Is getting a Diagnosis Worth It?

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This may be the wrong thread.
I am a University student who is in my 'fourth' year, but I'll be finishing my undergraduate degree in 5 or 6 years because I jumped majors a few times.
I've been struggling a lot with school and with finding/keeping a job. I've talked once to the guidance councillor but it has mostly been useless.
I started to suspect that I may be on the spectrum, but I'm not really certain of this.
Is getting a diagnosis worth it this late into life?

If I am on the spectrum or not, it doesn't change my situation much.
I will still suck at life.

For adults that had been diagnosed later in life, what was your motivation to do so?

Well first I was diagnosed in 2nd grade, so I can't answer the last one.

you're in a University, Congrats college can be hard, but keep at it. I have trouble finding work too, my degree didn't help, though it depends on what your degree is in.

I don't know what Canada does, but here in the us there's government aid for people with disabilities, so being Diagnosed would help you get on those. I'm working at getting into Voc Rehab, its to help disabled people find and keep work. So thats one way It could help you.

for me being diagnosed as a kid meant I couldn't fulfill my goal of joining the military. but if thats not your goal then it won't matter.

you don't sound like you suck at life. Hugs.

Thank you for the reply!
I'm good at the school part but horrible at everything else.
Apparently even science students need some level of social skills.

I've been told that getting a diagnosis takes a lot of time and work.
And I know that my family would not cooperate much with the process.
I know the government gives aid to students with ADHD, so its probably similar for students on the spectrum. I've only met one person on the spectrum at my school.

Didn't know a diagnosis would prevent you from joining the military.

you're welcome. Is your avatar a digimon?

I was good at school too, I went thru most my college without out socializing. I got good grades. I didn't really socialize until i was in my program with like minded people, even though I got picked on(something I didn't think would happen in college)
what do you feel you're horrible at, the socializing?
so you're in a science major? what field do you think you might want to do?

it can. I just went thru a review and I am still waiting to hear the result of it :S
Though if it would help you It'd probably be worth it, but hopefully you're do find after college.
My partner in the program had Aspergers, though he wasn't like me, hes mean and violent. people said they could tell he had it, but not me. I guess that's a good thing.o.O I'd say that we are harder to spot then other disabilities, I haven't any ideal how many of us go to college.

they fear that aspie are more prone to ptsd, friendly fire etc. its not so though and theres lots of undiagnosed or ones diagnosed while in, who are in the military, some ever as special forces. probably for the best though, i have bad luck and I don't know how I would have reacted to the stuff they see over there.

the guidance councillor at my school, mainly just told us which classes we need take.
here we have a disable study program to help people study and achieve their goals, maybe your university has a similar program.

I was not diagnosed until I was in my 40's and it was definitely worth it.

Sometimes I would just wonder what was wrong with me, why I couldn't just suck it up and act like everyone else. When the doctor finally told me that yes, she agreed that I did indeed have High Functioning Autism, I nearly cried with relief.

Out-of-the-ordinary behavior is not often welcomed in the classroom or at a job. Being able to say "I have HFA" allows me to be ME with few questions asked - though I welcome questions because it gives me an opportunity to inform someone else regarding HFA.

I'm weird - I know that - but my diagnosis legitimated my weirdness in a way. Also, I was able to understand my prior failures at school and jobs. I needed to approach my life in a different way, not like "everyone else," but instead focusing on what I needed and how I needed to go about accomplishing my goals. I'm almost finished with my Master's degree and have been accepted into at least 3 different PhD programs (still waiting on other replies to my applications).

It's never too late to pursue a diagnosis. Good luck.

My avatar is a digimon.
It was one of the generic avatars provided by the forum.
I also got picked on here, especially in my first year.
But I'm lucky in that I feel the people in my program are easier to talk to than when I was a Psychology major.
However, I'm still the outcast. Maybe I distance myself. Most of my relationship with the people in my program is about school.
I don't mind that, but sometimes I think they do. Because when I see them outside of class I wind up just talking abut class material.
I don't have a relationship with them outside of school, and it isn't a very personal relationship. We might make small talk in the lab, but that's it really.
I'm really bad at socializing, especially when I have to talk to authority figures, like my professors or future employers. Which makes getting an internship more difficult.
With my classmates I can take it or leave it, I don't really care, but I have no relationship whatsoever with my professors despite being here for four years and attending a small school.

I'm doing a Biology major, but my focus is in neuroscience, particularly the biochemistry bits of neuroscience.
And I know what areas of neuroscience interests me. I like memory and learning. I like looking at synaptic plasticity.
It might help people understand where I am coming from. I guess my fear is that it's to late for me now to really bother seeking help.
The girl here with Aspergers isn't much like me either, she's a much more loud and social creature while I'm incredibly reserved and withdrawn.
I think our difference lies in that she really doesn't care about fitting in, she isn't concerned with people liking her. She feels like her grades should be enough to succeed with her degree.

I have a friend with Asperger's who is in the military.
He likes the routine it provides him. I'm not sure when he was diagnosed though.
He's much better at fitting in than most people I know with Aspergers, so that may be a factor.

ah, I see you have one that matches your user name now, cool

being picked on sucks, It didn't happen to me until I was in the program. I tend to when talking to people try to keep the same distance from them, also some people just didn't like me for no reason other then to not like me and my partner would spread rumors

glad its improved. yeah I tended to treat it as school only, so if I talked to others it was about class. I also have people I know that only hang out and talk about the activity we do together, though that's improved some.
most people I bumped into out of class would always ask me stuff about assignments and tests. like " hey sly, what you get on that test?"

I think outcast is a bit hard on yourself, its not like you live in the outlands. hmm not sure what to say about it if you don't enjoy socializing, if you do maybe try asking about them, or trying to hang out with them. perhaps group study, I found that it was 60 class related and 40% about life and stuff.

Hmm, I always thought that those should be separate, I try to refrain from personal stuff with bosses or employees. I've had favorite teachers I'd talk to about subjects on. I assumed it was the way to do it was to not be friends with bosses .


wow you sound really smart. It could help with after college, and possible the later years of college. Its never too late. hugs
I would have thought not caring what others think would make you less popular.
I more towards the wanting social interaction then you it seems. I really like to socialize. You're more of the person i'd approach though for friendship, I guess cause the quiet reserved type seems safer and less intimidating. Id certainly want to be your friend more cause you consider yourself withdrawn , though you might not like that lol

I liked the ideal of the routine, also the uniforms. I'm also protective, so I wanted to go protect my nation and others who serve. I actually thought about trying to join the Canadian military since they won't know my disorders lol

hugs again.

Yes, I do :]

Because I was living on campus I mostly got picked on by students outside of my program.
People would say some pretty mean things about me for no real reason, but they would act like my friend when they were with me.
Some people just used my friendship to get assignments done. But I did wind up making a friend or two, but after first year we don't talk much anymore.
I feel like at my University, some professors really are like friends.

I try pushing group studies but people only what to group study with me if it's chemistry or math related.
Or if there's a major exam coming up and a lot of us get together from a group study session.
I feel like school isn't all about being smart though, or even good grades.
You really are expected to be everything.

She isn't all that popular but she has seemed to be able to latch onto people, and people respect her for her smarts.
I also sometimes think people pity her, which is a sucky way to make friends. We hang out sometimes.
I like to socialize, I really do, but for me I can mostly take it or leave it. I like talking about the things that interest me.
I really like meeting people who share my interests, but not many people here do.
I know people I'd like to be friends with but I don't know how to get them to be my friend.
Sometimes I get really lonely, but I manage it by studying.

I like socializing with people who initiate the conversation because I feel less pressured to carry the conversation.
And it is really unfortunate that you cannot join the military. I can't imagine how helpless it feels to be barred from your dream job because of a disability.
Hugs, because I am the hugs bison, after all.

unfortunately such things seem to be common among some NT's to be friendly in person then say mean things about us to others. I don't understand it, but I do know it happens.
sucks that they used you. Ive been used before a bit. Yeah it does seem some friendships fade, I really don't like it. i try my best to keep them going, but probably come off creepy.

well that's nice. I had one teacher who spent more time bonding then teaching it seems.

hmm. I must admit I only ever was in one group for a project. I didn't seek out people in school. I didn't see it as the big social experience it is. apparently its a great place to meet potential SO's. I wasn't really social back then I was super shy still.

It sounds like people respect you for your smarts too, why else would they want to study with you for math and chemistry . I guessing you're good at those?

I know its off topic, but what are your interests?

making friends seems far harder and confusing then finding a gf to me. With a gf, there comes a point where you both agree you are a couple. friends on the other hand never has this. What defines a friend. What makes them different then just someone you know. I haven't made any new friends in a long time. I just don't know how to begin. My friends were all introduced to me by other friends, I haven't made one from scratch in a long time.

I get lonely a lot and it will pile up till I collapse into depression for a while, then cycle back again. Like a capacitor or wave form.

it was and is quite disappointing, I was working hard to get in. The fact that almost all my friends have joined the military adds to it. Not only was it something I really wanted to do, but now I'm the only one who didn't. I went to college and got a degree in automotive tech, but the job doesn't react well to my hearing sensitivity, anxiety and slowness from aspergers. I would like to work in a parts store maybe. mechanic is a aggressive job environment. so thats too dream strikes. I haven't told my family yet so they still think I'm going be a mechanic.

you seem to be on track though to a field you like and can do good at.

thank for the hug. Hugs back

My school forces groupwork upon us.
They constantly remind us that speaking in public is an aspect of science we al have to deal with some day.
And we always have to work in pairs for labs, in one lab I am in a group of four people. We work together on projects.

I'm not very good at math.
Maybe I'm just better at focusing on it.
I guess mostly my coursework is my interest.
I like to read, video games, I like languages, and music on the side.
How about you?

I find making friends significantly harder than getting dates.
There are no formalities, there are no structure to friends.
There is always that awkward situation when one person considers the other a friend, but the other doesn't think of that person that way.
How do you know when you are officially friends with someone? I guess I made my own friendship guideline to decide when someone is a friend or not.
Sometimes I get extremely lonely and I'll lie in bed for days and do nothing, but once it passes I am completely okay and I'll rarely feel lonely for a while.

I wanted to do medicine but I really don't think it's a good fit for me so now I don't know what to do.
I spent all of my time with this mentality that I was going to be a doctor, and now I'm not.

ah, well could be worst. I never see anyone except family some times when i leave my room.
I guess it could be, but what about all the people who work in labs and stuff. if you became really good you'd have to give presentations and such though. I could see that.
yeah in the auto program we had to have a partner due to the small amount of cars per people. the training machines were worse some times we had to do 4 people in a team on a machine meant for 1.

I'm good at it, when I can remember it, I find it boring though. unless I'm doing fun math. I enjoy calculating the price per unit of stuff.
People like to read, not me but many others do. Maybe there's a book club on campus. what video games you play?
languages are hard, though I could see people getting together to talk in them so they don't forget them. Music, maybe go to concerts. Be careful though.

I like video games too, browser games(more for the interaction with online people), youtube, hiking/camping/shooting/swimming, look at the stars is fun. I liked to learn German when i did. I've always felt odd for not being a book reader. I have ADD its super hard to read books and I'm a slow reader, yet its such a common thing. It seems every woman reads tons of books, half the guy do too.

Well at-least I'm not alone in that ideal. wish there was a Facebook status "in a friendship with ____" lol lots of people befriend people who aren't real friends on fb, so it would be a different thing like the relationship status.
I don't know what makes a friend. o.O is it doing things together, couldn't you do those things with a enemy too. I guess loyalty or being there for each other. Had a friend come over at 1am when I was depressed, so I guess hes a friend.

I do that although not for days, though I do lie in bed 90% of my life now, but its different when I'm depressed. and half the time I sit in bed. I don't like seeing others lonely sad though hugs.

why is it you don't think it'll be a good fit?

I used to be a slow reader when I was a kid, even though I liked books. My school put me into this program to help me learn how to read or something.
I don't know many guys who read books, it's unfortunate. I wish I could be able to share books with the guys I know, but very few of them read.

I like hiking, swimming, and some sports. Not a big fan of camping. I live in a very rural place, so I don't need to go far to look at the stars.
I think being a doctor is too much chaos. And I'm not a nurturing person, and I'm not good with people. I don't have enough volunteer experience and the idea of MMIs frightens me. I just like the work.

Yeah I was put in lower classes and they tested us every so often each year. when I find a book I like I get into it, I just don't go looking for books.
I've known a few guys that read books a lot. so they are out there. I always saw the couples that would read together in bed before sleeping. I Can't give that to a lady.

what bothers you about camping. lucky here we have the power, but it doesn't hurt much where I live but the trees and clouds block the stars a lot.

While its sad to feel you can't do it , you shouldn't push yourself to do something that makes you uncomfortable. I ran into similar problems with automotive. My family was so proud of me for getting a degree and all think i'm going be a mechanic, I haven't told them I can't. such a let down and failure to them.
Maybe try something in the medical lab field. you'd still be helping people and doing medical work, but its more solitude and science no interaction with patients. whats MMIs?
as for volunteer experience, I too lack any of that. I feel its harder for us, as most of it requires social stuff.