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“Trendy” diagnoses

Alien0n3arth

I’ve got some negative experience and also some thoughts. It’s about the self diagnosis in mental health conditions being not accepted mostly by professionals. 
There are various online tests - screening tools. AQ50, AQ10, RAADS, and many others. There are also tests for ADHD. These are screening tools, not designed to diagnose. When you fill out the test, you get the result. If your result is significantly high, you get a message- you might have xyz condition, it’s better to contact a mental health professional. What is the reality? If you fill out the test or even few of them and their results together point to this condition and you go to the professional, there is a high chance, that they will not take you seriously, there high risk of hearing the stupid  “trendy” comments about diagnoses that everyone wants to have, that you just want attention, you’re just lazy not willing to work on yourself, or laugh and question if you know it from TikTok. 
There is a huge ocean of information and also misinformation out there, we as non professionals often lack the ability to differentiate what is true, what is not, but it also depends on where do we look for the information. Social media is more likely to deliver us more misinformation than books, but it’s not all black and white. 
the truth is that we ourselves know best what we experience and a professional who questions that, who tells us “you are exaggerating, creating your problems yourself, or that “this is not a problem” erode our trust and make us more cautious about contacting them. I heard from a psychotherapist (psychiatrist and psychologist, with long experience, doctor, lecturer at a university) that lack of friends is not a problem when I told her it is. When I was a teenager, I was suicidal because of this. And then I heard such a thing. 
So I feel it like - if you think that xyz condition describes your problems and explains the why’s, better stay as you are and don’t dare self diagnosing or reaching out to professionals with your insignificant problems. I hope I will finally find someone treating me seriously. I hope others here have better experience. In my case I was told by few professionals that Im probably autistic, the first one - the lecturer gave me her “trendy” comment after I described her my problems. I haven’t even mentioned anything about autism. I will see if it leads me anywhere or I stay as I am trying to cope. At least the self dx helped me manage my life in a way that is a bit easier for me and recognize how to name actually my struggles and strength and weaknesses. I’m not sure why I’m sharing this, just want to share some thoughts and experience. Can anyone relate? Sorry for a long post

Parents

  • Lets call "trendy" diagnoses and all the other derogative phrases and comments out for what they are; Discrimination and Ableism.

    In my opinion, self-diagnoses is just as valid as a diagnosis, why?, because a solid 70-80% of diagnoses is self-diagnoses, and it is rare (with an actual professional who understands Autism, ADHD, etc and how it can present across different genders) that a self-diagnosed individual will not be correct about their theory.

    I find it shocking how many mental health professionals don't actually have a clue about neurodivergence, which goes some way to explain (but not excuse) how our presentation is reduced to 'behavioural symptoms' as a diagnosis (rather than symptoms of a much bigger picture).

    I grew up under the assumption that I had PTSD, Anxiety disorder and panic attacks, when in reality (after doing my own research and referring for a diagnoses), I have Autism, ADHD, OCD, C-PTSD, Dyspraxia, and NEAD (and that's just in the neurodivergence category of diagnoses, without referring to sub-categories).

    I will never understand the mindset of "why would you want to know as as adult if you're neurodivergent?". It is hugely important to know your neurotype, otherwise how on earth are you supposed to know 'yourself'?

    I genuinely believe that the reason I have Fibromyalgia is due to the suppression of trauma from decades of undiagnosed Autism, combined with other childhood trauma (so basically trauma). 

    I didn't 'know' I was masking, and I didn't 'know' I was experiencing sensory overwhelm on a daily basis (resulting in NEAD) because I didn't have the knowledge or tools I needed to keep myself safe and protected. Knowledge is power, and without it, we are denied a sense of agency, one that is vital for both wellbeing and identity.

    I don't care if ignorant people deem neurodivergence as "trendy", people will always have silly outdated opinions. I am a loud and proud Autistic female, but I am also a cautionary tale of the females who allegedly 'slipped through the cracks'.


  • in reply to Lillibet

    I agree Lillibet, I'm out loud and proud to be AC woman too. I have other trendy diagnosis too, dyslexia and fybromyalgia. I'm lucky that I have very supportive GP's.

    What really bugs me is the ignorance of groups who say they're there to support ASC adults and waht they really mean is make sure you have all the benefits you're entittled too and freak out when asked for something more. Even to the point of trying to give me digital solutions when one of my biggest problems is with digital stuff.

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  • in reply to Lillibet

    I agree Lillibet, I'm out loud and proud to be AC woman too. I have other trendy diagnosis too, dyslexia and fybromyalgia. I'm lucky that I have very supportive GP's.

    What really bugs me is the ignorance of groups who say they're there to support ASC adults and waht they really mean is make sure you have all the benefits you're entittled too and freak out when asked for something more. Even to the point of trying to give me digital solutions when one of my biggest problems is with digital stuff.

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