Is there really any point in revealing your diagnosis?

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I read a lotta things on here about the logistics of revealing your diagnosis. For me it really doesnt make a difference. People end up not understanding how I have it initially. Then somewhere down the road I piss them off like crazy and they think Im just being rude, and inconsiderate of their feelings. Then Im thinking, Im told u I had aspergers syndrome, Im sorry if I keep pissing you off on accident. I dont mean things the way they are most of the time. My intentions are rarely bad. I just do this kinda stuff by accident.

Im sure you all got your own issues and severities where revealing your diagnosis might be more nessary. Does it really help or what? For me, its getting kinda pointless.

I find that it has helped me so far. It's important to know how to disclose so that you don't end up making it seem like an excuse. For every person, their ideal way to disclose would be individual and would depend on many factors. For me, it's helpful because people always notice that there's something different about me but often can't quite put their finger on it.

Yes. For medical emergencies. I just rather people know so I know how they judge me is based on their knowledge of my autism. I do get people angry at me even if they know. They say they just want to treat me like a normal person.
I don't mind people knowing. Not telling them is like not telling them what my favourite band is or that I'm allergic to orange juice and sunscreen. I like to talk about it and if they didn't know what situations upset me they'd think I was really overreacting or having a nervous breakdown.

My diagnosis is public knowledge despite my not liking it initially because I made a decision to help others. I think revealing a diagnoses can alter outcomes for the good and or the worse. If you are very high functioning and do well in the world I see little point in doing it. The label or general spectrum of developmental disability adaptation relies I think on a focus on difference as a disability for adaptation reasons on many levels. If you are not in need of a label related adaptation in a certain context then why reveal it? There is tons of awareness already so if for awareness reasons it's your sole decision but certainly not requirement.

Nathan Young

I don't think so. I went 15 years just thinking I was an awkward and introverted kid. I'm 20 years old now and now all it's just part of my personality. Yeah, my close relatives and friends know but I don't just throw it out there and say "Hey! I'm an aspie!"

There is no point to revealing your diagnosis - except when there is.

It can help some situations and hurt others. My personal feeling is that telling someone I am on the spectrum should always be undertaken with careful consideration.

Ive only found it useful in terms of getting the accomidations I need academically. And for the use of psychs and stuff. With friends, apparently I dont stick out. My friends who know about it keep telling me I come across as normal.

Im not trying to use it as an excuse for bad behavior, just as a way to understand me better. But it never seems to make a difference??

Depends on the situation. For me it's been invaluable to reveal my diagnosis at college, because I've been able to get specific support as a result which has helped me tremendously.

When it comes to revealing it to individuals, it depends on all sorts of things, such as the individual's stereotypes, their attitude to disability, their understanding of autism, their willingness to learn and to have their stereotypes challenged, etc. It can be very useful to tell some people, and very unhelpful to tell others.

I'm not about to start wearing a sign round my neck.
It depends on the situation, and if it feels relevant to what's going on then I'll tell the other person.

Like CI, I am out and about to come out to the public. I think there is a lot of point if it can help raise autism awareness and/or help others.

I could see wearing my autism as a flag if it helped others on the spectrum. I don't really give a rip what others think, but I am fully cognizant of how others' stereotypes can be applied to me in ways that limit my success.

I guess I don't really feel like I'm all that successful. Ironically, having discovered my core problem and that it can't be fixed, I've been spending less energy trying to change myself and more examining what is happening externally that prevents the realization of my inner self. So I'm cautiously optimistic that this fundamental shift in self perception will lead to good things. If that means I need to be annoyingly honest about it, fine.

Yeah... I did not mean to imply that my reason is a good reason for everyone. The question as if there any point and if you are going to try to work on autism as a cause then you sort of have to come out to be more effective. I came out at work because my work is affected right now due to AS. My bosses are being exceptionally kind. They are also aware that I am a possible lawsuit waiting to happen if they are not kind. It is sort of a WIN/WIN in that way. LOL! Seriously, I am really grateful for my job and the awesome people that I work for. Even without the protection of the diagnosis, I feel like they would be working with me. Still it is just a little bit of extra security.

I am not fond of hiding elements of myself for the sake of others' peace of mind. I do realize that some people will react badly, but I am sure I would not want to keep them around if that is the case.

I haven't been open outside a few friends and this forum since I concluded I probably do have AS, and I am waiting for an official diagnosis before I consider telling others, however.

With regarding to raising awareness and breaking down people's stereotypes, I find it more useful to tell people after they've got to know me a bit rather than straight away. If you tell them straight away, they can simply delegate you to a convenient category in their head, but if they've got to know you first, then they will have to adapt the category to incorporate what they know about you, and any ways in which you challenge their stereotype. Also, when people know you, they feel freer to ask questions, which is the best way for stereotypes to break down.

To give an example, one friend said to me after I'd told her: 'But you have a sense of humour - I thought people with Aspergers didn't have senses of humour.' So then that gave me opportunity to talk about humour and the different kinds, and about Aspergers. But if she hadn't known me, she'd never have said that, and also potentially never would have got to see my sense of humour, because she'd have been looking for things to fulfil the stereotype.