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Formal Diagnosis or Not?

Voltaic

Hi this is my first post here as I was recommended to contact the NAS by my CPN. Was just wondering if there was any benefit really for me to get an formal diagnosis for autism.

I was asssessed as having aspergers syndrome by my local mental health team who later talked to and confirmed with my GP that it was the correct diagnosis.  I actually spoke to a consultant psych today regarding another matter and I also asked about the autism diagnosis and he said that based on the information that he had that he would agree with that diagnosis.  I am thankfully getting help from my local mental health team including a visiting occupational therapist so my question is that is it worth it for me to go to the hassle of getting a formal diagnosis?

Parents

  • I'm confused, but I think that what you're saying is that you have a 'qualified' opinion rather than a formal diagnosis? Plenty of people here don't have one but still identify with AS traits, and I don't think I've read anything from anyone that suggests they're wrong. It's fair to say that I mostly go with the 'all welcome' philosophy here so I don't question it too much, and I'm not qualified to.

    I had a 'qualified' opinion from a whole mental health team, who then refered me for a formal diagnosis.

    I think that what you're saying is that an opinion is fine, but it's not as good as the real thing - I think that typicaly, this isn't really good enough, I know it wasn't for me, and I was glad to have it properly confirmed by someone whose opinion I felt able to trust. Everyone told me that my assessor is one of the best people in the country, and looking at his work, I think so too, so luckily, I was reassured that I could put 100% faith in his judgement.

    Not everyone needs this. Most of my cynicism towards CMHT and NHS psychiatry in general is based on long, wrong and futile interaction. These 'qualified' people insisted for over 2 decades that I am Bipolar, a common misdiagnosis for AS people, and they refused to budge even though I refused to accept it (which was seen as me being 'uncooperative' with the recommended medications) and wasted many expensive NHS hours trying to get some help from people who didn't appear to want to. Oh, the frustration!

    I can't say what other processes are like across the country, but for mine, it was a simple, 2 hour chat with the guy having previously sent in some questionaires that came through the post. I didn't feel or experience any real 'hassle' in getting my formal diagnosis, but I know what you mean - just the prospect of the 'unknown' is tiring enough, let alone doing it.

    The fundamental question, and only one in my opinion, is what would it mean to you? If you can't quite trust what you have so far, and getting it formaly confirmed is what you want (and I can fully understand why you would) then I would encourage you to do so and remove that last element of doubt, otherwise I can see that it's only going to keep coming back and bothering you. Get rid of the doubt!

    This is a good place to discuss yourself or anything else - it's safe, secure, anonymous and non-judgemental, so you are here, you're welcome, you're not alone, and we have a new chum

Reply

  • I'm confused, but I think that what you're saying is that you have a 'qualified' opinion rather than a formal diagnosis? Plenty of people here don't have one but still identify with AS traits, and I don't think I've read anything from anyone that suggests they're wrong. It's fair to say that I mostly go with the 'all welcome' philosophy here so I don't question it too much, and I'm not qualified to.

    I had a 'qualified' opinion from a whole mental health team, who then refered me for a formal diagnosis.

    I think that what you're saying is that an opinion is fine, but it's not as good as the real thing - I think that typicaly, this isn't really good enough, I know it wasn't for me, and I was glad to have it properly confirmed by someone whose opinion I felt able to trust. Everyone told me that my assessor is one of the best people in the country, and looking at his work, I think so too, so luckily, I was reassured that I could put 100% faith in his judgement.

    Not everyone needs this. Most of my cynicism towards CMHT and NHS psychiatry in general is based on long, wrong and futile interaction. These 'qualified' people insisted for over 2 decades that I am Bipolar, a common misdiagnosis for AS people, and they refused to budge even though I refused to accept it (which was seen as me being 'uncooperative' with the recommended medications) and wasted many expensive NHS hours trying to get some help from people who didn't appear to want to. Oh, the frustration!

    I can't say what other processes are like across the country, but for mine, it was a simple, 2 hour chat with the guy having previously sent in some questionaires that came through the post. I didn't feel or experience any real 'hassle' in getting my formal diagnosis, but I know what you mean - just the prospect of the 'unknown' is tiring enough, let alone doing it.

    The fundamental question, and only one in my opinion, is what would it mean to you? If you can't quite trust what you have so far, and getting it formaly confirmed is what you want (and I can fully understand why you would) then I would encourage you to do so and remove that last element of doubt, otherwise I can see that it's only going to keep coming back and bothering you. Get rid of the doubt!

    This is a good place to discuss yourself or anything else - it's safe, secure, anonymous and non-judgemental, so you are here, you're welcome, you're not alone, and we have a new chum

Children
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