• Replies 9 replies
  • Subscribers 72 subscribers
  • Views 1425 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Diagnoses or not??

Purplemoon2008

Hi everyone I'm new here . I've been screened by a healthcare proffesional that I may have autism however I'm unsure of getting a diagnosis as I have been told by people with autisim that their mental health diagnosis can be taken away at the point of diagnosis especially if the mental health condition overlaps in symptoms . I couldn't cope without help for my mental health and ive heard community mental health don't support autism and there's no help out there for it so I don't know wheather there's any point seeking a diagnosis? Any advice would be very helpful thanks for reading .

  • in reply to Bunny

    Thanks bunny really appreciate all those links I'll have a good read and yes that's a good idea talking to my mental health team x

  • in reply to White_Dragon

    Ah thank you white dragon. Yeah exactly I don't really see the point in gaining one. Glad no one's chased you. Crikey 1 point that's very close x

  • Just wanted to say hello and welcome, nothing much to add to  what has already been said. I too right now am satisfied with self identification, apart from feeling like a performing flea I’m not sure what benefit I would gain by having a formal diagnosis. I can understand people needing the validation or for work reasons etc but for me I am ok with the conclusion I have come to. Nobody here has chased me….despite being a fearsome dragon!

    ps you and Lorus beat me by a point on the AQ40!

  • You might find it helpful to have a read through this guidance from the NAS. It includes discussion of self-identification, links to insights from other autistic people, potential benefits of a diagnosis (like helping you to access support that meets your needs, such as reasonable adjustments at work, or access to social care and benefits), and more:

    NAS - Deciding whether to seek an autism assessment  

    You might also find it helpful to read through some of the guidance on mental health conditions. According to the articles, some of these - such as bipolar disorder, which you asked about in a different thread, anxiety, depression, and OCD, for example - are believed to occur more often in autistic people than in others:

    NAS - Mental health conditions

    Please know that I'm not trying to persuade or advise you either way about seeking a diagnosis. Just offering some resources that you might find helpful in reaching and feeling more comfortable with your own decision.

    Perhaps the risk that you fear (ie your existing diagnosis and support being removed) is also something that you could discuss further with your GP, or with other medical professionals who are involved in supporting you for your own, existing mental health diagnosis?

  • in reply to Lotus

    Thanks lotus that's very interesting to read .I've decided to self diagnose too. And I scored that too!! X

  • Hi and welcome to the community. I'm a long standing member here and I decided not to get a professional diagnosis because 1. My doctor said I wouldn't get any support if I had one, 2. I was worried that I'd be told I wasn't autistic, because I had masked for decades to fit in before realising I could be on the spectrum, and 3. After talking to people on this forum I felt comfortable to self diagnose as I felt at home here and that I had things in common with other members.

    Just a bit of background information: I'm a woman in my sixties and realised I was on the spectrum when I was in my fifties. I score 42 on the AQ50 autism test. 

    I hope you find this forum useful and enjoy chatting with us.

  • in reply to profdanger

    Thanks for the reply Profdanger that's interesting to know thanks for pointing those things out I didn't know any of those things x

  • Welcome Purplemoon2008!

     overwhelmed & underwhelmed ( O & U ) (overwhelmed) nailed it in regards to self-diagnosis. I’d also recommend taking the Autism Spectrum Quotient Test, as that is a great way to gauge where you stand in the spectrum.

    Purplemoon2008 said:
    I don't know wheather there's any point seeking a diagnosis?

    Well an official diagnosis can potentially be beneficial in getting accommodations for the workplace. Not always, but it can. The only potential negative that I know of that can come with an official diagnosis is that some countries won’t let you immigrate if you have an official diagnosis. Weird, but it is a thing. If you’re planning on moving to New Zealand any time soon, don’t get a diagnosis lol.