why I self-diagnose

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In "Confessions of an Aspie", another self diagnoser writes:

http://officialjasminec.tumblr.com/post ... is-is-okay

Good "rant!"

Good blog post. The term "self-diagnosis" has always seemed like an oxymoron to me (except in the case of people with appropriate professional training diagnosing themselves).

I think there is a jumbling up of two different things in relation to self-diagnosis:

1. the process of research, contemplation, and self-discovery (which all sorts of people do, self-diagnosed or not), and

2. the purely abstract process of deciding that one's traits constitute a particular condition.

Number two is self-diagnosis, number one, while required to legitimately get to number two, is not.

Saying that one has a condition that one is not professionally qualified to diagnose is largely practically useless ? but that doesn't mean that the process that lead up to that (number one) is useless. It's the research and self-discovery that create understanding and leads one to self-treatments ? claiming to have a condition or thinking one has a condition are not required for either of those. Analyzing a group of one's traits and deciding that they collectively fit the pre-determined pattern of some condition is not required either, because only symptoms can be treated and coped with, whether one decides that the symptoms constitute a particular condition or not.

I've been using my research into ASDs for my own benefit for MONTHS, and I'm not and never have been self-diagnosed. Too read the OP say that this, what I've been doing for so long, is the NEXT step after the unnecessary and irrelevant process of self-diagnosis makes my head spin a bit. Like, are people just sitting around letting their symptoms go untreated until they make a diagnostic decision for themselves?

But then you have overly sensitive people who think that all criticism is an expression of hatred, like in the blog linked up-thread. The reason I've been staying away from WP lately.

Rhetorical question: If self-diagnosis isn't required for self-treatments, attending Aspie meetups, disability benefits, participating on ASD-related forums, and can't get one any professional treatments, etc. ? what is it useful for? This is something I wonder about the mindset of the people responsible for the alleged (I haven't read any myself) anti-self-diagnosis rhetoric. Maybe they see that self-diagnosis doesn't get anyone any material benefits, decide that the only "benefit" is some good feelings for the self-diagnoser, and take issue with their (professionally diagnosed) condition apparently being used as a sort of emotional crutch.

Ima be that Aspie and answer the rhetorical question. Without self-diagnosis, a great many of autistic spectrum adults NEVER would have gotten a Dx. If it is not caught early in life, only one with the presence of mind to go to a Psychiatric professional and say "Hey, I think there may be something wrong with me, I need your assistance to ascertain what it is... I suspect _____" will ever find a diagnosis. That is unless a meltdown leads to a court ordered psychiatric evaluation, which will not lead to a proper Dx, just tranqs and anxiety meds...

(I'm not arguing about the use of the term disease or wrong again... I covered THAT HERE

...but I'm doing that and I'm not self-diagnosed. A self-diagnosis is not required to seek a professional diagnosis.

It is not required, but it does help... and if you are not self diagnosed (read: do not have a suspicion of autistic spectrum disorder), why are you seeking a Dx

"Self-diagnosed" and "suspicious" mean different things to me. To self-diagnose implies certainty about one's condition.

As I stated in my piece, the most a self diagnosis can give is a suspicion.

I do, however, see the disconnect in this discussion and I believe we are actually referring to the same things.

Not certain why, but I find myself intrigued by these threads.

Makes sense to me.


Based upon other threads that I have read on this topic, there are many in WP that disagree with this position.

And they are more than welcome to do so. They disagree with a great many of the things that I have to say and most of my opinions...

The issue is that these are the same people that are opposed to use of the word disease for autistic spectrum disorders... they say we are just "Different"... you don't diagnose different... you diagnose a disease...

In short, my opinions are built on definition and logic, not on kneejerk reactions to the perceived emotional connotations of words, therefore, I don't care if they agree or disagree...