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[Outdated]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.

 

[TBRS1]

I am very pragmatic in making decisions. My thought process would be like this:

Is there a definite benefit to the diagnosis (such as government services, or magic pills that really work)?
If no, the actual diagnosis is useless.

What IS useful is this:

Do I have fewer problems if I act on the assumption that I'm autistic (such as finding an accepting community, sharing experiences and learning useful management techniques, etc.)?
If yes, do it. Confirmation from the doctor is superfluous if a wrong diagnosis leads to the correct cure.

Short form: don't worry about it. If thinking you're autistic is working for you, keep doing it.

 

[Shamar]

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

After you have read enough posts here, you may get the impression that doctors are wrong more often then right. Unless the doctor gives specific, valid reasons for rejecting one diagnosis over another, you can simply say The Doctor Is Wrong, not not follow the treatment. You DO have that right.

 

[Outdated]

I am very pragmatic in making decisions. My thought process would be like this:
Is there a definite benefit to the diagnosis....

That's very much me as well. I had already figured out that I was autistic by the time I applied for a diagnosis, and that's very cheap in my state, but I don't think I would have bothered if I wasn't trying to get on the pension.

I was hoping a diagnosis in combination with a whole heap of other factors would get me the pension, in the end I got listed as ASD2 in my diagnosis and that alone was enough.

There were a few huge factors in my favour though. What you have to go through varies from country to country and even between different states within the same country.

In South Australia there's a huge autism diagnostic centre that also provides psychological and educational services and services through them are subsidised by the state government. That's not an Australia wide policy, as far as I know only South Australia and Western Australia do this.

So to get a diagnosis I didn't have to do all the time wasting and expensive crap seeing GPs and head shrinks, I walked straight in to a government recognised facility, literally walked through the front door, and said "Hi, I'm autistic and would like a formal diagnosis please.".

A couple of really nice ladies chatted to me for about 15 minutes, they both agreed that I was probably autistic and put my name on the waiting list. There was a 12 month wait. When my appointment finally came around it was a face to face interview in front of a panel of 3 different behavioural specialists, that lasted for about 3 hours. Then afterwards I waited around while they wrote up a 12 page report on not just their findings but also their reasons for their opinions. Reading that to myself was a bit of an eye opener to say the least.

Total cost to me was Au$500. That's about US$325. And because I went through a government recognised facility getting the pension was a lot easier, I didn't have to muck around getting second and third opinions.

As well as a pension it did give me a very satisfying sense of validation and vindication, but those feelings don't last for long.