Fear of and Necessity for Labels

AndrewC posted this discussion in the guide, before I realised my mistake in how they were written. So I'm just creating this on his behalf so people can respond to the message.

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I know a number of people are put of going for early diagnosis because they fear labelling their child or are not themselves emotionally ready for that label.

Unfortunately, labels can also be necessary/hugely beneficial in accessing the right support services for your child, particularly re education.

 

Perhaps this would be a good thread for people to share what their concerns were/are about going for diagnosis, and whether obtaining a diagnosis has been positive or negative overall?

Parents
  • Although knowing helped me sort my life out dramatically, one of the things that just never stops is do I really have aspergers? No I cannot possibly. But then again I just do something patently aspergers.

    I don't know if this constant questioning is a good or bad thing.  It probably helps me to resolve issues and refine strategies and is just another variant of negative reinforcement versus thinking positively.

    Because I'm in the 'mild' category (just there are some obviously not so mild bits) it probably is a good idea to review the diagnosis, even though its a reality. As I've done some professional work with people on the spectrum I'm regularly reminded there are people a lot worse off than myself; likewise reading up on aspergers regularly, I'm often saying surely that's not me or that's much worse than anything I have to deal with.

    So I end up feeling a bit guilty. Then I go and do something obviously, patently aspergers, and have to concede, it is me after all.

    Anyone else with the diagnosis who experiences this is it? isnt it? uncertainty?

Reply
  • Although knowing helped me sort my life out dramatically, one of the things that just never stops is do I really have aspergers? No I cannot possibly. But then again I just do something patently aspergers.

    I don't know if this constant questioning is a good or bad thing.  It probably helps me to resolve issues and refine strategies and is just another variant of negative reinforcement versus thinking positively.

    Because I'm in the 'mild' category (just there are some obviously not so mild bits) it probably is a good idea to review the diagnosis, even though its a reality. As I've done some professional work with people on the spectrum I'm regularly reminded there are people a lot worse off than myself; likewise reading up on aspergers regularly, I'm often saying surely that's not me or that's much worse than anything I have to deal with.

    So I end up feeling a bit guilty. Then I go and do something obviously, patently aspergers, and have to concede, it is me after all.

    Anyone else with the diagnosis who experiences this is it? isnt it? uncertainty?

Children
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