At the Crossroads of Diagnoses

[Vesta]

I want to share my concerns about a possible diagnosis. I haven’t yet decided whether I should see a specialist to confirm my suspicion that I might be on the autism spectrum. I’m worried that, due to the lack of awareness about diagnosing autism in adults, especially in women, in my country, I might be misdiagnosed with something else.

What troubles me is that if my suspicion isn’t confirmed—since I’ve already come to terms with the idea of being autistic and even found a certain sense of harmony in it—I may feel lost again

Although social phobia, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders share similar traits, it saddens me to think that it was the cruelty of other people that shaped me into this state. Ever since childhood, I have faced rejection and alienation

 

[Grondhammar]

That's a good way to put it -- a sense of harmony in it.

That's very difficult choice. If you were in a country where the spectrum is accepted and well understood, I'd say absolutely, do the testing/analysis. But without that scientific acceptance, it's very hard to say.

If you can somehow get a fair and accurate diagnosis, I can say from experience that it takes away the questions and doubt, and gives you a path to follow and a lot to read and soak in completely.

I understand at least at a basic level about the hurt and sadness. I've posted a couple of times about my own experience, but in short I've faced pretty constant rejection and attacks due to my characteristics. Finding this forum, and finding a local autists group and one friend there who has shared the same challenges, was like taking a pack of heavy rocks off my back. The hurt is still there, but I have a little hope that there's light out there somewhere.

 

[Outdated]

That's very difficult choice. If you were in a country where the spectrum is accepted and well understood, I'd say absolutely, do the testing/analysis. But without that scientific acceptance, it's very hard to say.

In some countries costs are a very prohibitive factor too, and for many people not worth it unless the diagnosis will give them some kind of benefit.