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Are there any upsides to getting diagnosed?

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crystaltermination
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21 Nov 2016, 7:42 pm

Biscuitman wrote:
Was diagnosed 2 months ago, the day after my 37th birthday.

I went through private healthcare so that it was not on my NHS record (and therefore will be kept quiet from everyone) and it also meant I could get it booked up quicker. For me the only reason to get assessed was because I give myself such a hard time for being a failure at things that I wanted to understand me better and give myself a base point at which to work at.

I haven't really 'worked' at anything since the diagnosis but I think I feel happier about things. I don't see myself as such a failure but more as someone with some quirks who finds some areas harder than most. All in all I am happy about getting the diagnosis.


Hey this will probably be a very stupid question, but if one did take the NHS pathway with their diagnosis (me last week, thanks to my parents!) does that mean any GP or health professional you're registered with will also know about it if they access your file?


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glider18
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21 Nov 2016, 7:58 pm

An upside I can see for my diagnosis was that it helped explain to me why I was different. I always used to think that I was some kind of "one of a kind" person. And after being diagnosed with Asperger's, I realized there were others similar to me.


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21 Nov 2016, 9:10 pm

Also, I don't know if 19 is still within the window of being more readily diagnosable. From what I understand, it gets tougher to do (and to find professionals who can do so) later in life.

glider18 wrote:
An upside I can see for my diagnosis was that it helped explain to me why I was different. I always used to think that I was some kind of "one of a kind" person. And after being diagnosed with Asperger's, I realized there were others similar to me.

The funny thing is, I took my diagnosis exactly the opposite way. I felt singled out and more isolated having been given a label that no one else I knew had. It took me years to develop the good sense immediately available to you. :mrgreen:



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22 Nov 2016, 2:09 am

The biggest positives for me me are finally realising you're not crazy, just a bit different.
And finding out there are other people out there, just like me.

I thought for many years with my meltdowns (or outbursts as ive called them) that I was nuts, other people also made me believe that too. To find out it's actually because my brain is wired differently to them was really a very big relief and actually makes me feel a lot better about my self. And then finding a couple of people since being diagnosed with aspergers too was a really big positive. A couple of guys I work with have told me they have aspergers too since I made people aware and have very similar interests. It's good because I now have someone to talk to about it that understands what I'm going through, another small plus is I've found other people to play The Division with. :P



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22 Nov 2016, 2:20 am

crystaltermination wrote:
Biscuitman wrote:
Was diagnosed 2 months ago, the day after my 37th birthday.

I went through private healthcare so that it was not on my NHS record (and therefore will be kept quiet from everyone) and it also meant I could get it booked up quicker. For me the only reason to get assessed was because I give myself such a hard time for being a failure at things that I wanted to understand me better and give myself a base point at which to work at.

I haven't really 'worked' at anything since the diagnosis but I think I feel happier about things. I don't see myself as such a failure but more as someone with some quirks who finds some areas harder than most. All in all I am happy about getting the diagnosis.


Hey this will probably be a very stupid question, but if one did take the NHS pathway with their diagnosis (me last week, thanks to my parents!) does that mean any GP or health professional you're registered with will also know about it if they access your file?


Mine was automatically sent to my GP to be added to my medical file.



Biscuitman
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22 Nov 2016, 3:49 am

Dave_T wrote:
Biscuitman wrote:
Was diagnosed 2 months ago, the day after my 37th birthday.

I went through private healthcare so that it was not on my NHS record (and therefore will be kept quiet from everyone) and it also meant I could get it booked up quicker. For me the only reason to get assessed was because I give myself such a hard time for being a failure at things that I wanted to understand me better and give myself a base point at which to work at.

I haven't really 'worked' at anything since the diagnosis but I think I feel happier about things. I don't see myself as such a failure but more as someone with some quirks who finds some areas harder than most. All in all I am happy about getting the diagnosis.

Am interested to know who you got tested threw?


I have private medical care with Aviva through my employer. My doctor referred me to a specialist 3-4 years ago and I never went along, I told them that, got another doctors referral and they said they would cover the cost. I was put in touch with a neuropsychologist in my local town who works NHS 4 days a week and private 1 day a week.



Biscuitman
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22 Nov 2016, 4:00 am

crystaltermination wrote:
Biscuitman wrote:
Was diagnosed 2 months ago, the day after my 37th birthday.

I went through private healthcare so that it was not on my NHS record (and therefore will be kept quiet from everyone) and it also meant I could get it booked up quicker. For me the only reason to get assessed was because I give myself such a hard time for being a failure at things that I wanted to understand me better and give myself a base point at which to work at.

I haven't really 'worked' at anything since the diagnosis but I think I feel happier about things. I don't see myself as such a failure but more as someone with some quirks who finds some areas harder than most. All in all I am happy about getting the diagnosis.


Hey this will probably be a very stupid question, but if one did take the NHS pathway with their diagnosis (me last week, thanks to my parents!) does that mean any GP or health professional you're registered with will also know about it if they access your file?


I believe so. I was keen for it not to be on my record in case it affects my life in the future. Instead I have a letter at home confirming the diagnosis and I can choose if I ever want someone to know. I am very mildly on the spectrum though and have always worked, am married and have a kid. I am basically able to pass for NT so means the diagnosis is all within my hands and no one elses.



crystaltermination
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22 Nov 2016, 11:42 am

ArielsSong wrote:
crystaltermination wrote:
Biscuitman wrote:
Was diagnosed 2 months ago, the day after my 37th birthday.

I went through private healthcare so that it was not on my NHS record (and therefore will be kept quiet from everyone) and it also meant I could get it booked up quicker. For me the only reason to get assessed was because I give myself such a hard time for being a failure at things that I wanted to understand me better and give myself a base point at which to work at.

I haven't really 'worked' at anything since the diagnosis but I think I feel happier about things. I don't see myself as such a failure but more as someone with some quirks who finds some areas harder than most. All in all I am happy about getting the diagnosis.


Hey this will probably be a very stupid question, but if one did take the NHS pathway with their diagnosis (me last week, thanks to my parents!) does that mean any GP or health professional you're registered with will also know about it if they access your file?


Mine was automatically sent to my GP to be added to my medical file.


Darn it, thought so. Thanks for responding.


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crystaltermination
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22 Nov 2016, 11:46 am

Biscuitman wrote:
crystaltermination wrote:
Biscuitman wrote:
Was diagnosed 2 months ago, the day after my 37th birthday.

I went through private healthcare so that it was not on my NHS record (and therefore will be kept quiet from everyone) and it also meant I could get it booked up quicker. For me the only reason to get assessed was because I give myself such a hard time for being a failure at things that I wanted to understand me better and give myself a base point at which to work at.

I haven't really 'worked' at anything since the diagnosis but I think I feel happier about things. I don't see myself as such a failure but more as someone with some quirks who finds some areas harder than most. All in all I am happy about getting the diagnosis.


Hey this will probably be a very stupid question, but if one did take the NHS pathway with their diagnosis (me last week, thanks to my parents!) does that mean any GP or health professional you're registered with will also know about it if they access your file?


I believe so. I was keen for it not to be on my record in case it affects my life in the future. Instead I have a letter at home confirming the diagnosis and I can choose if I ever want someone to know. I am very mildly on the spectrum though and have always worked, am married and have a kid. I am basically able to pass for NT so means the diagnosis is all within my hands and no one elses.


Thanks for your reply, I was so recently diagnosed random questions about the formalities of a diagnosis keep popping into my head! I shouldn't worry though as my GP knew me as a child and won't make judgements.


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friedmacguffins
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22 Nov 2016, 2:04 pm

I am concerned about getting profiled, when autistic people do bad things, or being regarded as mentally unfit.



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22 Nov 2016, 9:31 pm

I got diagnosed two years ago at 47 and I have had only good things come from getting it. I have not had any bad issues from having an actual diagnosis. And op, your statement about medical professionals thinking that people with diagnoses are all invalids who can't understand speech is completely false.


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26 Nov 2016, 2:18 am

Can a diagnosis excuse you from joining any extra curricular social events (parties)from work?


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26 Nov 2016, 4:11 am

It gives you some written evidence to explain why you find such events a source of difficulty.



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26 Nov 2016, 7:33 am

rowan_nichol wrote:
It gives you some written evidence to explain why you find such events a source of difficulty.

Thank you sir...


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26 Nov 2016, 10:14 am

At this point in my life, I think a formal diagnosis could seriously hurt me. I have made a great deal of progress over the last five years of my life, with plans for even greater progress in the future. I had family and friends who were very interested in my growth as a person and am loving life. I don't want to fall into the hands of an evaluator who will limit my progress or take away my dreams. I feel that was the situation for most of my life.

I think about the words of my favorite inspirational tennis player, Denis Istomin: "Don't look back, only forward." I don't want my potential to grow limited or even stopped altogether.