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Have people Invalidated your diagnosis (your experiences).

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outlier
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20 Mar 2009, 5:48 pm

^ That last line on being such a capable person is a "paradox" often associated with AS. It causes much confusion in outside observers (and indeed within us). It can be seen when reading the AS autobiographies and other accounts. That's why there's a shift occurring where some professionals are starting to move away from the disorder characterisation somewhat and focus more on the abilities/strengths (e.g. Baron-Cohen, Attwood).



Flismflop
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20 Mar 2009, 10:17 pm

outlier wrote:
^ That last line on being such a capable person is a "paradox" often associated with AS. It causes much confusion in outside observers (and indeed within us). It can be seen when reading the AS autobiographies and other accounts. That's why there's a shift occurring where some professionals are starting to move away from the disorder characterisation somewhat and focus more on the abilities/strengths (e.g. Baron-Cohen, Attwood).

I've always said, on my visits here at WP (which is the only time I ever talk about AS, other than with my psychologist), that AS is not a disorder, it's merely a difference.


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CelticRose
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20 Mar 2009, 11:50 pm

Flismflop wrote:
outlier wrote:
^ That last line on being such a capable person is a "paradox" often associated with AS. It causes much confusion in outside observers (and indeed within us). It can be seen when reading the AS autobiographies and other accounts. That's why there's a shift occurring where some professionals are starting to move away from the disorder characterisation somewhat and focus more on the abilities/strengths (e.g. Baron-Cohen, Attwood).

I've always said, on my visits here at WP (which is the only time I ever talk about AS, other than with my psychologist), that AS is not a disorder, it's merely a difference.

AMEN


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Danielismyname
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20 Mar 2009, 11:59 pm

I can't say that they have.

I suppose I'm a reasonably bright person, barring certain circumstances where my functioning drops, and I'm also capable in many ways (just like most people are), but I'm still impaired in the ways these disorders are outlined (Autistic Psychopathy, Kanner's Autism, Childhood Psychosis or whatever you want to call it).



SamuraiSaxen
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21 Mar 2009, 12:08 am

I'm self diagnosed. My parents didn't believe I had something "different"

My mom watched a little description about AS one year ago, and then she thought "maybe" I had AS.

Two months ago, she was talking to my aunt about her husband's odd traits, and that he could be aspie. Now my mom is more convinced.

My dad doesn't give a crap about the topic.



Liverbird
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21 Mar 2009, 11:16 am

I have little occasional glimpses of invalidation. My dad thinks that I'm 40 years old and some day I'll just wake up and be "normal".

My biggest bit of invalidation is being persecuted in family court for being Asperger's. I get it pointed out on a non-stop basis that I'm some sort of colossal failure because of it and it's basically written in the court documents that I'm an unfit parent because of it. However after I worked so hard to get my son diagnosed, his dad ignores it. The court ignores it. His school is allowed to ignore it. Huge sense of invalidation.

My professional life is full of validation. I'm considered an expert in my field. I'm asked for my professional opinion of these things. But my personal life is a mixture of these huge invalidations and living in my world.


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gina-ghettoprincess
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21 Mar 2009, 11:29 am

I'm self-diagnosed thus far. People (even professionals) keep saying I seem too "normal" to be AS. Whatever. I'm not going to exaggerate my symptoms to get the dx quicker. :roll:

Actually, someone else put that statement better than me, they said something like, "I'm not going to sit and do my best Rain Man impression to satisfy their expectations of what an autistic person is like."


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