why are self-diagnosed aspies considered "posers?"

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I've seen too many people here who self-diagnosed and had that diagnosis confirmed professionally to take such a statement at face value.

Maybe it's not but some people have no way to get diagnosed. Self diagnosis can help people find support or ways to cope.

Since many of us study things to the nth degree, and medical professionals often don't learn anything about Autism, it could be argued that we are far better qualified to diagnose ourselves and each other than mot of the professionals are. I've lost track of how many people have reported being told they can't have Aspergers because they're a girl, or not good at math etc.

Not only do many who are self-diagnosed later go on to get an official diagnosis, this isn't the first time I self-diagnosed something. Almost 10 years ago, I realized that many of my health problems were related to thyroid trouble. Needing prescription medication to manage this, I did get an official diagnosis, and I'm still taking the medication and it still helps -- if I miss a day I feel it.

Yes, I must say that my family doctor and my old psychiatrist don't know nearly as much about AS as I do. My old psychiatrist even admitted it.

I was just answering the question, became that's exactly what the answer is.

What worries me about self-diagnosis isn't whether people have the traits at all, but whether people have the traits at a clinical level or at a subclinical level. I think the number of people who are not in one of those two categories who self diagnose are very tiny. I still think that a majority are right, but not all. Luckily it doesn't matter that much if people are using when they're subclinical, it just bothers me to use the label for subclinical, as long as people don't go around saying that they are exactly what Asperger's is. that is damaging. I have seen it happen (once ever), and it does cause problems.

I really like Callista's suggestion she made some other time about a culturally autistic label.

I think we benefit from having self-diagnosed people involved in the community. I think they benefit from being involved in the community. From what I've seen of people who were identifying this way without a diagnosis they in order of most frequency:
a) Don't decide to get a diagnosis ever
b) Decide to get a diagnosis and its solidly confirmed
c) Determine eventually that they personally feel that ADHD, social anxiety, giftedness, and/or BAP is a better label
d) Attempt to get a diagnosis, are told they're not autistic, are given a description why, and are satisfied with this understanding
e) Attempt to get a diagnosis, are told they're not autistic, are not satisfied.

People who fall into category C seems to have that tend to occur most often around 1-2 years into active researching. A and B the likelihoods increase the more research people do (A more often if the person is employed, B more often if unemployed or younger). People who eventually fall into categories D and E seem to be most often those who use "self-diagnosed" before 3 months of research.

I want to say I said I was self-diagnosed after a month of research, but the truth is that at that point it was more like three years of research. The first and last months were the times I actually thought I was autistic and everything in between I just sort of filed it away and didn't think about it directly, and any reading I did on autism (which was a substantial amount) was not something I was doing to determine whether I was autistic.

Very true, although there are many that do not go on to get a professional diagnosis. It could be argued that those that do go on to be diagnosed have the significant impairment, whereas those that do not, are BAPs. There are more than a few who don't seem to get passed their doctor or psychologist, it's hard to say if they have been screened correctly.

It we got scientific about this and selected a random sample of 20 self-diagnosed WP subscribers I suspect the proportion that would meet a diagnosis would be high, but I would be surprised if is above 80%. By this assumption, 2 in 10 WP self-diagnosed people could probably do with a screening to put them right. Believing you are an aspie when you are not can't be benefitial.

Jason.

I refuse to self-diagnose, I guess I am in the early stages now of trying to get screened by someone qualified. I won't accept a non-diagnosis by someone who doesn't have the relevant training/experience, but if they are qualified I would.

My thought is that self-diagnosis makes it easier for people to dismiss the whole concept (diagnosed and self-diagnosed) as pop psychology and not take it seriously. This means there will never be political or social will to deal with the problem. Attempts to secure funding, or raise public awareness, will flop as everyone responds with, "Oh anyone can just say they have that." They're already not treating it seriously.

Probably but also some people might be impaired enough that it interferes with them trying to go out and get diagnosed.

I would but I have no money or insurance and a fear of talking to psychologists/psychiatrists and I have trouble calling people I don't know if I even knew where to call for this.

Self-diagnosed people are probably afraid of being officially diagnosed with a different mental disorder that isn't AS.

I am a little worried about being officially mis-diagnosed with the wrong mental disorder. Particularly if they want to medicate it. But I'm not worried if someone who knows what they're doing has an alternate diagnosis.

^^^^^^^ I agree with this statement.

Until I was (recently) professionally diagnosed, I did not refer to myself as having Asperger's (though who I tell now is few, as I don't have many friends or others to *share* with).

Asperger's seems sort of a fad diagnosis these days, as I know of two women, who after watching one TV show/sit com decided that Asperger's was what they had and made a point to proclaim their new *diagnosis* to everyone. It (a self-diagnosis) seems to serve as a sort of identity to those who are struggling with their concept of self and want to feel as either a *part* of something or so *different* as to seem novel or special to those who aren't like them.

At the same time, I have a close friend who I am sure COULD get a formal diagnosis of Asperger's if he truly wanted to, yet he doesn't seek it out, content to live his life without a possibly contentious label.

In the end, all it comes down to is a matter of semantics...something, it is obvious, that most people feel very strongly about.

Well one advantage of initiating the process, is it's unlikely that you'll receive a horrendus mis-diagnosis. eg: Schizophrenia. It's when others bring you to the attention of the medical authorities for bizarre or extreme behaviours that you lose control of your medical care.

I often wonder about my wife's cousin. She has had some long standing depression issues, but due to her expressing these as a "suicide attack" (to quote Tony Attwood), this has resulted in heavy medication and electro shock therapy. Her mother is as eccentric as they come.

Jason.

People with other undiagnosed disorders like schizophrenia or ASPD probably sometimes claim to have autism since autism has obvious positive aspects to it.

Me too, I've spent a lot of time here, figuring out everything I can about asperger's. I've read 30+ books, numerous articles and posts. Yet, I won't put my status here as self-diagnosed nor claim it or mention it to anyone IRL. It would feel like a lie.

I'm really unsure wether to take the next step. My current personal circumstances are close to optimal, but a small slip could be disasterous. If this happens I won't have the opportunity to get a diagnosis in time to help. This is an awkward situation.

Jason.