What are the benefits and cons of being diagnosed?

Post Reply New Topic

Pros:
1. You are eligible for support for your problems
2. You can explain your 'odd behaviour' to people so they don't misunderstand you
3. You can begin to accept yourself and gain self-esteem

Cons:
1. You know you have a disability and will never be 'normal' (whatever that is)
2. It is usually expensive

The mere fact that it happens at all is information people ought to know about. You do no one any favors by making out that it's not a significant concern. I'll give people the information and let them decide for themselves. There is a case written up by a news organization, below.

Anyone who doesn't realize that a psych diagnosis can be marginalizing, and that marginalization can cause things to happen to you "that aren't supposed to happen," has led an overly-lucky life.

Here's one written up by a news organization:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales ... _page.html

Their basis of their taking the child makes no sense, but it obviously didn't have to.

I'm not saying these cases are common, or that they alone should persuade someone away from a diagnosis. But they have happened, and it's important to know about^* -- and I don't buy "well, those people must've been deserving in some way; the state would never wrong a 'normal aspie' like that."


^* And there is important information in that thread, such as that Tony Attwood will be of no help if that happens to you. I think many people would be shocked to know that.

On some level, I think it's beneficial just to know, for the sake of personal identity. There's also a sense of community that comes with it. The only negative I see is it can become an excuse if you let it. How it affects your life, positive or negative, is ultimately up to you.

Expensive? Now that is one of my worst fears for this diagnosis thing, I really don't want to be a bother to my parents
but then again getting support is okay i guess, what kind of support do they give? Or are you just saying medication as support.

If you are still in the education system, then you may be able to get assessed by an educational psychology service without any significant charge. People have discussed private assessments in many threads and give costs in the range of about $400 to $1,200.

Drugs are not the only support - obviously some people have issues like depression, ADD, OCD and anxiety that can be helped with drugs, but there is no specific drug treatment for Asperger's or autism.

Supports include specific educational, occupational and social interventions that help people learn methods of coping with any difficulties they have. I assume that you are posting here because you have noticed some difficulties or differences you have that most people do not - there might be therapies that help with those. Where they affect school, they might qualify for additional help and for concessions in academic assessment. Understanding issues like sensory integration can help you identify places and times where you have unpleasant experiences.

There is no medication designed to help people with ASDs unless they have anxiety, depression, anger problems, etc. However, you can get social skills training, cognitive behavioural therapy, sensory integration therapy, and you can join a support group for people with AS. It depends on your personal abilities and needs.