What do you think of the self-diagnosed?

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Well, jim, I haven't wasted anymore time because of AS. My noticing the stims has explained why some seek me out. It may even explain some bullying. That SAVED time! I wish I knew about the autism earlier, that would have saved a lot.

You do have an interesting perspective, but if I wanted to so closely identify with you, etc, I would say I WAS diagnosed.

It is a shame that so many are so mistrusting. the lousy part is I went to a doctor for this. I BET if I went 25 years later, he would have said AS! At this point, my mother is older, I'm working, and there is no real benefit to getting assurance that the name is right. Wow, I WISH I could have known even when I was a teenager! The time I went was around 1970. That was about 11 years before Aspergers work was translated, and 24 years before it was an official diagnosis.

Besides,if I did do it, you might say "too late", or "you paid".

Steve

I didn't originally come here for the Aspie forum, but the parent's forum. My son is "classic" autistic and I came here because it seemed the best fit. But more and more, and after taking several tests, I'm convinced that I'm Asperger's and my husband is "classic" autistic. And even if not, we certainly share enough traits and perspective to get along better here than anywhere else.
Getting diagnosed isn't a benefit for us, but it is for our son.

Although I was fairly certain that I had AS from the time I first came across it, I wanted to be formally assessed. I never publicly claimed to have AS durring the time I was only self diagnosed. In fact I waited until after, to join Wrong Planet, but that probably more of me and anxiety, than having any problem with those who are self diagnosed.

What does bother me a little is a list I came across a while back of Wikipedia contributors, who have AS.Most of the people on the list had a sentence or two after there name stating when or how they had been diagnosed. Several people on this list were saying, I scored a 32 on the Geek Test therefore I'm an Aspie. I kinda question that.

I have never had a problem with anyone here at WP. I've never encountered a situation where it seemed that someone was claiming to be Aspie because it sounded cool.

I cannot lump every self-diagnosed person into one category. Keep in mind, some people who are not officially diagnosed are suspected by as being Aspies by professionals, they just haven't been professionally tested. We were all undiagnosed at one point. I was until I was 19...and while I was still living with my parents, I think it would have been quite impossible to get a proper diagnoses.

Well my profile has allways said I do not know. I think for a 36 (soon to be 37 in a few
months myself) its pointless to try to get a precise dx even from a doctor. I'm about
99% sure I'm on the spectrum from so many of the comorbit problems I have. The
very reason its so tricky to get a dx means how little it means. Like I self -dx myself
as having inattentive ADD. Some of the likely miss-DX of inattentive ADD I allready have like hypothyroidism. I use the lable aspie for a lack of a better term to show
solidarity with the various people on this site.

Think it's ok since you don't need a diagnose to access the autism stuff well not the high down the road stuff - think if someone does not act on it though as in trying to get the help if you are having problem's in life..... This is UK by the way have not checked US stuff...

I can't remember the term for this but Ill stick the saying in.....

/*
A person that is left open to a book of disorders will visit the doctor claiming they have this and want to be treated for it....
*/

Think it’s ok but I do think about all them people who do that are sitting back not going forward… Even though I am on the team’s I am finding it hard to adjust my attitude as I want help but I also don’t at the same time… kind of hard to brake a Anxiety cycle… take’s time…. but am going to try harder after the holiday's & I am spending way too much time on this site as someone else pointed out... about them... funny part is I hate forums... lol

I'm Self diagnosed.

At times, I am doubtful though, but thats ok. Its rational to consider both possibilities. Likely I am on the very mild side, but at 34, I should have a good deal of coping mechanisms. Certainly I am not an NT at any stretch.

I'm waffling over seeking a DX. I feel it would do me little good at my age. My primary difficulty is with empathy/communication and because of it, employment. I've worked at least 20 places over the last 16 years. My sensory/touch issues are managable.

I also have no natural ability for small talk. That was re-established tonight as my brother and I went out for supper, and he chatted up our waitress and the bartender. He asked many leading questions and I sat there dumbfounded and wondering where he gets these questions.

After she walked away, I gave him a blow by blow of what motions she made with her body(my obsession is body language, strangely), and he commented that I should have been listening to her words. In five minutes, he knew where she was from, how long she had worked at the bar, that her dad loved hockey, and half a dozen other things. He knew more about her than I know about my coworkers after 6 months.

As for why an NT would label themselves with autism, self delusion would be more likely than an outright lie.


So, whatever I am, I am. Insights from the ASD community have allowed me to better understand myself, and thats what counts. I'm staying.

I notice somebody on this list assuming they have not set there profile to hide they are online voted only the clinically dx should be allowed on WP.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DX males online during vote (n=14)
---------------------------------
almarzhm
space
Deutha
Tequila
animeboy
logitechdog
veresae
Unknown
TheBladeRoden
Gamester
stevek
headphase
Tim_Tex
dimensionaltraveler

DX females online during vote (n=8 )
---------------------------------
lkonantz
mummadisaster
Ticker
goomba
bizarre
CockneyRebel
tinky
krex

Other autism spectrum female(n=1)
--------------------------------
KimJ

Other autism spectrum male(n=1)
-------------------------------
Nexus

The scum below (including myself the voter wants removed)

Self DX female(n=1)
------------------
LRKirsch

Self DX males (n=4)
-------------------
computerlove
who_am_i
Zenmiester
fuzzy

Not sure female(n=1)
-------------------
Louise

Not sure male(n=1)
------------------
TheMachine1

No data at this time(n=14)
-------------------------
jyossarian
bluebandit
Phantasmagoric
Stoke
aspieduck
Njwlss
pixygiggles
Paula
emere
sao309
Aardvark
asperion
s1lenze
Beta-guy

Last edited by TheMachine1 on 28 Dec 2006, 3:07 am, edited 3 times in total.

I think self diagnosis should be a stepping stone. It seems harmful to me to self diagnose anything when you are not a professional. I don't buy the "but there's no one in town that knows about AS" story. I live in a rural town and was diagnosed, my nephew lives in the Boonies and got diagnosed. A person needs to do things like talk to their medical dpctor and ask what he thinks, if he can refer you to someone, has he ever heard of AS, etc. Or go through the phone book and start calling professionals till you find someone that deals with Aspies. Even try your local University Sociology/Humanities dept. Google your city name, county name or state along with Aspergers pr Autism and see what comes up.

What if it was any other medical/neurological/developmental condition? Would you self diagnose yourself of diabetes or cancer and never see a doctor? For one thing you might think you have AS but have something else instead that could be treated with therapy or medication. Or maybe you have AS and something else and if you got the something else treated it might make the AS more bearable.

Diagnosis doesn't mean the world will change; it doesn't mean family & co-workers will change their opinion of you. It allows you to know the truth about yourself and then opportunities can arise from this to allow you to get therapy or join Autism/Aspergers groups that may be in your town that few people know about. I had no clue there was a group in my town, but after I found out one of the state groups ended up making me a board member. This allows more opportunities for me to grow as a person, to be accepted for who I am and to meet others that understand. So you see diagnosis opens doors.

Uhm....I havent voted yet(I tend to read the threads and forget to go back and vote.)I think it would be absurd to exclude the unDXed.I wasnt DXed for months after joining and would have really missed out on a lot if I "had" to be official to make comments,ask questions.Joining and seeing all the commonalities is part of what made me decide to get DX.I dont think taking the test alone would have been enough.That being said,I am still not 100% sure about my DX.I dont have a lot of faith in psych field....they certainly have been wrong in the past for me and others.I dont think I will be "positive" that my traits are do to brain wiring verses chemical or psychological causes,until there is a more objective test(genetic,MRI)I have no doubt that something is different about how my brain works(or refuses to).

What I do know....is that what ever makes me "me"....I feel more at home here then any where I have ever been before.I had pretty much given up on the idea of relating to other humans.Thats about all I need from WP.Not to feel completely alone and be able to connect to people who I find interesting,humorous and compassionate.

Krex- There already is several genetic marker tests and yes brain MRIs that show a difference between autistic and non-autistic people. Go to some of the parents of autism sites and ask around. I'm not sure if those tests can demonstrate Aspergers yet, but apparently they can absolutely prove differences of autistics according to what some Autie moms have told me.

There are no physical test for aspergers. Even ADHD which is much easier to detect
on a physical test like a EEG can not be used to DX ADHD. There are some earily genetic research but there is no test available. A doctor will use the same DSM-IV
criteria a novice can read. Though ideally a doctor would be more objective.There is
no treatment for AS. Its not even political correct to even mention treatment and AS.
You treat your comorbit issues. I do not need a g*D*mn doctor to tell me I'm depressed (DX depression), cant focus (DX ADHD) or fear to answer my front door
(DX social anxiety disorder). Dx is worthless!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!

Ticker....thanks for the info.I doubt my insurance company would be will ing to let me take an MRI or genetic test just to satisfy my curiosity(I wish they would....I would love to see a picture of my "innards")

Machine1....I am glad you have the self confidence of your own observations.I constantly question my own perception of reality.Aspergers is no exception.I was a psych major in college and had to much therapeutic intervention growing up....half the time, I dont know which end is up(psychologically speaking).It probably doesnt help that my boyfriend,mom,sisters and only friend seem to think the whole thing is nothing more then a "personality type" and wish I would never mention it again.After all,autism and depression are......"All in your head".....(DUH,it's not in my feet.)

It requires zero self confidence because there is no intrinsic value in knowing
if you have aspergers. If you lived your entire life being gay and never heard
the word homosexual would it make any difference?

You are very wrong. There are DNA tests, enzyme and MRIs that have recently demonstrated autism exists in the medical sense.

Also Autism can be treated. Its been proven for years that many autistics improve behaviors and cognitive abilities when taking certain vitamins, increasing fat intake and eliminating casein and gluten. (GUARANTEED you take L-Glutathione, Alpha Lipoc Acid, Hydroxycobalamine, DHA, PRobiotics & eliminate wheat and people will tell you you act different and you act happier. And it will increase your cognitive ability because true autistics bodies are starved of these nutrients & because wheat is a common allergen.) One example is the Feingold diet. You need to do your research.

DX is not worthless you are just too SCARED of knowing for sure if your hunch is right about having AS. SOME doctors have expertise above online AS tests because they have been around hundreds of autistics and learn to "know one when they see one". Have you even bothered to go to autism meetings and see if you are really like other autistics and see if they think dx is worthless too?

FDA approved? Commerically available? In the scientific literture as usefull for dx?

No, No, No Please provide link to hospital doing test in the US and/or scientific articals:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed




Done my reaserch on diet/supplements and autism. No evidence any of it is helpfull.
I do take omega-3 (but all people should). Provide links to scientific articals on medline otherwise: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed



No I'm not in the least bit scared to know what I have. I just know knowing the answer is worthless. No I would never meet any people other than my family and again knowing I'm like other autisic is of no value and I can read dx aspies on WP
and see there is no value in DX.