StarTrekker
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 23, 2012
Age: 20
Posts: 542
Location: Starship Voyager, somewhere in the Delta quadrant
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 Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:12 am Post subject: |
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I agree; a diagnosis can be a godsend. If somebody doesn't want one, that's fine, but for those that do, it can mean the end of relentless questions from others, but more importantly, from yourself as well. Finding out I had Aspergers, even though for now it's only a self-diagnosis (hopefully soon to be official) gave me answers to the self-deprecating questions I had been asking myself since I was young; why doesn't anybody like me? Why can't I make friends? Why am I such a loser? All of that stopped when I finally got an explanation. I'm not crazy, or antisocial, or socially phobic. I'm an aspie. Labels are not inherently a bad thing.
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"Scotty, one to beam out!" - Captain Kirk
"Survival is insufficient" - Seven of Nine
"Not fare well, but fare forward, voyagers." T.S Eliot (quoted by Captain Janeway) |
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MiatheMutant
Raven
Joined: Apr 17, 2012
Age: 20
Posts: 109
Location: Hogwarts, or Vegas maybe
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:45 am Post subject: |
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| StarTrekker wrote: | | I agree; a diagnosis can be a godsend. If somebody doesn't want one, that's fine, but for those that do, it can mean the end of relentless questions from others, but more importantly, from yourself as well. Finding out I had Aspergers, even though for now it's only a self-diagnosis (hopefully soon to be official) gave me answers to the self-deprecating questions I had been asking myself since I was young; why doesn't anybody like me? Why can't I make friends? Why am I such a loser? All of that stopped when I finally got an explanation. I'm not crazy, or antisocial, or socially phobic. I'm an aspie. Labels are not inherently a bad thing. |
I agree. For some people, like me, it gets to a point where NOT having a label can be an inherently bad thing. I've been to h*ll and back because of having all the wrong labels and it's great to have a shot at peace for once. Unfortunately, most of the members of society believe that everyone needs a label and our personal ideology that it is not necessary does not prevent that from inflicting pain on us.
Even though I cannot afford an official diagnosis, it's the idea that I can finally identify myself as a members of some group that really makes a difference. I would get a diagnosis if I could but since that's not possible I'm fine to stay exactly where I am, regardless of what anyone else says. I'm finally content.
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I know that, when I finally get my dream job, my patients won't laugh at me or call me a mutant.
AQ: 159/200 NT 50/200
EQ: 14 SQ: 85 AQ: 43 Other Test: 71/72
Undiagnosed: marginal costs > marginal benefits |
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PerfectlyDarkTails
Toucan
Joined: Mar 14, 2012
Age: 25
Posts: 262
Location: Wales
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:03 am Post subject: |
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I wouldn't use online tests as an indicator of self-diagnosis. My own online tests show up very high for Aspergers, and I am perhaps completely nurotypical and autistic free (on regards to ongoing psycological testing)
_________________
"When you begin to realize your own existence and break out of the social norm, then others know you have completely lost your mind." -PerfectlyDarkTails
AS 168/200, NT: 20/ 200, AQ=45 EQ=15, SQ=78, IQ=135 |
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Matt62
Phoenix
Joined: Jan 05, 2012
Age: 51
Posts: 1178
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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When I get the eventual official diagnosis, it will mean the end of the constant self-questioning I go through. Not to mention, employer aggravations, etc. stares. All of it!
I will know.
Its a chance for a little peace.
I've lived long enough to know though, I will never change people's opinions. But that is THEIR problem, not mine.
Sincerely,
Matthew |
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jetbuilder
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 24, 2012
Age: 28
Posts: 749
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Matt62 wrote: | | I've lived long enough to know though, I will never change people's opinions. But that is THEIR problem, not mine. |
At 27 I'm still trying to come around to this way of thinking.
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“Standing on the fringes of life... offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.”
---- Stephen Chbosky
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conundrum
seeking harmony in an imbalanced world
Joined: May 26, 2010
Posts: 2114
Location: third rock from one of many suns
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:03 am Post subject: Re: Think I'm at the self diagnosis stage. |
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| jetbuilder wrote: | For the self diagnosed here:
I don't like the idea of saying I have AS when I don't have a Dx. But I'm pretty much totally sure I'm an aspie.
How do you convince other people that this is a real thing and you're not being a hypochondriac? |
You don't. People will either believe it or they won't.
Two of my professors knew it before I did (they're in Criminal Justice, not Psychology, but both have family members/friends who are Aspies).
My previous doctor does not believe it--he said I'm "too social" and would need to see an official diagnosis to believe it's true. (Guess I've become a good actor.)
A couple of other people have flat out said I'm full of bulls**t and am just making it up--why anyone would do that I don't know. 
I've mostly given up talking about it. I can function well enough that I can hold jobs and don't need assistance, so I see no point in bringing it up anymore.
I think this was mentioned in another thread, but I'll repeat it here: anyone who needs services needs an official diagnosis. No one will listen to you otherwise.
If you don't need services, if self-diagnosis is enough for your own peace of mind, then it is enough, period. You will not be able to "convince" everyone. Maybe you'll see who really does know you well vs. who doesn't.
My self-diagnosis is enough. I'm glad to know for my own sake.
_________________
The existence of the leader who is wise
is barely known to those he leads.
He acts without unnecessary speech,
so that the people say,
'It happened of its own accord.' -Tao Te Ching, Verse 17 |
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MiatheMutant
Raven
Joined: Apr 17, 2012
Age: 20
Posts: 109
Location: Hogwarts, or Vegas maybe
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:56 am Post subject: Re: Think I'm at the self diagnosis stage. |
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| conundrum wrote: | | jetbuilder wrote: | For the self diagnosed here:
I don't like the idea of saying I have AS when I don't have a Dx. But I'm pretty much totally sure I'm an aspie.
How do you convince other people that this is a real thing and you're not being a hypochondriac? |
You don't. People will either believe it or they won't.
Two of my professors knew it before I did (they're in Criminal Justice, not Psychology, but both have family members/friends who are Aspies).
My previous doctor does not believe it--he said I'm "too social" and would need to see an official diagnosis to believe it's true. (Guess I've become a good actor.)
A couple of other people have flat out said I'm full of bulls**t and am just making it up--why anyone would do that I don't know.
I've mostly given up talking about it. I can function well enough that I can hold jobs and don't need assistance, so I see no point in bringing it up anymore.
I think this was mentioned in another thread, but I'll repeat it here: anyone who needs services needs an official diagnosis. No one will listen to you otherwise.
If you don't need services, if self-diagnosis is enough for your own peace of mind, then it is enough, period. You will not be able to "convince" everyone. Maybe you'll see who really does know you well vs. who doesn't.
My self-diagnosis is enough. I'm glad to know for my own sake. |
I agree. I think my self-diagnosis is sufficient in my case. Even if ten, fifteen years down the road I decide to get an official DX to put some insecurity or whatever to rest, the psychologist isn't going to be able to see what's going on in my head. Only I can do that. I think I'm really the only one who can make that call. I guess I'm lucky in the fact that I don't require anything more than understanding to function in society, and I have adjusted enough to be able to get by without mentioning anything about it most of the time. I'm content where I stand now that I've learned about AS and can identify with others who have gone through the same things I have. I feel at ease here, and the atmosphere of acceptance and knowledge is more than enough to help me come to terms with a situation that generally has a negative connotation. A psychologist or GP can't give me that.
I'm proud to be different. Now that I have a different way to think about myself, I no longer have to try to contort myself to fit in the "Normal" box. I have nothing to gain from calling myself an Aspie except the idea that I've finally found an answer. My own satisfaction is more than enough for me and I don't care what anyone else in my life thinks about the issue. They don't understand what it feels like to me. I'll end my rant now.
_________________
I know that, when I finally get my dream job, my patients won't laugh at me or call me a mutant.
AQ: 159/200 NT 50/200
EQ: 14 SQ: 85 AQ: 43 Other Test: 71/72
Undiagnosed: marginal costs > marginal benefits |
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redrobin62
Doppelgänger
Joined: Apr 03, 2012
Age: 50
Posts: 4077
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 2:06 am Post subject: |
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| Wow! Self-diagnosis vs professional diagnosis! Seems to be quite a touchy subject here on WP. "Cogito ergo sum" - I think, therefore I am. Rene Descartes' maxim is probably appropriate for the self-diagnosing ones herein. I'd imagine if I had a lump in my breast I could say with almost certainty it's cancer, but I'd be aggravating myself to death if I didn't actually get a mammogram. |
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