A shot in the arm for self-diagnoser's (Good thing)

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Right now, I'm pretty sure I have AS, but there are still times that I seriously question if I have it.

Looking back on it, one thing that helped convince me was that I didn't really know what it was when someone asked me if I had it. I asked someone who has known me for years what she thought about it, because she's an OT and used to work with kids with ASDs.
She said she thought for years that I had it.

I think if I had found out about it on my own, I wouldn't have accepted it as easily as I have. I would have thought I was being a hypochondriac and I wouldn't have told anyone.

Well, thanks for the replies.

Just to clear up some things.....

Im not seeking welfare. Im not seeking a pity party. I have a stable job, live on my own, own 3 cars (admittedly in various states of operation), and mostly function on my own. I sought diagnosis for 2 reasons, though they're really the same reason at the end of the day, but I think most could understand why Im going to break them up.

1: PURE AND SIMPLE CURIOSITY.... Many here, even in this thread, that are self-diagnosed have expressed a desire to "know". TO have someone trained outside of themselves confirm and validate their experiences as different from the NT-centric society we live in. I felt the same way......

2: College. I want to go back to college. I had 2 years of community College after I left High School. IT was miserable. For all the reasons Im sure many here can imagine, or have experienced first hand. I couldn't even finish to get a degree, even though I had most of the credits I needed. Having the *option* of notifying the school, or various professors, of being autistic/aspergers will give me some power to affect the way Im treated in a class, and the ability to play a role in the manner of ass-kissing I will have to perform to get their bloody degree (Because at this point, Im thoroughly convinced that that is what college is mostly about, ass kissing professors, and most of the time they leave it to the mostly NT students to figure out how to do it, and all the other social rigamarole that comes with this that I, for I should think obvious reasons, am totally inept at).

Both of the above basically boil down to wanting to improve and better myself, but I think defining these two separately is important. Everyone has the choice, and the right, to decide for themselves. But honestly, a few hundred dollars to END any doubt in my mind, and have the ability to legitimize my claim and any requests for differential treatment based on the fact that my ENTIRE life has felt like my experiences are different from most of those around me in a very base way? Im VERY happy to have my diagnosis.

Next: Privacy.....
Im so sick of hearing "Oh, if I get a diagnosis, Im going to be discriminated against!"..... Really? Have you people EVER been to a doctors office? You know the REAMS of paperwork they make you fill out at the beginning? One of them mentions something called a "Doctor Patient Privilege"...... Im sorry, your employer isn't going to know anything that comes under this privilege unless you tell them. Neither are your friends, neighbors, or family, unless you go out of your way to tell them.... And honestly, if they "discriminate" against you, then they probably aren't worth the trust they had as friends, family, or employers in the first place..... Police and the government aren't going to care, even if they COULD subpoena it, which they can't (Check your own state listings, but in general), because they have no reason to.... Alot of things would have to go wrong before we're going to get an ASD Gestapo (And I promise Im moving to Canada, England, Australia, or New Zealand, LONG before they come knockin on my door)......

Very basic explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physician% ... _privilege
there are LOTS of in depth explorations of this "Privilege" proliferated all over the net, varied by state, Case examples, etc etc. Feel free to go read them. If you're interested in Obama-Care, Pro or Anti, theres LOTS of information regarding whats going to happen in that Eventuality at this point as well.... Go knock yourselves out......

Finally, someone mentioned anxiety and depression issues? Yes, a few came up in my diagnosis. No, Im not getting a prescription for Prozac, Ritalin, or any other psycho-affective drugs and have no intention to. Honestly, having the validation of being recognized as being different physiologically helps me feel ALOT better about my life and that Im not like everyone that I dont fit in with in the first place..... Ive known people in my life that have benefited from taking drugs for various problems and reasons including but not limited to depression and anxiety, but I honestly don't feel I need them, and I hate taking pills anyway.

So, again, thanks for the replies, all were interesting to read, please be more accepting of the idiosyncrasies of social reality (Har har with rigid thinking, I know), and stick this all in your pipe and smoke it (Joke, not genuine reference, I hate smoking more then I hate taking pills).
Aldran

Not that I trust my doctor to keep things confidential (he hasn't) but assuming you are right then what's the point of diagnosis then except to confirm what I already know beyond a shadow of a doubt? That's not even mentioning I know insurance companies can find out almost anything about you because I know someone who does PI work for them. It's a long discussion that I can't get into here but lets just say the whole privacy thing is more on paper than in reality.

I already head a professional tell me I have a personality very strongly associated with Aspergers, met almost all the criteria (except I have a job and my own place so I'm not "impaired") and that's good enough for me. I've got my validation and I'm not going to waste what little money I have chasing something that provides no benefit whatsoever since even experts can't say with 100% certainty I have it.

@GiantHockeyfan

Did you read my whole post? Yes, the point is confirmation.....

As far as Insurance companies go, Im not sure what you're trying to say? Insurance companies cover cost. If you're seeking a diagnosis and can't pay for it, but have the money to have an insurance company in the first place that CAN pay for it, they won't want to pay for it, and even if you can get them to pay for it, to the best of my knowledge a doctor's only obligation as far as information dissemination goes is to his patient barring life-threatening or criminal issues. Regardless, I never mentioned Insurance companies in my post, and your insurance company certainly isn't going to tell your employer, family, friends, or otherwise enable anyone beyond their industry to "Discriminate" against you......

If an insurance company does PI work, and they discover you're defrauding them, then its their business. If the company has a PI and discovers things that they're not involved in at all, and have never had to pay for, and they still make an issue of it, Id research your state laws on the issue, and if there are none that bar that kind of behavior, then welcome to the world of insurance-less Americans, in which 40-60+% of us exist, including many autistics, many younger people, many older people, every poor person, and alot of the middle-class.

If a single professional's Opinion is all the validation you need, then Good On ya! It wasn't for me. Nor is it IMHO for anyone that complains of fear of "The diagnoses getting out" or "The diagnosis being used against me".

Finally, If asperger's Can't be 100% certainly diagnosed (Thank you for trying to invalidate 60-70 years worth of psychiatric study, and big chunks of millions(?) of autistic's lives), then why do we have a DSM IV, a Psychiatric Field, or even attempt to classify people by traits, problems, or issues that are completely psychiatric in the first place at all? Psychiatric Clinicians can make diagnoses, and do every day. The reasons for these diagnoses are varied, and range from persons like me that just want to understand themselves better, to people that could use, or desperately need, outside help to survive.... That said, if you can find no benefit to you from having a diagnosis, thats fine, but please don't even attempt to tell me that nobody, anywhere, can ever benefit from a diagnosis of Asperger's or Autism, for I will have to call you on the lie that that would be......

After all that, I have to ask, why even quote me in your post at all? I understand your post as a statement of your opinion. I can't comprehend it as a response to anything I wrote at all, beyond perhaps as a prompt for your apparently barely related views.....

Thanks,
Aldran

I was self diagnosed before the official diagnosis. I did have several people who weren't officially qualified (but had degrees in Asperger/autism studies) point out that they thought I was on the spectrum so that backed me up. I found the problem was that no one who needed to take my problems seriously did when I was self diagnosed. I also had that curiosity and wanted to know if AS was why I was so 'weird' and found things so difficult. I was diagnosed properly age 19 with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I felt relieved that someone finally had put it down on paper, but it didn't really change much. Turns out the support for ASD in England is pretty poor whether you have a diagnosis or not! The only thing it is good for is that I can claim benefits (as I am unable to work due to my five conditions not just ASD), get courses at college for cheaper, get support at college and I live in supported accomodation which I wouldn't be able to without a diagnosis. I haven't personally got an issue with self diagnosed people, only when they use the label to be a jerk...

I don't know why you would think I'm trying to invalidate research at all. I already know I have Aspergers and I know I will not get any help and might end up being hindered in the future. Autism definitely exists but let's be honest: the DSM IV criteria is HIGHLY subjective and open to wide interpretation. It's entirely up to you to agree or disagree with me but I just wanted to share what I have been going through. I don't see anywhere that I said nobody would ever benefit, just that I, as a self-supporting adult do not. Again, the only reason I said that was to offer my perspective yet to seem to take great offense to it for some reason.


I'm puzzled why you would say such a thing. You made a statement and I pointed out where my experiences show you might be incorrect as well as offered my own opinion. I simply didn't have the time to go over your post point by point but I was just trying add some constructive points to the discussion: mainly that "privacy" is not as clear cut as you might think. Basically, IF my insurance company did cover the costs (which looks doubtful), the possibility exists in the future that they would use this information against you. It doesn't matter if it doesn't go outside the industry: just the fact my premiums could be greatly increased with no benefit to go with it is cause for concern. Again, I want to elaborate but I simply cannot for personal reasons but yes, insurance companies have ways of finding out information at least here in Canada.

This discussion quite nicely verbalised what is on my mind. I might use some of your quotes especially Aldran's to present my case to the psychiatrist as to why I need a diagnosis. So far except my parents and boy friend (who atleast accept that my traits match with those in the table of Asperger's traits in women.) everyone who have known me(ok only 2-3 people very close to me) is in denial. But AS explains a lot of what I went through. Of course I have coped well till now. I live on my own and also am working towards a masters degree. But I want validation that I am different and that is why I struggled.