Getting a diagnosis

I think I’ll be repeating a lot of what other people have already said, but I like lists

1. It can help confirm your suspicions that you have ASD. It’s harder to deny it or feel as much imposter syndrome with an official diagnosis.
2. It can help confirm your ASD with others, such as family members. It took getting an official diagnosis to finally convince my wife that I have ASD.
3. You can potentially get workplace accommodations.
4. If it is found that you have a comorbidity (such as ADHD or anxiety), that can possibly be treated with medication. While Autism cannot be cured with a pill, some symptoms such as situational depression and social anxiety can be alleviated.
5. You can legally say you have a disability on job applications. While it’s probably better not to disclose your Autism to potential employers, some major companies have on their applications a checkbox that just asks if you have a disability without disclosing what that disability is. They do this because some companies have to hire a certain number of disabled workers (at least that’s the case here in the USA, not sure about UK).
6. Your GPs and therapists will have an easier time helping you correctly if they know for certain that you have ASD. Some practitioners with experience with ASD can give specialized help.

I hope that helps!

I don’t get berated for ‘radio silence’ anymore, if I go off to my man shed, it’s not because I’m in a strop, it’s because I need some alone time to decompress. Even small adjustments help.

This is a big point, you have permission to be kinder to yourself. You aren't being weak.

For me it removed some confusion. My actions and emotions now make sense and I don't have to bury them.

It does make sense. I need less pressure to fit in, because I really don’t! It takes its toll on family life and I am at a point where I need a bit of help. 

That’s been most worthwhile reason for a diagnosis, I’ve asked if my partner if she believed me, her reply was that she had felt unsure and didn’t really understand autism. When she did her training, autism was covered in about 20 minutes one morning, She is now doing a part-time autism awareness course, she keeps apologising, which obviously isn’t necessary, she didn’t realise how much I struggle with everyday life. I’m not under so much pressure to try and fit in all the time. I’m seen now, if that makes sense?

Yeah I think I will. I just don’t want to waste anyone’s time, I did call the GP to ask a question about this yesterday and the receptionist was very helpful and gentle as soon as I mentioned autism. It might be just what I need. Thanks for your reply. 

Thanks I’m going to take a look at that now. 

I am very harsh on myself, so even though I struggle to keep up with others I will be able to until I burn out. I know I need time out to recover from social interactions and work. Thanks for your reply. 

Yeah I hadn’t thought about how other people might treat me as well as myself with a confirmed diagnosis. I don’t think my partner will take this seriously unless I do. 

For me a formal diagnosis really helped me to be more compassionate and empathetic towards myself. It also helped me to better understand myself and my strengths and weaknesses. Also, the way my brain works I find comfort in the explanations so it was reassuring and validating to have an explanation for the way I am. I think pursuing a formal diagnosis depends on the person. Have a think about the pros a formal diagnosis would give you and think about if they are worth pursuing a formal diagnosis for. Self diagnosis and formal diagnosis are both valid just take the time to research the assessment process and think about why you would want it maybe even book a GP appointment to just discuss the possibility of going for one. :)) 

I wasn't going to believe it unless someone put it in writing.

I did not want to self diagnose as you can convince yourself you have anything from the internet, and I did not want to be dismissed by others if it was true. I needed independent verification.

I did not want to make excuses, but at the same time if real then I needed to accept there may really be some limitations.

If true it has a major impact on how I interpreted the past. The realisation comes with a lot of baggage, may not be the case for others.

I wanted to be sure so i knew the real cause of my depression.

It will have a effect on how I approach the future, it has already influenced 2 decisions 

You might find the various potential benefits that are listed in this article helpful - along with the other content:

NAS - Deciding whether to seek an autism assessment

I was diagnosed at 57, I think personally it has bought better clarity, if I do need mental health support in the future, my record shows clearly now that I am autistic. There will hopefully be no more misdiagnosis or a GP trying to cure depression. It has helped me understand that I’m not broken, sad, mad or bad. I’m sure that you understand, the health service believes something better if it’s written in black and white.

Obviously self identifying as autistic is totally valid,  I just find it’s easier to just say that I’m diagnosed autistic than having to explain in great depth why I might struggle, I have found my partner much more supportive, she was present when I received the actual diagnosis. 

And as you learn more and more about Autism and listen to and relate intensely to more and more Autistic people's stories, you'll start to feel more like saying, "I am autistic, most definitely!"

Your reply is so well thought out, I appreciate you taking the time. Still finding out so much about autism, but I think I’ve found my place in the world and it does help to know there is a reason why life is so hard for me. “I am autistic, most likely” is what I’m taking from this. 

I would like to but I don’t want to waste resources when I’m not sure how it would benefit me, but your reply has helped me realise how it would help. It’s something I’m still looking into. 

Perhaps if you find yourself suffering from impostor syndrome, a formal diagnosis might help. If you are comfortable with your self-diagnosis, then there probably isn't much need other than overcoming other people's scepticism. Keep learning, of course.

I saw/read/heard somewhere that about 90% (or was it 93%?) of self-diagnosed autistics who go for a formal diagnosis have their self-diagnosis confirmed. I suppose if you are confident enough in your self-diagnosis to put money behind it, then you probably don't need to put money behind it, if you know what I mean. You're autistic, most likely.

Back in the day (2002), I was diagnosed ADHD (which is what I had sought), so by the definitions in the DSM-4 and ICD-10 I could not also be Autistic. At the time you could only be one or the other. The diagnosis got around that by labelling me as "ADHD with Asperger's Traits". I could probably equally have been diagnosed as "Asperger's Syndrome with ADHD Traits", but then they couldn't prescribe stimulant medication for ADHD, because I wouldn't formally have ADHD. It irks me a bit now that I'm not actually formally diagnosed Autistic, yet I'm formally diagnosed enough that I don't know if there's any point in paying to be "upgraded to full Autism". I suppose I self-upgraded.

I did it for confirmation and because I was confused as to why I struggled all my life so far. I needed to hear a professional to say the words. I didn’t feel worthy of referring to myself as autistic and now I can, I gave myself an incredibly hard time with that. It’s helping me to let go of my excessive masking and people pleasing which can only be a good thing. 
I can see why some people would not be interested in perusing a diagnosis if they don’t see it as beneficial and that’s absolutely fine.