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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

  • Thank you   I have found this discussion so interesting. I dont have answers for you but I am in a similar boat myself. I was put forward for my official diagnosis in September 2021 and have heard nothing since. At the time I thought it was something I wanted to do but now Im not so sure.

    At the end of the day, I have no doubts at all that I am autistic. Being part of this community has saved my life and I am amongst peopel like me. As soon as I started reading up on autism 3 years ago my whole life made sense, it was like finally reading about me rather than a foreign species which was nothing like me, which is how I had always felt mixing with and reading about NT people. My doctor believed I was autistic and every diagnositc test I have done I am off the scale 

    Going through what for me will be an incredibly stressful and traumatic process that I am terrifeid of to potentially confirm something I already know may or may not be worth it, Im not sure 

Reply

  • Thank you   I have found this discussion so interesting. I dont have answers for you but I am in a similar boat myself. I was put forward for my official diagnosis in September 2021 and have heard nothing since. At the time I thought it was something I wanted to do but now Im not so sure.

    At the end of the day, I have no doubts at all that I am autistic. Being part of this community has saved my life and I am amongst peopel like me. As soon as I started reading up on autism 3 years ago my whole life made sense, it was like finally reading about me rather than a foreign species which was nothing like me, which is how I had always felt mixing with and reading about NT people. My doctor believed I was autistic and every diagnositc test I have done I am off the scale 

    Going through what for me will be an incredibly stressful and traumatic process that I am terrifeid of to potentially confirm something I already know may or may not be worth it, Im not sure 

Children
  • in reply to Billy87
    Billy87 said:
    At the end of the day, I have no doubts at all that I am autistic. Being part of this community has saved my life and I am amongst peopel like me. As soon as I started reading up on autism 3 years ago my whole life made sense, it was like finally reading about me rather than a foreign species which was nothing like me, which is how I had always felt mixing with and reading about NT people. My doctor believed I was autistic and every diagnositc test I have done I am off the scale 

    You are so welcome. I am so glad this community is so meaningful for you, your comment is a testament to the power of autistic community and human connection. This is one of the reasons why I think connection with our autistic community is the best source of mental health support there is.

    Your reply is powerful, it makes me feel emotional. It’s brilliant that you are so confident in your autistic identity, I can also definitely testify that identification is life changing. You reflect on life through a newly discovered autistic lens and revaluate various situations in your life.

    You have just shown the importance of autistic identification, every deserves to know who they are.

    Billy87 said:
    Going through what for me will be an incredibly stressful and traumatic process that I am terrifeid of to potentially confirm something I already know may or may not be worth it, Im not sure 

    It’s seems like you have already made a decision in your paragraph above. You are the expert on your autistic experience, a piece of paper is almost insignificant in comparison to lived experience. Do what is right for you and what will make you happy.

    We are here for you.

  • in reply to Billy87
    Billy87 said:
    Thank you   I have found this discussion so interesting.

    I would like to add my voice to that please.  Thank you - not just Ausome for starting this, but everyone who has written here.

    Billy87 said:
    I am in a similar boat myself

    I certainly feel that I need to do SOMETHING.....unless I initiate some form of definitive and overt changes, I fear that I will simply carry on, carrying on - but its masking and I'm not happy with that, now I know what it is, plus more worryingly, I'm only committing 75% effort into it now, so I really do look frigging unhinged and dangerously unpredictable and "loose."  It is increasingly being pointed out to me.  Like Pikl, I feel the need to dance on some chairs from time to time and be more Dr Doolittle for real - Yes, I talk to the animals, walk with the animals etc!!