Is it worth pursuing a diagnosis as an adult?

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I think you hit the nail on the head and that is the confusing thing for me: how is it that any "functioning" person could ever be given any diagnosis of any developemental *disorder??? And what defines "functioning"???


Like for example my brother is low functioning b/c he cannot work at all and lives on SS/aid. My mom and I are great academically, she got a 4.0 in college but my mom can't GET a job and I can't HOLD a job (I've had over a dozen and counting). I thought a/b maybe applying for aid if I absolutely needed to someday b/c of the work programs and the ones that help pay for college... but the thought of me entrusting myself to the government (of all things!! !) is just... no I wont even go there

Thank you everyone for your input... It almost brought up more questions than answers, but I like the socratic approach to problems.

If only things were simple and straight forward, right? But then I guess that wouldn't be "life" or whatever... I'll look into the services I would qualify for at the university and whether my insurance changes with a diagnosis and let those be my determining factors.

Last edited by jlym on 05 Oct 2012, 10:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

That change is a semantic one only. The idea is to remove the current plethora of labels for various persons on the same spectrum of disorder. Those diagnosed with Aspergers will likely, after the new DSM is published, be classified as high functioning autistic without language delay. This is a positive change. The new diagnostic criteria is better as well. Now includes things like sound/light/texture sensitivity as part of it.

In response to greater thread question- there's two reasons why an adult may want to seek out a Dx: 1. Having trouble with life, maybe have developed comorbid mood or personality disorders, need access to assistance. and 2. Suspect and need to know. and possibly 3. having financial trouble due to inability to obtain/keep job, need to file for disability assistance.

You should probably put it off until after the new DSM comes out. May of next year, I think.

For school accommodations, schools often require up to date diagnoses, and it would be moar worthwhile to get a diagnosis that matches the new standard rather than a diagnosis of a disorder that is being eliminated.

This has been a fascinating thread, and right down my path...

I've known about my issues v. NT status quo since childhood, but only within the last five years have I realized I could be an Aspie comorbid with other disorders, chiefly BPD and APD. My dad's classic response growing up has always been 'it's a phase' or 'that's just my son', or 'his generation are just a bit softer than mine, he'll figure it out', so DX has never been an option. The era and community I grew up in didn't help either.

I am seeking DX after many years of vacillating due to fears of rejection and ostracism, esp in the workplace, as I had absorbed that my upbringing internalizing my struggles with AS and other behaviors was wrong and something to look down upon and be ashamed of. After 15 years of no moving forward in either my personal or professional lives, that thinking has worn its welcome out completely.

However, the stigma still exists among what personal circles I keep, which is frustrating.

The first person I let know I was seeking support about AS was, was a gay friend of mine, who understood the very similar fears of rejection and ignorance I'd face. He encouraged me to seek DX and share my condition with friends and family that I trusted. My brother is also gay, and his partner works in social services with AS/ASD kids, so figured he'd be ideal to help guide me on my quest for answers. Was pretty shocked that both of them treated my adult desire to seek DX for AS, as futile, misguided, flippant, and transient. Neither of them felt I was serious and even began to ignore me as I tried to explain what behaviors and fears I'd lived with the last decade at least. Felt deflated, angry, frustrated, and alone, as well as genuinely shocked that someone who supports children in this very capacity would react to me in this way.

So yeah. There are enough obstacles out there for those who aren't diagnosed -- please seek an assessment to find out more about what can be done to help.

I got diagnosed as an adult, and I think it helped. It might be worth thinking about.

Despite all the fears brought up in this thread I still think getting diagnosed as an adult is basically a good thing and recommended. It helped me with therapy greatly. It seems though that unlike in my country it can seriously affect your insurance in the USA, which would be a valid reason avoiding a dx, and the only one, in my opinion (apart form waiting for the new DSM to come out finally, but I was diagnosed according to ICD anyway).

So far so good, privacy is intact regarding my dx, but if ever it's going to change, I will be glad to be an advocate for the better, defend not only my stake, but anyone else's who's in need for one. Things are going kind of downhill in Hungary too, the government (the ruling Fidesz party, headed by Mr. Orban) deviously turns public opinion against the poor and the disabled. Resonates too much with the Nazis. Hope I'm not right.

I am so brand new to this and good points keep being brought up. My question is, how can someone with ASD, and who has never known they have it, and who has been faking it that they have NT personality, attitude, emotions... well how can they not have mood, emotional, personality disorders??? How can any of us not have these? We go through life every day like actors putting on fake emotions, pretending to like conversation, pretending to be interested in it, pretending to be happy to see people, pretending to connect w/ people, pretending to be comfortable around people...

how can anyone live like that forever and still be themselves, and honest to themselves, and have developed no quircks??? I question if that is possible

Well, some do seem to manage. Emphasis on "seem". As for me, I do have some PD-like characteristics, namely manic, depressive, narcissistic, social anxiety, avoidant, borderline. But I'm almost sure I'm not diagnosable with any, and my problems are a result of having an ASD. All these PD-like symptoms attribute to having quirks.

I'm constantly trying to observe people, spot like-minded folks, and lately, after my dx, pick up signs of ASDs and PDs in those around me. Many have ASD symptoms, no surprise (similar people gravitate to each other, not to mention relatives). Many seem to have developed PD-like symptoms or quirks, too. This is part of how they cope in their lifes, mostly unconsciously, of course. When there's a pressure from family and society to conform to their ideals sooner or later most people will. For them, there's no other choice, there's only one "right". It bears a price though, hence the PD issues. So coping, acting etc. are essentially a must. And, most of them don't seem to be honest with themselves in the first place. They are taught not to.

I completely agree, and I know that I must have some serious issues after pretending I am someone I am not for so long! But what I want to do is become true to myself, accept myself even with my ASD, and by doing that begin to recognize all of the distortions (quircks) that I have adopted over the years in an exaggerated effort to seem neurotypical. I think all of our lives *before we know we have ASD we assume we are just a "late bloomer" so we try to make up for it by observing and adopting neurotypical 'timing' even though our true timing of an emotion and expression and communication may be delayed, early, or drawn out for a longer period of time...

Anyway, faking our own emotions and expressions is like lieing to ourselves on the deepest level and like all learned behavior it will take time to undo these habits. I think as far as those who are not honest with themselves and still want to adopt NT behavior (unrecommended), that it is just going to come across as distorted/exaggerated and I know I have been labeled by others as "fake" so definitly no, I think we should be true to ourselves

No one goes through life without getting messed up. Also, I've never faked being anybody but myself, it has made me more of an outcast but I like who I am and the people that still appreciate me.

100% yes but make sure your health insurance covers it I didn't have it at the time but when I did this in 2009 I was working so it was well worth the price.

I think that what it did was confirm my mild aspy and OCD etc. I don't like to say cure but it did move me towards cure and management. What it did was, although the past three years were so challenging I just find now confirming what I have makes me more aware and empathtic towards others.

On the not so good side I was too trusting and got burnt by ex friends but now the challenge is to be aware of others' feelings and also act on gut feelings. That is not some new age thing, just that even if it is family or boss or anyone it is not that they are bad always, just I know now not to go and please and change my behaviour to please then.

Point is, I know now from a diagnosis why I was and am the way I was/am so it acts as a reminder. Although my liver is now working perfectly for my age, they say anger is a result of a bad liver, knowing my behaviours and practicing assertion helps me not to get angry. My anger is way down from what it was 3 years ago as is blood pressure.

Agree but if people make you and me outcasts then they are the outcasts as we spend more time with those that don't think me are.

If that makes sense

Do it if you can afford it, that's what I believe.

I like the idea of a trained professional evaluating me.

Who knows, you might learn something new about yourself.

I truly wish you well, good luck.

I am so motivated now to do just that: be myself 100% AS and all and expect other people to accept me just as much as I accept them, and appreciate me. Now the hard part is going to be finding myself buried under layers of fake NT personality that I have been building on since the first day of sixth grade. I still remember when I first noticed the other kids' facial expressions were different than mine... they were like another species of primate or something

Anyway this is going to be a challenge

Being that doctors are people, too, their opinions can be emotional.

If you find medical services convenient, you might use a doctor, in the same sense that someone uses a notary public or concierge.

The color of authority is useful in settling arguments with skeptics, but you should consider the role of science to be advisory, only -- not morally binding.