Is curiosity a good enough answer

Post Reply New Topic

I was just thinking about the point of getting diagnosed, and why I would like to be diagnosed, to be honest the biggest reason is that I just want know, I love knowing reasons of things, I am curious about anything that will make me better understand myself, I am not really looking for support and I will not disclose it to future employers unless absolutely necessary if I do get a diagnosis.

So do you think its good enough to just want to know.

I have noticed that Doctors and others seem to want you to have a reason but I just want to know for the sake of knowing. that's not to say I would got round being tested for everything under the sun, but I have a particular interest with Autism, and its something I feel fits.

knowledge is power after all

I think being curious is a good reason to pursue a diagnosis. You want to be sure you have Asperger's/Autism. If a doctor where to ask you the reason you want to diagnose them, my reply would be, "Because you are a F'ing Doctor! How do you like them Apples?"

This is one of the main reasons I'm pursuing a diagnosis. I can't stand not knowing. Even though I've researched autism so much in the past two years, I feel I NEED a diagnosis to fully accept it as a part of me, and to feel more comfortable with who I am. I still have times of severe self doubt and that I'm somehow deluding myself.

I also want it to protect some of the accommodations I've been allowed at my job.

Last edited by jetbuilder on 07 Jun 2014, 11:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

hey, I feel exactly the same, particularly about self doubt, its tiring changing your mind all the time, are you planning to try and get referred then?

I am now biting the bullet and have an appointment next week at the doctors, I am just scared I will be fobbed off, the doctors know about my anxiety so I fear everything will be put down to that.

Yes. I feel the doubt as well; its a really big source of stress in my life. I feel I'm either autistic and need help with integrating myself socially and changing my way of thinking on many things, or I am crazy and I need help with whatever issues that have caused me to believe that I have Asperger's.

Either way I need help, but I'd rather my instincts be proven correct.

EXACTLY!

I've contacted a local autism support center about getting an assessment. I also sent a list of my traits, and one of the assessors commented that from reading my self report, an assessment would be a good choice for me. They're sending me a bunch of paperwork to fill out. If I can work out the financial side of it, I may be able to get an assessment scheduled in July!

It's a good enough reason to seek a diagnosis, but it may not be a good enough reason for the professional you are seeing to give you a diagnosis. According to the diagnostic manuals, a diagnosis may only be given if you're significantly impaired in at least one area of your life because of autism/AS.

If not knowing is causing you anxiety like you say, then that's definitely reason to get a diagnosis.

I hate when people question me like that, when there's an implication that they might deny me what I want. (Especially if what I want is simple and wouldn't be any trouble). I would probably say "Why do you want to know? Are you going to deny me if you don't think my reasons are good enough?"

My actual reasons for wanting to know are so that 1. I can get help in areas where I have trouble, because in college, they won't do anything for you unless you have an official diagnosis of some kind of disability. (I have papers from psychoeducational testing I had a few years ago that say I have executive function problems, working memory problems, and verbal processing problems, but I don't have a diagnosis of anything, so they're not obligated to help me). 2. So that I can explain to people that I don't say sometimes insulting things on purpose. I might blurt something out, but I realize as soon as the words left my mouth that I shouldn't have said it, but by then, the damage is already done. It would also be nice if people could understand that I don't spend so much time alone because I'm antisocial, it's because being around people wears me down, and I need time alone to regenerate.

You might consider going for what I call an informal diagnosis. For a few hundred dollars, I went to see a counsellor who is not a doctor or psychologist, but who specialises in working with autism/Aspergers. She had me write out the reasons why I think I am on the spectrum, and I talked to her for a total of three hours on three different days. She is very experienced in this area (but not looking for more clients, as she is about to retire), and feels I am definitely on the autism spectrum, and at my age (55) that is good enough for me. Curiosity definitely is a good enough reason to want to know, and when she told me I felt so relieved, because now I finally know there is a reason I have felt like such a misfit all my life. For the first time in my life, I feel like a normal person - because now I understand that I am completely normal - for a person with Asperger's. Although I had suspected that I was on the spectrum for some time, it made a huge, huge difference to have it confirmed by someone else who knows something about the subject.

Welcome to AP Shirley777.

Franknfurter, Curiosity is a great reason to know. You should not have to justify why you want to know anyway. If your life is impaired and you suspect it might be Autism than you should know if you can afford to find out. It's your right to know.

I think it's a great reason!

If you really feel like you need another reason, you might consider thinking about why you want to better understand yourself. You may have a reason or you may not. I really don't think it matters either way. But it could help you feel a little more like you have another reason than just curiosity.

I personally think that from what you've said so far on this thread, is sounds like your reason is a bit more solid than plain old curiosity. I also think that understanding oneself is really at the core of any person's diagnosis.

You could also explain that you feel your issues are more than just anxiety.

I feel that curiosity is a great reason to get a diagnosis.