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Diagnosis; a useful step, or a way for society to label us?

JT

Days away from assessment, after over 2 years wait, and I'm really, really unsure whether to go ahead with it.

I have a career that has had its problems, and that I still struggle to work at the same rate as my colleagues before I am exhausted, but still, I fear this could be put in jeopardy if I get diagnosed as on the spectrum?

Can anyone convince me its the best thing to do? I've read many arguments fore and against, but the fact thst so many people on the spectrum struggle to be included by employers is ridiculous and something I feel I should avoid. A big part of me feels that society might use these labels to supress 'differences' in many ways, and so I think work is only one example where this could play out if I do go ahead?

I know I'm different from very socialble types who crave experiences that I find totally over stimulate my senses, and I know I'd rather be anywhere in the world than in the presence of a group of people socialising, but I also know this same mind gives me capacities for thinking creatively and in unique ways that make me who I am, so why would I want to draw a line round these and add a label that could be used as a negative?

Anxiety, depression and feeling isolated motivated

Confused

Parents

  • Hats off for sticking with it, that's quite the achievement.

    Thanks for the responses guys. After a lot of reflection on what to do, in the end, I decided to pull out of the assessment. I think I am suffering from depression after 4 months with a newborn in a 9 month stretch of lockdowns during covid, that have really taken their toll on my already struggling mental health.

    So I just didn't feel that being assigned a label, for traits that I already know place me on a certain category, would be helpful atm. I could sense a real identity struggle that was keeping me awake most nights, and so ive approached getting some therapy whilst continuing on as a whatever level of undiagnosed spectrum type I might be, with the knowledge that I will probably cross this bridge again in a few years when my new baby boy begins attempting to navigate the nightmare of school, if traits start to appear in him then I'll know which direction to go.

    For now I'm mostly contented by the idea of not labelling myself, this at least in part makes me feel more normal (whatever that means). I think those diagnosed run the risk of being margainalised by society which I think is wrong, so sort of feel the diagnosis exists to help Joe Public, not those of us suffering the effects of those societal differences perhaps.

    I know that sentiment will be unpopular, but it's how I honestly feel. When only 14% of those on the spectrum are employed then I think this says it all.

    For now being who we are should be enough in may ways. When that is not accepted I think it's societies problem not ours.

    Ijust hope thats enough

Reply

  • Hats off for sticking with it, that's quite the achievement.

    Thanks for the responses guys. After a lot of reflection on what to do, in the end, I decided to pull out of the assessment. I think I am suffering from depression after 4 months with a newborn in a 9 month stretch of lockdowns during covid, that have really taken their toll on my already struggling mental health.

    So I just didn't feel that being assigned a label, for traits that I already know place me on a certain category, would be helpful atm. I could sense a real identity struggle that was keeping me awake most nights, and so ive approached getting some therapy whilst continuing on as a whatever level of undiagnosed spectrum type I might be, with the knowledge that I will probably cross this bridge again in a few years when my new baby boy begins attempting to navigate the nightmare of school, if traits start to appear in him then I'll know which direction to go.

    For now I'm mostly contented by the idea of not labelling myself, this at least in part makes me feel more normal (whatever that means). I think those diagnosed run the risk of being margainalised by society which I think is wrong, so sort of feel the diagnosis exists to help Joe Public, not those of us suffering the effects of those societal differences perhaps.

    I know that sentiment will be unpopular, but it's how I honestly feel. When only 14% of those on the spectrum are employed then I think this says it all.

    For now being who we are should be enough in may ways. When that is not accepted I think it's societies problem not ours.

    Ijust hope thats enough

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