Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello,
I was here just over a year ago, waiting to be diagnosed! I didn't stick around as I wasn't sure if I should not being diagnosed, well, I have now been diagnosed last week.
I feel so much relief and positivity!
For the first time in my life I am feeling I actually know myself. It was a long wait, nearly 3 years in total but it was worth all the time and hassle.
A few months ago I did several tests and spoke in depth to my GP who said there was a very high probability that I have ASD but when he told me about the waiting list for a formal diagnosis, and even longer for any kind of therapy I declined to go on it. From what I've learned on this forum I can tell that I have a lot in common with others here, and sharing experiences has been the best therapy I could ask for. If anyone wants to exclude me because I'm undiagnosed then that's fine by me. There are enough caring individuals that respond to keep me coming back for more.
You are welcome to be here, as is anyone who identifies as autistic or suspects that they might be.
People often realise they might be autistic as a result of not fitting in the NT world. The last thing they need to to feel excluded from the autistic world too.
I read an interesting article recently on the topic of self diagnosis.
https://emergentdivergence.com/2023/08/28/creating-autistic-suffering-the-self-diagnosis-debate/
"We don’t need old, stale, and pale neurotypicals to validate our internal experience of the world, and give us permission to exist. We are more than capable of knowing ourselves. If it helps us live more authentically, and reduces the stress we experience, then we should not be policing that."
The more I understand about autism the more I realise that those people I thought understood it actually don't.
Autism is moving more towards a social model, rather than a pathological one, and I'm pleased about that.
Twitch....there was a bit of a "coming out party" on here a while back regarding whether people had a formal dx or not. You are most definitely not the odd-person-out on here.....you are simply amongst your kin.
I don't think anyone would dream of excluding you Twitch - lots of people self-diagnose and that's perfectly valid :) keep coming back!