Hello, I am worried about being misdiagnosed with Autism. Please help me understand

Hi Josh,

My son is 25, he deals with these kinds of doubts.

First of all, if you'd like a little encouragement on what an engineer with a stutter can make for himself (who is probably autistic - at least does seem this way), check out chaseblissaudio on Instagram (or his youtube page). www.instagram.com/.../ Joel, who started this company is one of the most interesting and coolest humans I've ever met, add he's literally worshipped by guitar players. 

There are so many jobs you can get with your degree and from what I understand many companies might actually favour hiring autistic individuals because certain qualities tend to be innate. The world is a mix of kindness and cruelty. Finding good people is actually an art most of us can learn how to navigate. 

I would suggest do as much research on Autism as you can. The more you understand about what is specifically autistic and what is neurotypical, the better equipped you will be to understand where you feel you resonate. Knowledge is key.

Most likely as Paul from Aspergers from the Inside on YouTube suggests, most of us spend our lives being dismissed, disregarded, not believed or even told we're lying/not being truthful. There are many reasons for this as how Neurotypical individuals communicate is quite different and many times involves a strategy to dominate another. This is not typical for Autists. So it may even be good to work out first what is Trauma vs. your underlying Autistic self, if deep down, you feel you've found something which resonates with who you are and how you operate as being human. Are you autistic? www.youtube.com/watch

I recommend this woman to everyone. www.instagram.com/.../

Autism and Visual Thinking (Scientfic Research) www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.../

Sadly, misdiagnosis is possible, but you have to trust the professionals to do their job. Most of the time they will get it right, just not all the time. But... An Autism Diagnosis doesn't stop you getting work, I've met people on the Spectrum who've held jobs and even gotten Married and had children. It's just another part of who you are-and, as others have said, short of a direct Medical Questionnaire? You cannot be compelled to state you are on the Spectrum.

As for damaging your future, welcome to the Club. Many people on the Spectrum do not go out and socialise, have trouble holding down jobs and managing stressful environments. Speaking for myself, I ended up in a shop job doing Customer Service for years because I thought I should just have A job-and was left so Depressed that I needed medication long before I finished there just to function.

Also, we tend to highly intelligent and creative, neither of which are bad things, as you are. Find the right kind of job and place to work and you'll be fine, no matter what anyone might tell you. I found the best way to find that job is find people who understand being on the Spectrum who can help. If you aren't? They'll still help-and do it better than people who think you are just a bit strange.

Stay strong and better luck in the future.

Once you are in a job and have passed any probationary period, then yes, telling your employer of a diagnosis might be beneficial. At the application and interview stage there is no obligation to divulge autism and it may be advantageous not to.

I don’t nessicerally agree with that. Sometimes telling your employer you have autism can be a good thing. Legally they only have to make reasonable adjustments for you if they ought to know you are autistic (either you told them or it was so obvious they should have worked it out) the same is true for discrimination arising from disability. Suppose you make an innocent social mistake because of autism and they sack you for it. Well if they knew you were autistic that might be illegal. #notlegaladvice

That sounds awful, I hope you figure things out ): 

• I'm 33years old I'm in the middle spectrum of autism what ever that means I also don't socialise or have friends or family I lost my kids because I never realised I had autism  yes never tell work you have autism as I've had years of being descriminated against still no job it's been 12 years

Your medical records are secret. Asking for them as part of a job application would be very unusual and again depending on context possibly illegal if it looks like they’re demanding that to get round discrimination law.

Will it not show up on my medical records? 

NAS74742 said:

I am worried if I am diagnosed. That I won't be able to get a job again in the future.

You are under no obligation to declare you are autistic at interviews and in truth they’d rather you didn’t. Legally they can be prosecuted if they diliberately don’t give you a job because you are autistic so not knowing gives them a measure of protection.

there are certain things you just don’t put on your CV. Disability’s, dates of birth, ethnicity, pictures of you, former gender status. Tbh if you have an androgynous name you don’t even need imply your gender on your cv.

•  your funny u sound like me what mental heath do u have!!

Hi I'm demi.... I also believed I was misdiagnosed I have autism and communication disorder with means I stutter and jumble up words or say things I don't mean to say out loud  I also have alot of othe conditions as well