Help I'm thinking of Self-diagnosing

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Hi,

I'm in college and I'm pretty intelligent (I did good gradewise in HS and have a 3.2 gpa now, after a rough part in the first quarter), but have trouble relating socially to people. I like reading and am majoring in English. I think I might be on the autistic spectrum, which makes me feel like I finally can fit in.

Is schizoid personality disorder aspergers-like? Was Ben Franklin and Kafka really aspie?

Thanks.

You can't accurately diagnose historical figures after the fact, so I wouldn't bother. If you are experiencing difficulties in your life (and you probably are, else why would you be seeking a diagnosis), you should probably consider locating someone qualified to diagnose you. A serious problem with self-diagnosis is that you gain no more support than if you remain undiagnosed.

who can diagnose me? I mean, what kind of doctor should I see?

IDK if this would help but when i was a kid I was diagnosed at some place called TEACH i dont remember what it was an acronym for or if it even was one but im pretty sure they only work with children and i dont know if they have locations all over or if the one i went to was the only one I would have to ask my mother. But if you do manage to find the place i speak of they may not be able to diagnose you since you're not a child but im sure they will know someone who can

You probably want to see either a general psychologist, or better, a neuropsychologist, if you're interested in diagnosis.

If you want to get assessed you have to call around and interview some psychologists/psychiatrists until you find someone who is specifically experienced and knowledgable about autistic spectrum disorders in adults. You can't expect any random shrink is going to be competent to evaluate it. To many will say things like "your IQ is too high," and so forth.

If you're lucky you can arrange something low-cost, maybe through your university if you're a student? Otherwise, costs can get up around $2000, and insurance may exclude it. Some psychs seem to abbreviate their assessments to only an interview, which ought to reduce costs, though.

You should also consider the ramifications of having a psychiatric diagnosis on paper -- insurance companies in some places consider that a pre-existing condition. OTOH, if you need help, such as workplace or school accommodations, then maybe it's worth it.

Despite what some people say, once you're out of high school, psychiatric diagnoses are not considered "cool."