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Does an official diagnosis help

GreenGardener

Hi. I have been seeing a therapist for about two and a half years now. We have recently been talking about my possible autism. My therapist has said that although she can't diagnose me, my charatiristics/ things that I struggled with would probably be categorised as autism. I have done research myself  and through speaking with family members, think I am autistic.

Is going through with a proper diagnosis worth the appointment s and stress? I am conflicted, some family members are encouraging me to peruse it, others think it's enough that I know myself and can get help in other ways. 

Did getting a official autism diagnosis help other people?

Parents

  • I think if you want validation yourself then do go for it, others they know without seeking a diagnosis and see no benefit.

    Do you think it may help you perhaps seek accommodations at work ? although I believe legally you don't need a formal diagnosis - happy to be corrected on this.

    As support is patchy it may be worth checking any adult support groups near you, and seeing whether they only provide support for diagnosed adults.  I just checked my local group - and they're OK with self-identify/discovered.  

    I'm having Therapy after my recent late diagnosis and now been screened for general anxiety and social anxiety, and TBH I'm debating if I should seek official diagnosis for those or not, especially as its largely seems that as far as my couple of months of awareness/understaing goes, they often co-exist with Autism.

    Good luck with your decision - good that your family supports you too.

Reply

  • I think if you want validation yourself then do go for it, others they know without seeking a diagnosis and see no benefit.

    Do you think it may help you perhaps seek accommodations at work ? although I believe legally you don't need a formal diagnosis - happy to be corrected on this.

    As support is patchy it may be worth checking any adult support groups near you, and seeing whether they only provide support for diagnosed adults.  I just checked my local group - and they're OK with self-identify/discovered.  

    I'm having Therapy after my recent late diagnosis and now been screened for general anxiety and social anxiety, and TBH I'm debating if I should seek official diagnosis for those or not, especially as its largely seems that as far as my couple of months of awareness/understaing goes, they often co-exist with Autism.

    Good luck with your decision - good that your family supports you too.

Children