"Autism Self-Diagnosis Is Not Special Snowflake Syndrome"

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There are a lot of places in the world that don't have socialised medicine and can't afford to get assessed for ASD.

I'm talking about ones that do.

I can tell you from experience that NOT having a diagnosis works against you in a custody or even a visitation hearing. 1) You come across as dispassionate (Why do you REALLY want to see your child?), (You don't really seem to be involved with your child.)
2) Controlling or aggressive (You are only here to control the other person and your agitation shows an aggressive nature)
3) Inability to comprehend some things can be misconstrued as shifty actions or the inability to care for your child
4) The methodical nature that we do is taken the wrong way as excuses (Wow, you have an answer for everything!)

Those are just the high points I remember. So, yeah, I think a piece of paper can work or you too.

Psychology is kind of subjective, too. Yes, the DSM exists but psychologists and psychiatrists still use their own judgements. My psychologist of five years has recently diagnosed me with Aspergers, and even he admitted I could go to someone else and recieve a totally different diagnosis.

I've been misdiagnosed as having psychosis, bipolar disorder, and depression. I was heavily medicated, and of course none of the meds worked because I have none of these disorders. Psychiatrists like prescribing pills and Aspergers isn't treatable with meds; so, it's no surprise that a psychiatrist would rather diagnosis someone with anxiety or psychosis, both which are treated with meds, instead of Aspergers. If one has the money for a diagnosis I would recommend a clinical psychologist that specializes in autism in adults (these are hard to find) or a regular psychologist instead of a psychiatrist. I think it's still hard for adults to get an autism diagnosis. An adult could present with all of the symptoms and many health professionals would still want to call it psychosis or something.

You've talked to people who claim to be autistic and have access to diagnostic pathways, autism experts, and the money to seek diagnosis, but who choose not to anyway--and not because of other extenuating circumstances? Where are these people?

They exist, and they are the only ones it was directing. Sorry for not making it clear.

My psychologist of 5 years diagnosed me with mild autism after going over the DSM-5 criteria with me in addition to my family history for two sessions. My psychologist and I have entertained the possibility of me having Aspergers (now considered high functioning/mild autism) for about the past 4 years, but my psychologist always thought social anxiety fitted me better. He's always thought I had some autistic traits but not enough for a diagnosis.

After spending two sessions really going over the DSM-5 and my history he agreed that I do have autism and that the autism diagnosis actually fits me better than social anxiety disorder. My psychologist did offer to refer me to an autism specialist but warned me that it would be a waste of time and money unless I was looking for special assistance or accommodations, which I'm not.

It can be hard for an adult to get this diagnosis. If you really think you have it do your research and be ready to explain your rationale to a psychologist that's willing to listen. It helped that I've been with my current psychologist for 5 years. Plus, my insurance covered this. I would never spend several thousand dollars on a psychologist for a diagnosis just to say I have it. I'd need a reason, such as requiring special classes in school, etc.

I would want the diagnosis to prevent what you described as being misdiagnosed. It happened to you. So many things in certain situations can have many of the same symptoms. Why take medicines that really aren't helping, just subduing a symptom?

Or the person who has been depressed, but is actually not at the present time? The reality is that people are going to jump to the easiest solution and pass it along. As the insurance companies call it, "'Quicker and sicker'. ie, Getting people in and out as fast as possible without really helping them."

Or the person who is exhibiting symptoms that appear controlling. There is a huge difference between controlling others and trying to control your environment. But, they can look the same.

As for people who will not take advantage of an available resource strike me only one of two ways.
1) Scared and not really knowing what will happen
2) Just too self-assured that they feel it is not important and/or feel they know better than anyone else.

Those that cannot, or have not been able to, get tested, that is a different story. They may only have the self-diagnosis available.

But your partner can use it to say why you are not a fit parent and list the reasons why because of your condition. Also they look at how stable you are and if you can provide for the child financially and its not just with food and clothes, it's also with emotional needs. It's a double edge swore because either way you are screwed. It's all for the best interest of the child.

that's going to happen no matter what. It's the most contentious of things and the opposing party will sling anything against the wall to see what sticks.

Here is an example:

Other person's attorney: So,k you depend on medication to control yourself?
Me: I'm on antidepressants, nothing unprescribed and monitored by a physician
Other person's attorney: So, you're addicted to those medicines.

And, that is the mildest thing I experienced. To throw in the towel in the face of adversity is not an option either way. For the individual, it is their choice.

I would have rather been able to explain, or show, many things have a rationale.
If I seem cold and aloof, it doesn't mean I'm detached.
I'm detail oriented, so, how is that not beneficial to a child?
If I am coming in time after time just to visit my child, that's exactly what I am doing. And, that is all I am doing. I am not controlling the other person or forcing contact. In fact, I prefer to not have contact and a safe environment for transitioning from one parent to the other is preferred.
If I appear agitated, it is because you are throwing a barrage of things at me and I can request that the questions be phrased in a way that is not a lump of huge emotional overload. And request time to process the information.

And, if you don't think there is huge emotional overload in that situation, then, well, you'd be wrong.

So, yeah, I'd rather face the truth and take the consequences. But, that's me and it's where I stand based off experience. May not be true for someone else.
Anything can be used for positive or negative effect. Just look at how statistics are manipulated.

The issue with psychologists is that people can easily recieve different diagnoses depending on who they see, especially with a little known disorder like high functioning adult autism. Even though my current psychologist has diagnosed me with autism, another health professional may diagnose me as just anxious or something. I could tell another health professional about my current diagnosis but they may disagree and still go with their (wrong) diagnosis. Some health professionals aren't good at listening to their clients. They form their own opinion and that's it.

I wish more psych professionals were aware and trained in indentifying high functioning adult autism. More objective tests are needed for mental health professionals, too.
Psychology is too subjective.

As adults we know ourselves better than anyone. So far most of the self diagnosed people that I've read about don't come across as attention seeking to me and do seem to be on the spectrum or at least different from the typical adult. A few do appear to have social anxiety instead, but most of the self diagnosed older adults especially seem to be on the spectrum.

It's good to have an official diagnosis, but considering how hard it is to get an official diagnosis, I understand those who self diagnosis.

I would like to address something that ASPartOfMe mentioned.

ASPartOfMe is right. Anything can be used to unlock any part of any medical history. Basically, the legal types are always coming up with ways to circumvent what we perceive as 'privacy protections'.

And, in the hands of any capable authority figure, it can be used for good or for bad.

But, ASPartOfMe is right, privacy is a thing of the past, for good or for bad.

But, I still choose to know rather than hide.

That's the best reason for not ducking the head in the sand. The more people who step up and help the body of evidence towards a more formal diagnosis, the better for all. Bad diagnoses can also happen in things like heart disease, cancer, et al.




New research is trying to codify that. But if you think the basic medical profession is much better, think again. It is still as much an art as a science. How many people are misdiagnosed? Just because there are a few bad or lacking people is no reason to just run.



Wait till you run into bonafide Narcissists.



Maybe. But most times, we really don't know things because our perceptions are colored and has no real input into what is really happening.



I agree with that statement for only the people with no resources. The rest just baffle me.

Here is an excellent example of how things can work with proper information.

http://news.yahoo.com/restaurant-fires- ... 33736.html

There is change happening. It takes time. It takes education and eventually understanding.

I was also given different labels growing up and my mom had to go doctor shopping because she knew I had something and no one could ever figure it out. One doctor didn't know, so my mom would take me to another one. She never told me any of this and this would all probably be too confusing for me so she didn't tell me. Plus it would have made me feel like I was broken and had stuff wrong with me. That is what labels do when you have so many of them. No one said I had autism and said they didn't see it. It was until 6th grade I got diagnosed with ASD but I wonder if another doctor would have said I didn't have it if I tried to get diagnosed again?

I remember going to different doctors but I never knew why I was going to them and I never even asked why. I wonder what my mom would have said if I asked why I had to go to them. I just thought it was normal so it never occurred to me to ask. it just got me out of school and that is all I cared. I also loved the puzzles and tests they gave me so I didn't care. Also stickers they would give you or a toy after each session, that was great so it made me love it. I didn't know any different. I noticed my brothers never went to them but I can remember thinking how lucky I was to get out of school and the other kids had to stay.

My mom seemed satisfied enough to tell me I had Asperger's, anxiety, OCD, depression and she said it was all part of Asperger's. Now I find out those are just co morbids, not symptoms and I wonder if she told me they were part of it to make me feel like I am not broken and don't have all these things wrong with me because it she just says it's all part of it, I wouldn't feel broken and it would make it look like I only have one thing wrong with me. But if she meant all those conditions are caused by it, then that is what she probably meant.

Yes, and things evolve into better systems.
Things do change and they evolve.
There are tons of things we understand now that was hocus pocus just twenty years ago.

Heart operation? In bed for quite a while.
Now? Up and walking sometimes that day depending on severity and home within a few days at most.

My mother's body was destroyed by the treatments of chemo and radiation from just 20 years ago.
Now, not so pleasant, but not completely ruinous for many situations. At least for the cancers she had.

Yes, she had three. But today, each one would be much easier treated and with much less harm.
And, to prove your's and my points, I was the problem kid in an era where there was absolutely no information. So no diagnoses at that time at all. You're just the problem kid.