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Should I continue with the formal autistic identification process?

Ausomely Autistic

Hello fellow autistic people. I was wondering whether you could help me with your wise advice.

 I started the formal autism diagnosis process about 2 years ago and I am yet to have any initial assessment/any progress. I  am not sure whether to continue with this progress or just give up.

My autistic identity is very strong and positive thanks to my connection with my own neurokin (including this wonderful autistic community) and I feel like the diagnostic process will be very negative and unnecessarily pathologising. I feel like I have learned so much about my autistic needs and our culture by being part of this community and I feel like formal identification will almost ruin my sense of autistic self.

If you want to share, what were the benefits of formal autistic identification for you?

Thanks.

Parents

  • A) autism identification makes me think of a badge like a policeman. Like I’m going to walk in and whip out a card saying, ‘detective peter, autism Patrol.’

    B) that said on paper I have an excuse, a justification, if anyone ever decides to try an stigmatise or vilify my weird behaviour as ‘anti social’ or ‘grossly insensitive.’ I have this label to pull out as a shield. Something to say ‘you can’t use my being different against me because my being different is a medical condition.’

    beyond that I’m not sure it’s helping me much

  • in reply to Peter

    In reality, and especially considering the current vogue of querying the concept of an autistic soul who "is basically a bit weird but functionally OK(ish)"....would that piece of paper ever need to be whipped out for defence?

    I do accept the principle of what you have said and agree that, notionally, a formal dx could be useful in this regard.

    I am VERY invested in this discussion.  I feel exactly how awesomely autistic has described himself in the OP, but have not started any formal processes as yet.

Reply
  • in reply to Peter

    In reality, and especially considering the current vogue of querying the concept of an autistic soul who "is basically a bit weird but functionally OK(ish)"....would that piece of paper ever need to be whipped out for defence?

    I do accept the principle of what you have said and agree that, notionally, a formal dx could be useful in this regard.

    I am VERY invested in this discussion.  I feel exactly how awesomely autistic has described himself in the OP, but have not started any formal processes as yet.

Children
  • in reply to Peter

    Sorry Peter, your response had escaped my notice and you do make a very valid point for which I am very grateful.  Thus far, in this exceptionally fast changing world of what is, and is not, acceptable, I seem to have navigated reasonably successfully - but quite frankly, God knows how?  Given my general propensity to cause unintended upset and offence (often) I suppose it is only a matter of time until I drop myself in it somehow.

    Thank you for pointing this benefit out to me.  Appreciated.

  • in reply to Peter

    That is a very good point. I find it so hard to know what is and isnt innapropriate to say these day, it seems to change from day to day

    I often still talk the way I did as a teenager but that doesnt seem ok anymore

  • in reply to Deleted User

    If I’m understanding the question right you’re asking would you ever need to put forward autism as a defence or excuse? If you’re high functioning like me and not prone to violent outbursts?

    absolutely. We live in a cancel culture. I’ve been kicked out of things and told ‘it’s not that your opinions were unreasonable just that the times at and ways in which you expressed them were insensitive.’ I was told my presence resulted in an ‘unsafe’ environment because I made people ‘uncomfortable.’

    I'm sorry if you feel otherwise but I know very few autistic people who can avoid making others uncomfortable from time to time with out becoming very socially withdrawn themselves.

    so yes I think in this day and age where causing offence is treated like a crime and people feeling uncomfortable is treated as a ‘safety’ issue there is a real need  for autistic people to be able to use autism as a defence.

    you see the ultimate recourse in a situation like that is legal action and in a court or tribunal a diagnosis on paper can make a big difference.