"Self diagnosis" trends...source of ridicule

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Everywhere you've got idiots that make fun of AS because it's the 'disease du jour' to be self-diagnosing yourself with. Because some people seem to have 'self-diagnosed', there are people that look down upon all that claim to have AS, because they think the claim is illegitimate.

Now myself, I was diagnosed when I wasn't even looking for the disorder. I had never even heard of AS prior to 2000. So it really fries my eggs that some moron will assume that I don't really have AS or that I 'self-diagnosed' when this was not the case.

Anybody else get people not taking their diagnoses seriously because some idiot assumed you self-diagnosed over the internet? Do those of you who self-diagnose wonder whether you'll ever be taken seriously if you cannot find a qualified professional to make sure?

I do know that a lack of qualified professionals in the field has resulted in a trend to self-diagnosis. And I do think that a real diagnosis by a professional is the best thing.

But seriously, what difference does it make if someone self-diagnoses with Aspergers?

The first paragraph of your post shows what difference it makes. And there are many more problems it causes, not only for genuine autistics but for the professionals trying to make advancements in the area of diagnosis and treatment.

yeah but what burns me up is some idiot who knows sweet bugger all about the topic, but thinks they know everything, and assumes everyone is 'self diagnosed over the internet' when in many cases, they were actually diagnosed by a professional.

It is because self-diagnosis is so prevelant that you have this problem at all. Well half of the reason anyways. The reason it became so trendy to self diagnose at all was because it first became trendy amongst a few groups of professionals to diagnose the condition (and so they did in a very massive and general way), they are partly to blame not only for the way AS is now viewed, but also for the amount of self-diagnosis that goes on.

No I don't get this problem from other people. People have never assumed I self diagnosed. Maybe it's because I don't broadcast the label.

When I got to a doctor and tell him that I im autistic He gives off an impression that my opinion is irrelevant because I don't seem as smart as others. I know myself best and I know what I've got.

My thought on the whole thing is the only people who need to know you have AS are family friends your doctors, job or school and any State or private institution yo may be working with. beyond that go ahead and think I am weird.

I am self diagnosed. Now, I know that some people who self diagnose are nowhere on the spectrum, but I know I am.

However, I do not run around announcing to everyone I know that I have AS. The only people that know for sure are my husband and my old boss, he figured it out. My mother and sister may suspect, but I've not told them. It doesn't matter, I know who I am and am proud of myself. No one's opinion will change that.

I expect no special treatment from my status.

The only place I come across such people is the internet. Even then, I have almost nothing to do with anyone so it's not directed at me specifically; if it were, I would cease to expose myself to them and they can continue thinking what they want and enjoying the privilege of not experiencing such conditions. In real life, no one seems to doubt my diagnosis, and they perceive me as more severe than I perceive myself. If doctors and other significant people in my life did not take it seriously, then that would be a problem; the rest I would ignore.

I used to be self-diagnosed in 2002-2004 (although I hated the term at the time). I eventually quit identifying as Aspie in 2004 when my parents and high school tutor threw the "disease du jour" stuff at me.

I was officially diagnosed in 2007, totally unrelated to the self-diagnosis. In fact,w hen one of my support workers (I received the support because of blindness) mentioned that she suspected I have autism and wanted me to get evaluated, I didn't liek the idea because I thought a diangosis would make my problems "real". I did need to get the evaluation because I desperately needed treatment (I had severe meltdowns that were endangering my stay at my living place). I was then diagnosed with ASD (later changed to Asperger's). My parents and sister still use the "disease du jour" stuff agains tme, but all othe rpeopel around me don't and I don't live with my family anymore so just let them believe whatever they want to believe.

good luck with all that 'self diagnosed' and 'professionally diagnosed' stuff.

I say, if you have got it, you have got it and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. I was 56 when I first heard about Asperger's Syndrome and self diagnosed on the spot I joined WrongPlanet and realized the profundity of the self diagnosis and identified at every post.
Two years later I had the health insurance and finally found a doctor in my backwoods State to give his concurring opinion and a lifetime of wondering what the WTH was wrong with me was finally answered.

and anyone that thinks people can't figure it out once they had all the facts can kiss my arrrrtichoke!

Amen. It's not like you heard about Asperger's and decided it was a cool thing to have. It's discovering an answer to questions about things you have struggled with for as long as you can remember.

Perhaps it would go something like this;


Before we sign off on this contract I'd like you to know that I'm Autistic, you know like Rainman.

Well not really, actually I'm at the 'high functioning end' cos I can go to the grocery store (if I remember to take my cash)

It's called Asperger's .................No not Ass Burgers......

Actually I'm really smart, even compared to ordinary people, well I'm ordinary really, pretty much; so actually it just means that I dont socialize too well BUT I can focus very intensely which is great for my project work......


Infact I was ...............................................Hey, where did everybody go


B****rds, how rude can people be I was talking TO them.