Diagnosis: Pros and Cons? What should I do?

Page 1 of 1 [ 8 posts ] 

Projectile
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

User avatar

Joined: 26 Jun 2012
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Posts: 128
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

28 Jun 2012, 10:59 pm

I am trying to decide whether to get a diagnosis or not. I feel that it might help me to get the support I need and get some people off my back who can't understand why I am different. What do you think?



questor
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 23 Apr 2011
Age: 63
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,696
Location: Twilight Zone

29 Jun 2012, 1:12 am

It depends. If you want to receive treatments or participate in programs that can help with some of your issues, then you will probably need an official diagnosis to receive any of this help, as it will probably be paid for either by the government or by an insurance company. Before they will pay for it, they will want to know that you have the condition for which you are seeking help.

In my case I am too old for the children's programs, I am not attending school or university, so I don't need the school programs, I am not interested in socializing, so I don't need the social programs for adults, and I am disabled due to other health issues, and unable to work any more, so I don't need the programs that help with employment. Since I don't need any of these programs, I haven't bothered with an official diagnosis. Based on my own research, I have no doubts that I have Asperger's Syndrome. I follow the rule of duck: If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. I am an Aspie duck.

In your case, you mention wanting help, so I think you would benefit from an official diagnosis.


_________________
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away.--Henry David Thoreau


outofplace
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 10 Jun 2012
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,771
Location: In A State of Quantum Flux

29 Jun 2012, 1:27 am

I too am on the fence on diagnosis. I'm an adult who has adapted somewhat well to life except for in the area of dating. I don't think I really need help except for in the case of returning to school, which I plan to do in the fall. Even then, all I would want is a prescription for adderall as it worked well the last time I went back to school and I think it would do the same again.

As to getting people off your back, I think you are going to be disappointed. Remember, most people are neither logical nor compassionate. All they care about is their own self-interest and pleasure. If you do not bring that to them, well they will get their jollies off of you some other way. The best you can hope for is to learn some coping skills so that you can get better at reading social situations. It may be that these people will never accept a "new" you and that you will instead have to start from scratch (I did).


_________________
Uncertain of diagnosis, either ADHD or Aspergers.
Aspie quiz: 143/200 AS, 81/200 NT; AQ 43; "eyes" 17/39, EQ/SQ 21/51 BAPQ: Autistic/BAP- You scored 92 aloof, 111 rigid and 103 pragmatic


Projectile
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

User avatar

Joined: 26 Jun 2012
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Posts: 128
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

29 Jun 2012, 1:59 am

questor wrote:
I follow the rule of duck: If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. I am an Aspie duck.


You diagnosed yourself? You sir are a Quack!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is not so much people that I have trouble with it is Systems and protocols set up by NTs that I cant operate in properly.

I want help to work



vanhalenkurtz
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 9 May 2012
Gender: Male
Posts: 724

29 Jun 2012, 2:30 am

Projectile wrote:
I feel that it might help me to get the support I need and get some people off my back who can't understand why I am different. What do you think?


I believe sympathetic people will be sympathetic. Without a script. It's people to people. If someone "needs" a doctor's order to be sympathetic to you ... well, good luck.


_________________
ASQ: 45. RAADS-R: 229.
BAP: 132 aloof, 132 rigid, 104 pragmatic.
Aspie score: 173 / 200; NT score: 33 / 200.
EQ: 6.


ooo
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

User avatar

Joined: 8 Apr 2012
Age: 54
Gender: Male
Posts: 494

29 Jun 2012, 5:37 am

If someone doesn't understand you, they still won't understand you with whatever diagnosis you get.

But, perhaps you want a diagnosis for your own acknowledgement, or for services (say, school or work related).



Tuttle
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 26 Mar 2006
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,088
Location: Massachusetts

29 Jun 2012, 9:03 am

What would you gain out of knowing? What would you gain out of a diagnosis? Why do you suspect being on the autistic spectrum?



Projectile
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

User avatar

Joined: 26 Jun 2012
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Posts: 128
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

29 Jun 2012, 9:20 pm

I have read up extensively and done all of the available online tests with unambiguous results. I even seem to have the very specific traits. There is no question that I have it, I am 99% certain.

I am thinking that if I get the diagnosis it will get the government off my back, there are lots of basic things that I have not been able to sort out, bureaucratic paperwork licences appointments and so on.. Like I said I don't have trouble with people socially so much as difficulty with supporting myself, making it to appointments, providing paperwork, meeting deadlines, paying bills on time and organizing basic day to day things that seem simple to NTs.

Although people may never understand Aspergers at least it is an explanation that will satisfy most people with a little description if required.