Self-Diganosis of Aspergers

[finmagik]

WARNING THIS POST WILL OFFEND SOME PEOPLE IF YOU ARE NOT EASILY OFFENDED PLEASE CONTINUE.

Comments

[mercurygrrl]

I'm a mix - first self-dx, then unofficially diagnosed and also "diagnosed" by other autistics.

[quinanne]

it's how i found out, too... i actually took a test an nt friend of mine sent me... and went, "huh?"

now i'm diagnosed... makes no difference at my age. i've learned how to deal with society for the most part. i have no intentions of changing my quirks...
although i do wish i could stop answering rhetorical questions.

*sigh*

[akura_no_oka]

I'm actually considering doing doctoral research on the self-diagnosis phenomenon, so this post piqued my interest

[dearmisterecho]

Good luck with that doctoral research! I think this is a fabulous topic to do it on. Post a copy of your work (if you can) when you finish, I'd be interested in perusing it :D

[akura_no_oka]

^^a Well, considering I won't even be in my doctoral program until next September, it'll be awhile before my dissertation happens. But I will be keeping the community involved if that ends up being my topic.

[kisekileia]

YES. THIS. (Although I'm not sure I've ever actually run across a situation in which someone abused their AS diagnosis. I think it's one of those situations that people talk about because theoretically it can happen, but that doesn't actually happen very much because society's opinions on appropriate use of one's diagnosis are so inappropriately limited due to lack of knowledge and to bigotry.)

[arkityp]

i was self-diagnosed before i sought a formal DX, and nothing about my attitude or sense of who i am (or am not) has changed. i would have probably been diagnosed as a child if the existence of AS was formal, but like most older people, i have adapted well through instruction, which has made my DX on the milder end of the spectrum.

and of course, if the internet didn't exist, i wouldn't have been able to find out about AS nor adapt well through research and self-taught theatre (blending in).

[ophelia_begins]

i also adapted through instruction. I was heavily involved in theatre at my parents insistance where they would spend hours telling me how to deliver a public speech, how to make eye contact etc.

they overlooked the fact that i don't hug people unless i'm medicated, and when i'm not feeling right i canno't be touched at all.

[rainbow_goddess]

I was self-diagnosed for years before I got an official diagnosis. One doctor said I couldn't have AS because I'm female, and said that I only had bad social skills because my parents didn't teach me social skills when I was growing up. I was told that I was too smart to have AS. I was told that I had too many friends to have AS. I was told that if I had it, it would have been diagnosed when I was in elementary school, in the 1970s.

Not everyone has the resources to get a diagnosis. I know that psychologists are not covered by public health insurance where I live, and charge hundreds of dollars an hour. My diagnostic testing took eight hours and would have cost thousands of dollars if I'd had to pay for it myself.

Anyone can use anything for an excuse. You can use the weather as an excuse just as easily as using AS. Having a diagnosis doesn't stop someone from using it as an excuse, just as being self-diagnosed doesn't automatically cause a person to use it as an excuse.

[netbug009]

"One doctor said I couldn't have AS because I'm female"

LOL WUT?

[conuly]

And then people turn around and wonder why more boys than girls seem to be diagnosed autistic. Self-fulfilling prophecies much?

[dearmisterecho]

I think that's one thing the OP isn't taking into consideration - it's not just that there are self-dxed people out there, all sitting on their ass satisfied and smug. There are an awful lot of self-dxed people out there trying to get a diagnosis and it never works out. Money issues, parental issues, access issues, time issues, stress issues...it adds up.

I'm pretty much diagnosed with depression and about to be put on psych meds because of the stress of getting an Aspie diagnosis on my own. The closest thing to an "expert" I've gotten to admitted to me that the criteria she uses are more for children, and apologized...and then told me I wasn't on the spectrum because I didn't fit those criteria.

I'm 21 years old. THIS is my local "golden ticket" to finally getting diagnosed.

[finmagik]

I guess I'm lucky then. I had mom who knew there was something not quite right and researched the hell out of it, found the Doctors and was able to get my Grandparents ( I think) to pay for it. I was diagnosed when I was 11. What I'm trying to say is that I don't like an excuse for asshattery.

[dearmisterecho]

I don't like excuses for asshattery either, but I don't think it's appropriate to bring the attitude you originally posted here. It reeked of superiority, like the majority of this community is filled with the "ASS BURGERZ" people who claim it without the real research. Those types lurk everywhere, but the grand majority of posts here are from people who know what's going on and have legitimate reason for concern. Keep that in mind next time you want to post a ~controversial opinion~ and facetiously run away from the expected wankness.

The thing is, I completely agree with you. But your haughty attitude really put me off. I hope to god that wasn't your intention.

Yes, you are lucky. This was taken care of by your Mom while you were a kid. I'm trying to take care of this on my own. Really, that makes a world of difference.