Solely what are the cons to seeking a psychiatric evaluation

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I understand the pros. Really the only pro for me is closure which is a big deal to me. Somedays I think I'm surely messed up and different and other days I think there's no way I'm anything but NT. I want a definitive answer. I've suspected since I was 15 and the uncertainty is frustrating. Parents are no help regarding it by the way. One firmly believes I have AS and the other doesn't like discussing the idea. Neither want a psychiatrist's opinion.

I only want to know all the cons / disadvantages or whatever of seeking an evaluation with AS as the prime suspect.

The clear ones in my view are the following:

Expense

Assuming I did have AS, I'm a little concerned that the knowledge that I have it could change my behavior and demeanor.

Being on the all to prominent and evil government list. As a libertarian, this is no small matter to me.

Assuming I told my family, I'm concerned that they'd... take it with a negative connotation.

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I'll be 18 in less than a year. Once I'm 18 them it's really up to me. I'm weighing the factors now. Thanks in advance for input.

I got my diagnosis privately, by a psychiatrist, who is bound by confidentiality. (Double-check that, of course.)

That way, only 2 people know about it, me and the doctor, who is not sharing it.

There's no hurry to decide what to do about it. There are ways to improve your situation without disturbing the world, such as reducing sensory input. I feel so much more relaxed with pale blue light bulbs, for example.

The only thing I would suggest is that if you do get a Dx, it would be best by a psychiatrist, since autism is defined in the DSM which is psychiatrist territory. Also a psychiatrist trumps any other authority re this Dx. Have you noticed how many people think they're entitled to an opinion? It can complicate your life.

I asked for and got a one-page written Dx on letterhead, signed by the psychiatrist. It says he met with me, lists the AS symptoms, and says he diagnoses me with Asperger's. I show that to anybody who wants to argue the point. I also have a few inches high of paper from the doc; I show that to nobody.

Best of luck. Remember you don't have to decide everything all at once.

I totally understand your need to know and get closure. I'm going through the same thing with regards to that. I cant stop thinking about it. Autism has become an obsession of mine for the past couple years. I haven't talked to my dad about it yet but I did tell my mom, It took a bit of explaining, and now she agrees with me that I probably have it.

I have told a few people about my suspicions, and it didn't go over too well with a couple of them. One just blew it off as not important and another kinda blew up when I first told him. He said that its a "fad Dx, and is over-diagnosed to anyone who is a little different. This hurt a lot because at the time this was a huge thing to learn about myself.
Be prepared for people to have negative reactions to it, or worse (in my view), just blowing it off as not even a possibility.

About it possibly changing your behavior; I think that it could, but for the better or worse would be up to you. I've changed since I was first told I might have AS. I started limiting my exposure to things that cause stress and eased off of "suppressing" my quirks. By doing this I started feeling more comfortable with myself and I'm learning a lot about myself. As long as you don't go overboard with it, it can be a benefit to let your "aspieness" show a bit more.
I think it's easy to get the mentality that since you have AS that you're somehow superior to everyone else. As long as you can avoid that, you should be fine.

I'm also worried about the potential legal and employment discrimination, but I think my mental health (ending the obsession of "do I have it or not" and getting help with my issues) is more important.

If my medical records were to suddenly dissapear, would I get re-diagnosed? No. Without a diagnosis I would still know that I was autistic. The ONLY reason that I got diagnosed was that I hoped any information on me, might help with my sons treatment for neurological pain. Being many decades from being a minor, there is actually no support for adult autistics other than social support groups. In these groups there are no requirements of proof of diagnosis, and those in my GRASP group who have not been diagnosed are every bit as obviously autistic.

Youngest son is extremely upset by his diagnosis. He has problems far beyond those caused by being autistic. He is hoping that eventually he will overcome these other problems[ which have been slowly growing less severe] and hopefully adopt a child some day. He fears that because of his diagnosis that he will have a more difficult, if not impossible opportunity to do so.

Many people here seem to report that they wouldn't have done x, y or z with their life if they had been diagnosed as a child or young adult. They persevered through problems they otherwise wouldn't have. This, of course, might be construed as a positive even though it's undoubtably a negative in terms of productivity.

The problem with such negatives though (your behaviour and demeanor changing) is that the very act of suspecting you might have it might be enough to alter these in yourself anyways.

obama just sent an order through a few days ago to increase access to your mental health records

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@Adamantium That doesn't just happen if you're officially diagnosed. I'm someone who's just doing some reading on Asperger's, and the degree of "Oh, god, this fits far too well," combined with the overwhelming flood of painful memories (times I hurt or ignored people, melted down from sensory overload, had to use favorite--usually soft and fuzzy--toys or clothes to support me through a school day, even into late elementary school, etc.) is crushing. I'd gladly trade in my ability to learn languages and think in system 'nets' for the ability to have a group of friends and know that I had the potential to be a truly empathic supportive spouse and parent some day, as opposed to someone who will always need a degree of caretaking and leniency in expectations.

I can't imagine a diagnosis would make those feelings worse! Though perhaps I'm wrong.

My main concern with getting a diagnosis, myself, is expense, fear that doctors will not recognize me as a potential ASD patient because I'm a woman and I'll be told I'm pretending, and fear of employment discrimination. Though increasingly I think I won't be able to support long-term employment and will need self-employment eventually, so maybe that's not such an issue...

Aspergers doesnt confer any mental advantage at all. All the supposed mental prowess is counterbalanced by the traits that make AS a disorder.

All I can say is:

a.) do NOT go to or listen to your GP for a diagnosis ("verbal" doesn't count + they don't know what they're talking about).
b.) do NOT go to a psychologist for your diagnosis (again, "verbal" means nothing). Unless this person is in the Autism field.

ONLY go to a doctor specializing in Autism/Psychiatrist (only if they have Autism experience). Look up all Autism clinics and specialists in your area and make some phone calls (or have someone do it for you) and ask about adult assessment, this is what I did because it is very hard to find someone for adults. I pursued mine so vigorously I found a doctor who my story touched and they ended up doing a $2000 assessment and official diagnosis for free. I had to drive almost 2 hours to them but I did it and visited them for 4 hour testing sessions (about 4 of them) and then received my diagnosis. I believe "If there is a will, there is a way". If you really need to have yourself evaluated for accommodation, medical and/or benefit reasoning then I highly suggest pursuing diagnosis.