Published on 12, July, 2020
I was talking to someone the other day as they haven't sought after a diagnosis for ASD as they didn't want to regret it later (as they thought an official diagnosis could limit their opportunities after university), and it got me thinking. I did not consider any of the potential issues after getting an official diagnosis, I just wanted some answers. Unlike them, I have had various mental health issues, and I've tried therapy many times to no avail. Obviously some mental health issues can be co-morbid of ASD and with how I am socially it should have been investigated when I was much younger. It wasn't until I was in my early 20's, fed up of wondering why therapy didn't seem to work for me but wanted to be "normal" I started to consider that I may be autistic. So I went after a diagnosis, which has allowed me to give up notion that one day I can be "normal" if I try hard enough, and I am okay with being different now (after getting over post diagnosis grief). So for me the diagnosis was worth potentially limiting my opportunities (even though I'm 99% sure it won't as my interests and ambitions are not effected as far as I know).
I was wondering what everyone else's experiences or opinions on the matter are?
I would rather have the truth than live in the dark. I'd say I was fortunate enough to have been statemented at an early stage of life, that way I knew of the challenges that awaited me as time went on.
My biggest drawback is that I didn't have any good mentorship to help me see my truest potential. My father abandoned me at the tender age of nine, and my step-father was quite a bullish character who was typically drunk. He couldn't handle me, and as such would spend a lot more of his time ridiculing myself, saying how stupid I was and that I wouldn't amount to anything. And for a long time, I believed him.
It was only until after he died did I begin to realise who I was and what kind of a person I am, and to that extent I am always grateful I was told who I was and what I could be capable of. Without that diagnosis, I probably wouldn't be the man I am today