete Ethics and Compliance courses. My higher boss, wanted me out of the group and it was this that made your to my GP. I went to him with an open mind (and although my eldest son was diagnosed with Aspergers) the though never crossed my mind and I suggested to my GP, that I must have some form of general anxiety disorder.

    It was only when I got a referral to a private Psychiatrist when right at the end of our session, that he said he was 95% certain I had Aspergers. From that, I was referred for a private ASC assessment.....

    Luckily, I have been in a Union for a long time and they helped me fight back at this manager, who had made some groundless accusations and when he was confronted with the possibility of an official grievance, not surprisingly withdraw his insistence that I be transferred. The diagnosis allowed me to make certain work adjustments. But what surprised me, was that for such a large company, my immediate manager, HR and occupational health, knew nothing about Autism!

    I wouldn't feel bad about taking up you parents offer to pay, but bear in mind we are talking around £2000 to get a private diagnosis.  It is much better to find out that you may have Austim when you are still young than when you are a lot older and wishing you had found out sooner?

    As I advice everyone, write down all the reasons, why you think you have Autism, and stories from your childhood, querks or strange habits etc. Once you have all that written down, take it to your GP. I think some Private diagnosis don't need a GP referral but I think it helps.

    Anyway, I would seek a diagnosis but be very selective on who you tell :)

  • hi bassface,

    welcome to this forum.

    you can say you are autistic if you want , but if you put it on your form it is very likely to be binned  Disappointed

    a professional diagnosis wont prevent this discrimination either.

    i was told by a person who advises companies ( on autism )  that 50% of companies in their survey will bin applications from autistic applicants. Sorry I dont have a reference for this statistic.

    sorry to be so brutal 

    One benefit is if u have children they can point to you as their evidence if they need a diagnosis..

    the only other benefit is an expert observes you and is able to say from your traits that you are autistic.

    that means there is now no doubt and that means u can work on the autistic traits you have.

    and you will feel a better in the long run., because u understand why certain things happen

    if u have anxiety and/or depression the autism would then explain those issues.

    once you get into a company and wait say 2 years,  u can then self - diagnose, or get a prof. one, and declare you are autistic saying u  had no idea previously.because u are not an expert.  

    It all depends on how much you want/need to work.

    please wait for more replies so u get a range of views.

    gotta go its late 

    Heart