How much easier did being diagnosed make your life?

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I was only diagnosed a couple of years ago and its made my life way better. I used to feel like I had an obligation to socialize and all that BS because I assumed everyone else was like me but they made an effort to socialize because its something we have to do to survive or whatever. Once I got diagnosed I realized I had the wrong idea, other people socialize because they like to do it. I don't like socializing so why should I do it when I don't have to?

I never had that realization, as I've always been detached from what's "normal" and "appropriate" for someone my age. If I don't want to do something, I don't have to do it, and it's as simple as that; this is how I've always been.

A little easier, as I get a pension now; people and Daniel don't go well together with work.

It answered a lot of questions, but made it easier? No.

I would expect you be the same after the diagnosis as before. I am curious about this though, as I have to wait 7 months before being dxed. I am still asking myself if I want the label autistic, so my question would be: is it worth it?

I think autistic is a better label than "slightly human."

Maybe 1%

slightly human is not a label that is Anna trying to do things with words without the capacity to actually do them, it is best ignored


does a diagnosis help in accepting the autism?

It made my life a lot easier.

it didn't really make my day to day life any easier. it really just helped me to quantify and categorize some rather confusing mental data that previously defied a logical resting place in my brain.

I 1st heard about AS after I graduated high-school when my mom mentioned how a psych I saw suspected it. I've done some research after & a couple years latter I had another docs mention it to me as well. I was officially tested & it got ruled out but I really think I do have it & I say I do. Having a diagnoses or not having it makes little difference to me. My entire life I felt like I was an outsider & my mom suspected I was autistic when I was a toddler. Now that I know about AS; I still feel like an outsider & I still have the same other issues/problems that I did before. Aspergers is a label to explain things about me but most people do not understand AS or care so having the label doesn't seem to matter. If I could of been officially diagnosed years ago maybe I could of had some extra help with school & stuff but sense I'm an adult now & there are no social programs or help for adults with AS here; having a diagnoses doesn't matter. What does matter however is finding people who I can relate to who are having similar issues

Last edited by nick007 on 28 May 2010, 7:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

The biggest effect that the diagnosis has had so far is to give official recognition of the fact that it was never laziness and stupidity.

The realisation, which came a long time before the diagnosis, helped a lot, as it made it easier to work with my brain instead of fighting against it all the time.

Well worth it in my experience. It caused me massive grief knowing I was blatantly different but not having a clue why. Having a diagnosis gives me a legitimate excuse to not conform to societies BS and just be myself. I never really did conform to societies BS but now I have a solid reason not to conform.

Yeah you probably do have it. Thats the same thing that happened to me, I went to 2 psychologists in my life years before I ever saw a psychiatrist and both of them kept asking me if I'd ever been tested for autism. First time I heard of it was when my brother told me he described me to his psychologist and his psychologist told him it sounds like I had aspergers. The psychiatrist I went to happened to be a specialist on autism and ADHD so maybe you should see a psychiatrist whos expertise involves autism. I don't care if other people understand what autism is, the diagnosis makes it a lot easier for me to accept my own blatant differences so in that sense it has made my life a whole lot better.

Not easier I guess, but it's a relief. It's just something I wanted to know.

I think knowing the cause of some behaviours makes life much easier. For instance:-

- I get very stressed in some kinds of shops - noise, bright lights, lots of movement - and it helps to know that this level of stress is not normal, and that other people do not experience it, and the fact that I am feeling bad does not mean something bad is about to happen. I know to watch out for places with a lot of sensory load, and places without easy exits.

- I often feel that people do not like me, and it is based on feelings I have and not on evidence based on those people's actions. If I stick it out longer, e.g. by talking a bit more to shop assistants, I can bring my feelings into check with reality more.

- I know I get distracted by my own thoughts, and that other people can think I am rude or aloof. I know I should introduce myself before talking to strangers.

I wish I knew of a book or website listing behaviours and the practical steps to deal with them.

If you are having trouble romantically, I would suspect that a diagnosis--and really understanding the diagnosis--would make all the difference in the world.

I don't hate my ex-sometimes-boyfriend like I did. It's much easier to deal with when I understand why he does what he does.