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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.

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  • 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 

  • 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 Ausomely Autistic
    Ausomely Autistic said:
    It’s brilliant that you are so confident in your autistic identity

    Hearing that I come across that confident is a real comfort and boost to me. I often feel so awkward talking about my autistic identity outside of this forum so hearing that I can be that confident about it is a real confidence boost to me if that makes sense

    Ausomely Autistic said:
    You reflect on life through a newly discovered autistic lens and revaluate various situations in your life.

    This is so true! My first thought when I found out I was autistic was "now my whole life makes sense!" Its nice to know you had the same experience 

    I sometimes think that if the envelope came through my door now with the assesment date I dont know whether I would go through with it. 

    That means a lot to me what you said, I am here for you too and I am sure you will figure out what is best for you. Trust in yourself and what your heart says

  • in reply to Billy87
    Billy87 said:
    This is so true! My first thought when I found out I was autistic was "now my whole life makes sense!" Its nice to know you had the same experience 

    Exactly! This feeling is very common in our community!

    Billy87 said:
    Hearing that I come across that confident is a real comfort and boost to me. I often feel so awkward talking about my autistic identity outside of this forum so hearing that I can be that confident about it is a real confidence boost to me if that makes sense

    I am glad my comment is comforting to you, I understand what you mean about feeling awkward its only natural for us to feel more confident when surrounded by our neurokin. We all deserve to be confident in our identities regardless of neurotype, I know it's not easy when in predominantly non autistic spaces but be autistic and proud!

    Billy87 said:
    That means a lot to me what you said, I am here for you too and I am sure you will figure out what is best for you. Trust in yourself and what your heart says

    You are very welcome, thanks so much for your brilliant advice.

Reply
  • in reply to Billy87
    Billy87 said:
    This is so true! My first thought when I found out I was autistic was "now my whole life makes sense!" Its nice to know you had the same experience 

    Exactly! This feeling is very common in our community!

    Billy87 said:
    Hearing that I come across that confident is a real comfort and boost to me. I often feel so awkward talking about my autistic identity outside of this forum so hearing that I can be that confident about it is a real confidence boost to me if that makes sense

    I am glad my comment is comforting to you, I understand what you mean about feeling awkward its only natural for us to feel more confident when surrounded by our neurokin. We all deserve to be confident in our identities regardless of neurotype, I know it's not easy when in predominantly non autistic spaces but be autistic and proud!

    Billy87 said:
    That means a lot to me what you said, I am here for you too and I am sure you will figure out what is best for you. Trust in yourself and what your heart says

    You are very welcome, thanks so much for your brilliant advice.

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