To be diagnosed or not?

Post Reply New Topic

An an undiagnosed Aspie, that's the question I commonly ask myself, would it REALLY make a difference?

From what I gather, it's based on:

1.) Where you happen to live, which country, state, etc and what the diagnostic criteria happens to be in that country.

2.) Your medical insurence, can it cover the costs for evaluation?

3.)How well experienced your therapist or neurologist is with dealing with ASDs.

One fact stands out to me though:

1.) An adult sometimes doesn't get the services that can help with AS, probably get dosed up on medications but leaving social interaction skills up to the Aspie to learn.

Of course two main reasons I want to get evaluated:

1.) Because I want my family to understand why I behave the way that I do.

2.) A sense of closure and inner peace, because now I know for sure, that I'm not just some freak that doesn't understand the world, I have a condition that sets me apart, maybe finally accept who I am.

So, I wonder, is getting a diagnosis worth the effort?

What are your thoughts?

My sister started treating me alot better when she learned of my dx...so from the family perspective, it helps.
The validation seems to right the world again after so much has gone wrong in your life, at least that is my experience.

however some families are so dysfuctional...even a dx doesn't make them treat you better or even want to understand you.
Hopefully that is not the case with yours.

You are better going to an autism specialist than going to just any mental health professional. In the long run, it saves you money and frustration. So many stories on here about folks going to some quack that dx'ed them with bipolar or something totally off.
I person here even ended up being shoved in a mental hospital for not taking bipolar meds when said person was not bipolar.

Jojo

I want very much to be diagnosed if only for peace of mind. I am old enough that it will make no difference one way or the other, but I want to know I'm right.

Based off that compare/contrast list, I'd say it's better off not getting diagnosed. At least, in my opinion. It depends on how much you want your family to understand, and how much you doubt yourself.
Really all a diagnosis is, for someone who is a bit more on the high-functioning end, is just a doctor, who doesn't know you personally but rather professionally, confirming to you that you do have a funky brain. And honestly, I don't really see how that could be very reassuring. Maybe more like a second opinion, or third, or any other degree, if there are others (i.e. your family) who agree that you are different. The only thing is, with your family, they don't exactly know what it is that makes you different, unless you've told them and the case is that they don't believe you. Which is strange, assuming they are aware you are clearly different.
In my case, my family knows I am different, and always have been. However, I am increasingly learning how to act more and more "normal" each day, so it's not necessary for them to know that I have asperger's if all it will do is show them what exactly is wrong with me. I don't require the services that come with it nor the medications, so those cancel out, too. By this point, while acting "normal," I have passed as maybe a shy or just socially awkward tomboy. There are still things that have stuck with me, though, that still make me an aspie, that show that my brain is still wired differently. As long as I know that, and know that there are others out there like that, I feel at peace.

This. I feel much happier knowing that I'm not alone and there is a reason why things are so difficult and isolated

Just make sure you get a private diagnosis and don't even think about using insurance. Then keep it a secret. Once you get a Dx, then health insurance companies will use that as an excuse to drop you. I just recently applied for health insurance and one of the questions was "Do you have autism or aspergers syndrome?

This is why I got my diagnosis, and it was well worth it. Partly this is because I never allowed myself to really believe that I had Asperger's so long as I didn't have an actual diagnosis. Self-diagnosis is always an iffy thing, and I made sure I always remembered that I might be wrong. So getting it confirmed by someone who actually knew what they were talking about was a huge relief and validation.

I definitely recommend going to a specialist if you possibly can. I wound up being referred to someone who specializes in "adult social learning disorders" which includes Asperger's and a few other things. Plus, with the diagnosis, I do have access to job services, and any therapy I get will have a greater chance of success as therapy for those on the spectrum should not be approached the same way as therapy for NTs.