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Any point in a diagnosis for mild ASD?

angryhobbit

I'm in my thirties and always considered myself a bit of an odd duck but always got on with life, relationships, eduction jobs etc.

Lately I've been wondering whether I'm on the spectrum and was considering talking to my GP, but I'm wondering if there's really any point. I manage to get on with my life so what happens after a dagnosis that would benefit me?

Some people might find they understand themselves better because of it, but I'm also weary of defining myself because of it, and not pushing myself because of a 'condition'. I do have some mild depression for which I take medication, and I wonder what effect a ASD diagnosis would have on that.

So, what happens after diagnosis that would benefit someone in my situtation?

Parents

  • I was in my mid 50s before I had the slightest idea I might be somewhere on the spectrum. Up until then I always thought I was "normal", but with a few problems that would eventually be resolved. With hindsight I can now see that things have been gradually deteriorating for a very long time. 10 years ago (when I was 50) I saw various counsellors and thought I was well on the way to being "cured", so I went off and did new things that have got me into a mess that I can't get out of. If I knew then what I think I know now (I'll be getting the results of my diagnosis in a few weeks), I could have either not done what I did, or done it differently.

    I wouldn't have got a diagnosis several decades ago, and there was no awareness of HFA, so it was a different time. But if I'd had some idea that in some ways I was different to most people, maybe I could have worked something out for myself, and done better in life.

    Perhaps an awareness that you may well be on the spectrum is all you need. Read up on stuff that helps you to work out where you're different to most people, and see if the solutions to it work for you. If you do something that most people think is odd, but it works for you, that may be enough.

    I think it's worth considering what might happen in the future. Might you stuggle more as you get older? Might you run into trouble with the system at some time, where a diagnosis may help you get support, claim benefits, or avoid some kind of other difficult situation? Getting a diagnosis now might help to protect you in the future against things you can't imagine now. I'm sure there are downsides to having a diagnosis too, but maybe it's one of those things you need to do some long term planning for.

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  • I was in my mid 50s before I had the slightest idea I might be somewhere on the spectrum. Up until then I always thought I was "normal", but with a few problems that would eventually be resolved. With hindsight I can now see that things have been gradually deteriorating for a very long time. 10 years ago (when I was 50) I saw various counsellors and thought I was well on the way to being "cured", so I went off and did new things that have got me into a mess that I can't get out of. If I knew then what I think I know now (I'll be getting the results of my diagnosis in a few weeks), I could have either not done what I did, or done it differently.

    I wouldn't have got a diagnosis several decades ago, and there was no awareness of HFA, so it was a different time. But if I'd had some idea that in some ways I was different to most people, maybe I could have worked something out for myself, and done better in life.

    Perhaps an awareness that you may well be on the spectrum is all you need. Read up on stuff that helps you to work out where you're different to most people, and see if the solutions to it work for you. If you do something that most people think is odd, but it works for you, that may be enough.

    I think it's worth considering what might happen in the future. Might you stuggle more as you get older? Might you run into trouble with the system at some time, where a diagnosis may help you get support, claim benefits, or avoid some kind of other difficult situation? Getting a diagnosis now might help to protect you in the future against things you can't imagine now. I'm sure there are downsides to having a diagnosis too, but maybe it's one of those things you need to do some long term planning for.

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