My personal Advice for seeking a Diagnoses

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DISCLAIMER: i understand i cant speak for everyone but this is just my advice and Opinion, i dont need to be flamed to do so.

while i was at therapy a few weeks ago, i asked my psychologist why doctors are so reluctant to give an autism diagnoses and he gave me a few answers. First of all, he said that the Autism Diagnoses is a trend now, and there are psychologists out there that will diagnose any introvert with autism, and mostly that isn't the case.
Second, he also said that the autism diagnoses is a BIG label to put on someone, it doesn't go away like Depression, Anxiety and phases do, so they try and focus as much as possible on those diagnoses before they can put the big ASD label on your head (unless its completely obvious and severe)
Third is, you guessed it, MONEY. Having autism automatically gives you privileges like a disability benefit, free therapy, and services (in canada anyways) so there are people, dumb enough to scam the system and fake autism to get a check in the mail every month.

so, now we have this information, WHEN should you seek an ASD diagnoses.

i hear that contacting a psychologist that works with ASD Children, Adolescents and Adults can be expensive but you should ALWAYS go to them before going to a Social Worker or Psychologist because they may only be aware of the text book symptoms (thanks to the New DSM V it shouldn't be much of a problem anymore), however, if you just think you have autism, then there is something to consider: if the boot doesn't fit, don't try to wear it, meaning, if you don't have quite all the symptoms, autism may not be the case. instead of asking "do i have autism?" ask: "what do my symptoms mean?" so if the psychologist suspects autism, they can refer you to a autism specialist.

remember, DONT FAKE SYMPTOMS! just because you never heard of a better explanation doesn't mean one isn't out there.

i asked my psychologist on friday, if theres anything else that would explain my symptoms, he said no, because that would mean an accumulation of about 8 different diagnoses, that don't even fit that well. Like i already got accused for having Bipolar, Nonverbal Learning Disability, Social Phobia, OCD, ADHD, and a few minor others. Even Downs Syndrome came up once in my child hood, but isn't likely.

There is another thing that factors: when should i seek a diagnoses?

there are two diagnoses, Interview with a specialist and full screening (there are probably more but none that im aware of). I had a Interview with a specialist and he diagnosed me, i asked why i didn't get the complete test and he said because theres no doubt in his mind, he has worked with dozens of teens just like me and he finds it unlikely for there to be a coincidence.

i had to get a diagnoses because i was falling behind in school socially, emotionally, and academically. so, i guess if you are having a lot of trouble and want to know why to get support, Find a diagnoses, probably a full out test. But if you want to know for the sake of Identity, an interview with a specialist will do you well.

please do not base your identity on autism, i used to think my autism diagnoses was important but its not, i have a lot more problems than most NTs and both Diagnosing and not being diagnosed has not helped me in the slightest, all its done was help a few doctors better understand me and help working with me. but, all my life i have been adapting regardless of an autism diagnoses and i was always pushed to do things, i got along fine without it for 13 years and now that i have it, I'm doing the exact same. Autistic people like Temple Grandin and Einstein have succeeded by using their differences and weaknesses to their advantage, and using they're strengths to guide them.

also, one more thing, if someone says that your using your autism as a crutch, tell them thats OK. A crutch is difficult to use, especially if you have a damaged leg, but a crutch wont pull you out of trouble it will just be used as a tool to help you, but a Wheelchair will literally push you out of trouble with little to no effort. people with difficulties because of autism dont need a wheelchair, just a crutch.

I've considered getting one lately, but I can barely do the things I have to do, much less navigate that nightmare! And since I have a job, they'd probably say no I don't have it anyway.

You wrote that very well.

thank you, took 2 hours to write it and completely drained my energy. its been replaying in my head for a few days now.

Very well said.

I set a goal to finally get assessed this year and I've been thinking about this constantly. I'm constantly telling myself I need to be honest with myself about this and make sure I'm not trying to fit myself to the autism criteria. I'm sure I'm not "faking" symptoms I didn't previously have. I have however eased up on hiding my symptoms to help reduce the stress of "acting normal", which has helped my stress levels and anxiety because I'm being more myself.

I'm the same way. It's hard enough for me just to get through daily life, and the idea of starting this process feels like standing at the foot of a mountain that I have to climb.

I definitely should be seeing a psychiatrist (even if my problems aren't a result of ASD) to get better at dealing with my problems because they're holding me back. I'm nearly 30 years and I have yet to live on my own!

This is good advice. For me, being 37 years old and pretty well established in life I feel no need to get my own diagnosis. I know I have ASD, I know my brother has it too. I'm very high functioning, I don't believe an official diagnosis would change anything for me. I've got along this far without one, without even knowing I had ASD until recently. It's good to finally have an explanation for all kinds of things in my life. That is enough for me.

My kids though..they are just getting started and they do need the resources that come along with diagnosis. My youngest is almost 8 years old and if it wasn't for him getting the attention of the right people at school we would still have no idea this is in our family. My older child had a few issues going on as well and when it was time to take the younger in for assessment I asked if they could both be assessed. Sure enough, both kids have ASD. The younger is more affected, the older less so but it's clearly there. We are lucky to have them in a wonderful school that has experience with ASD kids. The jr./high school they will go to has an autism program as well, so it's looking good for them on that front.

That's good advice.

I would add this:

A diagnosis becomes an item in your medical history/files. That could be a big problem if your issues are not severe enough to warrant gov. aid of some sort.

It closes a lot of doors. Gov. jobs or military (contractor or enlist)? You won't get them.
Emigrate to another country? The diagnosis makes it very hard.
Certain jobs you are qualified for yet non-autism diagnosed candidates are available? Illegal to discriminate but it happens. A lot. Companies dont want the added expense of special accommodations.

I would argue that autism diagnoses are not a fad, and that such an assumption is largely informed by ableist notions.

Also, there's nothing wrong with autism being a part of your identity. Just be true to yourself, whatever you do incorporate. Only person who knows you well enough for that is you, so.

I've made a similar statement (the last part) a couple times myself, but the simple fact is NO, we do NOT know we have ASD.

You need a diagnosis to be able to say that. Otherwise, you're just guessing.

I've SUSPECTED it for decades, but never thought there was any way to get it proven, since I'm high functioning and no professional picked up on it.

It was only when my therapist brought it up after two appointments (no direct input from me on the matter) that I started suspecting maybe it'd be possible to have it established officially, and I'd finally have confirmation.

Until then, tho', a person only SUSPECTS.

You and I do not KNOW we're dealing with autism.

I disgree, in my case. Perhaps I should say that I have an informal diagnosis. When my kids were being diagnosed there were lengthy interviews asking about a history of anything like this in the family. There is a strong genetic component to ASD, and it is very prevalent in my family. My kids both have a diagnosis and when they were asking me about my own symptoms they agreed with me. It's not on paper or in my medical chart as a diagnosis but only because I have not asked my Dr. to do it. If there were no other incidences of ASD symptoms in my family yes, it would be suspected.

You left all that out the first time. Yours is more than suspected.

I'm not quite so far along. My therapist has repeatedly told me he thinks I'm on the spectrum, and when my doctor heard what was suspected, there was a sort of "it all makes sense now" look on the doctor's face, followed by the words "Good catch".

Not quite as close as you, tho'. Nobody actually qualified to diagnose autism was involved.

I can't agree with this. The professional worship on this forum is ludicrous. "You can only truly know something if a professional tells you" is bollocks. You can know you're autistic without a professional diagnosis. Getting that diagnosis doesn't mean you will have more certainty because professionals are able to get it wrong too.

The point of a professional diagnosis is when you need benefits, accommodations, etc. Having that official confirmation helps with getting support you need, when lacking the diagnosis may mean you can't access them at all.

All this is very interesting to me. I have an appointment on 2/21 with an Autism Specialist. Even though I have few doubts that I'll be diagnosed, I'm concerned that because I've read so much about ASD in the last 18 months (from the time I discovered ASD), that I'll find myself "performing"; that is, putting on the traits in order to guarantee a diagnosis. I'm guessing the best thing to do is to keep my mouth shut unless she asks me something. Likely my "stimming" will be on full display. That may tell the doctor something as well.

I'm not really interested in a diagnosis myself, but my mother is pushing that I do it. She thinks that somehow my life will magically get better, although I disagree. After all, I'm 53. What good will a diagnosis do me? If I had been diagnosed at 17 when I was a complete wreck, things may have been very different for me. But at that time (1978), Asperger's Syndrome wasn't an official diagnosis.

Exactly the main reason why I find it so hard and draining to write messages on internet forums and the like. I don't understand why many here seem to find it so easy. Would you say this is a characteristic autistic trait, or at least for one of the several autistic sub'types'? (I have my first appointment towards assessing possible diagnosis for me in just some days; this is obviously just a curiosity in that regard, although interesting.)

In more detail, for me it's like either I spend forever trying to formulate a message and it just stays a mess and I end up not posting anything and forgetting that I even tried a second later, or otherwise I tend to write a message which I actually post that I find so well formulated that I may replay the sentences I wrote earlier slowly word for word in my head for hours afterwards like it's the sweetest music-tunes.

In any case it's so draining I rarely bother to start out in the first place.

it really depend on the person, i have trouble with typing in general, using words effectivly and keeping focused on the message so, it all lies under Hand-i-cordination,low Verbal I.Q and ADHD. the first two would be autism related but the last one is ADHD itself. it all depends on why you dont like typing long messages.

ZombieBride, your original post is excellent. Good job girl. Sorry it drained you to to write it but it was well thought out and well put together and the advice is very good. Thank you for that.

Unfortunately for me getting an official diagnosis would not do me any good because of my age and the country I live in but I am getting an unofficial one and that is giving me much peace of mind which is priceless.

But well done on this thread.

True. For me at least though it's probably mostly general social communication issues, focusing on the topic/social context, "perfectionism" (I put it in quotes because it is stupid and meaningless and just leads to uselessness); low verbal IQ? and not last a relatively extreme introversion. In short it's mostly just a pain for me with little pleasure. The actual length of the message isn't an issue though. Most often I have similar difficulties when expected to reply with only a brief informal explanation of a personal nature in a mobile text message. On the other hand I have enjoyed writing lengthy certified Good Articles on English Wikipedia (which isn't even my native language) about fairly obscure topics in the past (when it was my so-called "special interest", I guess).

(Yeah, I'm pretty messed up.)