Family thinks pursuing diagnosis is pointless

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About seven years ago I went to a counselor with my mom. The counselor asked my mom if I had Asperger's. My mom is an OT so she is pretty familiar with the diagnosis, and she told the counselor no, thought that was totally not me and didn't take me back to see her again. Since then I've developed an interest in it and always had this thing in the back of my mind wondering if that's really me or not. Recently I have seen a psychologist for unrelated issues and I asked her about AS, but she is very unfamiliar. Upon my request she referred me to a neuropsychologist who sort of specializes in AS. He is fairly confident that I meet criteria for diagnosis, though we will have to do more testing.

What I'm trying to get to is, my mom/family don't see the point of me getting this diagnosis. They say if I am AS, I have it oh so mildly and there basically isn't a point. That it's just a "label." Also I have some medical conditions, so from my different doctor's standpoints they have said can we count this diagnosis as valid considering personality traits can be affected by how you are feeling/your medical condition. I think if I don't go through with this, I'll continue to wonder about it. However, I am a pretty logic based person and I like to have a reason for the things I do.

I'm glad that my family didn't see it, that way.

More testing = more money for him/her

I met with the guy once and he just asked me questions about myself, but didn't do any of the testing. So I guess it wouldn't actually be "more" testing. I did fill out something and leave it there, but of course no results or anything since I did it while I was there. But sure, more testing=more money. It's his job.

What were the benefits they thought you would derive from seeking a diagnosis? Or in other words, why are you glad that you went ahead with pursuing it.

I use the same thinking your family does for my own case. So the question is: what exactly do you hope to gain from a diagnosis? I doubt you'll qualify for any kind of assistance or meaningful help. I suppose it might help your counselor or psychologist treat you, but then you'd mainly be doing it for their benefit. Apart from that, it sounds like you'll tell them you have tendencies A B and C, and they'll tell you that you have a condition that makes you prone towards tendencies A B and C.

I think, that you should do what's right, for you.

My aunt think it is important that's why she's sending me to a(n evil) psychiatrist. Well, I'm trying my best not to be diagnosed. And what's the point of a diagnosis?! You might need it if you're still confused about yourself but..duh..if you're not, then why would you want it?

Psychiatric attention would probably do you no harm but the psychiatrist is sometimes boring

Maybe your family believes diagnosis to be pointless because they don't believe a diagnosis would change who you are, which I believe is an understandable point of view for them. I think that that being the case, if you are seeking a diagnosis for their benefit, there is no need. However, if you are seeking a diagnosis for other reasons, ie your own peace of mind or clarification or..., then you should pursue it.

The therapist I started going to doesn't even seem to know what Asperger's is, even though he diagnosed me with it. He's asking me questions that he should know I don't know how to answer very well. It seems as if he's fishing for disorders, cos you can't "treat" autism, you can only help someone cope with it through patience and understanding. I thought getting a diagnosis would be helpful, but all it's really done is stress me out even more.

If you want to know for yourself (or at least, if you want to get a specialist's opinion), then of course there's a point. Especially if you've spent a long time wondering what the heck is wrong with you!

Well, I got diagnosed so I could get help getting a job and I thought I could get help for social skills, but they didn't really improve. It's just something with practice I had to get used to.
If you want to find out for yourself then just do it. People without anything like AS don't understand how much of a relief that all your weirdness is explained by AS. And you get to meet others that are as weird as you.

With a diagnosis, my son is finally getting help from an appropriate school, vs. getting pink slipped and learning little.

My daughter with a diagnosis has started pre-school early and is making great gains.

They think it's a waste of money. Also they assume because it's a "mild" form of autism it is easy.

They've watched the movie, Rain Man, one time too many.

Are they at all willing to talk about it? When I first told my mother I suspected I had AS, she said, "Oh, no you don't, you function much too well." However, a few weeks later she called me up and said, "When you mentioned having Asperger's, I blew you off, and that was wrong of me. Can you tell me more about why you think you have Asperger's Syndrome?" So I did, and she came around to my way of thinking and encouraged me to get diagnosed. (When she told my father, he simply said, "Yes, I've thought so for a while.") I got diagnosed a bit after that, and they have been nothing but supportive. Perhaps you could try to explain to your family why you think AS is you, before you seek a diagnosis?