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Worried about being told I do not have an ASD

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lyricalillusions
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08 Sep 2012, 7:43 pm

XFilesGeek wrote:
CrystalStars wrote:
eric76 wrote:
CrystalStars wrote:
To me, it seems like you're hoping to be diagnosed with AS so you can justify several issues.


I don't get that at all, but that he wants to have some basis on which to understand the issues.

Fair enough. I guess I'm just a jerk. AS isn't something most people would "hope" to have, either.


I agree.

I'm not sure why some people seem to have such a yen to be diagnosed with an ASD.


I would like to be diagnosed with an ASD so that I can have the proper treatment, which I have never had. I will never get proper treatment without a proper diagnosis.


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08 Sep 2012, 7:47 pm

lyricalillusions wrote:
Now that I have health insurance and can get tested for an ASD, I'm worried that I will be told I do not have one or that I will not be taken seriously because of my history with social phobia and agoraphobia. I believe an ASD (specifically Asperger's or PDD-NOS) explains all of my problems. From the developmental delays I had during childhood, to my sensory issues, to my social issues, among other things. Getting a professional to realize this, I feel, will be very difficult. Because of this, I almost expect to be told that I have no ASD at all and my problems are only social phobia and agoraphobia (or avoidant personality disorder and bipolar disorder, which are other diagnoses I've been given). Even though none of those disorders explain all of my problems or my entire life the way Asperger's/PDD-NOS does.

I guess this post is just to vent. I don't really have any questions to ask. I'm just worried about being tested and being told it's all in my mind and I have no problems other than the ones I've been diagnosed with. Or even being told I'm a hypochondriac. Knowing that my diagnoses do not address my childhood problems or my sensory issues, I know there must be something more and I believe that to be an ASD. But getting a doctor to understand that will be difficult, no matter what evidence I present.

If only my mother or father, or some teacher, would have done something when I was a child I'm certain I would have been diagnosed with an ASD at that time. But since I am now an adult, getting a diagnosis will be much harder. I just don't know what I will do if I am told that I do not have an ASD. It's the only thing that fits, unlike everything else I've been diagnosed with, which only fit a bit.


Psychiatrists and doctors do like blaming any type of anxiety especially social anxiety disorder for aspie traits. They might even say you have a little bit of OSPD. It's because a lot of doctors don't know enough about AS. Make sure you go to a specialist.



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08 Sep 2012, 7:48 pm

PixelPony wrote:
I was afraid of the same thing. AS explained so much of the pain and trouble of my past. I was afraid of not getting the diagnosis because then I would be back to not knowing or understanding what was wrong.

I have the same feeling as this. I am getting a diagnosis in 3 months and I keep worrying that the tester would say there is nothing wrong with me (cos I have gotten relatively good at appearing to be NT in public). Then all the relief I had ever felt from having all my difficulties explained would be gone and I'd be back to hating myself again.



eric76
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08 Sep 2012, 7:51 pm

CrystalStars wrote:
AS isn't something most people would "hope" to have, either.


That is true, but I think that if it provides an adequate basis to explain why they have always been so different from everyone else their entire lives, then it would be quite attractive.

I think that man is basically tribal in nature. In general, we live according to our tribe (or community of one type or another). Some people are cast out of the tribe for various reasons, but the autistic are probably somewhat unique in casting themselves out of the tribe by choosing not to participate in the tribal activities.



YellowBanana
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08 Sep 2012, 7:52 pm

XFilesGeek wrote:
I'm not sure why some people seem to have such a yen to be diagnosed with an ASD.


I wrote a response but couldn't phrase it properly so I deleted it. Trying again. It's got nothing to do with wanting to have an ASD. I don't believe anyone would want an ASD. It's to do with having whatever the root cause of your difficulties to be recognised accurately.

In my case apparently it was more obvious to the professionals than to me that I had an ASD.
In the case where the professional does not identify ASD, I don't believe in "doctor shopping" until you get the diagnosis you "want", but there is definitely room for a second or third opinion just to be sure. e

I think I'm rambling a bit now. It's late.


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XFilesGeek
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08 Sep 2012, 8:07 pm

YellowBanana wrote:
XFilesGeek wrote:
I'm not sure why some people seem to have such a yen to be diagnosed with an ASD.


I wrote a response but couldn't phrase it properly so I deleted it. Trying again. It's got nothing to do with wanting to have an ASD. I don't believe anyone would want an ASD. It's to do with having whatever the root cause of your difficulties to be recognised accurately.

In my case apparently it was more obvious to the professionals than to me that I had an ASD.
In the case where the professional does not identify ASD, I don't believe in "doctor shopping" until you get the diagnosis you "want", but there is definitely room for a second or third opinion just to be sure. e

I think I'm rambling a bit now. It's late.


That's fine, but I still think I would be relieved to find out I don't have an ASD.

And, just talking from experience and observation, certain people do seem to have a fixation on getting declared "autistic."

I wonder if anyone ever says, "I'm so afraid that I won't be diagnosed schizophrenic."


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lostgirl1986
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08 Sep 2012, 8:11 pm

XFilesGeek wrote:
YellowBanana wrote:
XFilesGeek wrote:
I'm not sure why some people seem to have such a yen to be diagnosed with an ASD.


I wrote a response but couldn't phrase it properly so I deleted it. Trying again. It's got nothing to do with wanting to have an ASD. I don't believe anyone would want an ASD. It's to do with having whatever the root cause of your difficulties to be recognised accurately.

In my case apparently it was more obvious to the professionals than to me that I had an ASD.
In the case where the professional does not identify ASD, I don't believe in "doctor shopping" until you get the diagnosis you "want", but there is definitely room for a second or third opinion just to be sure. e

I think I'm rambling a bit now. It's late.


That's fine, but I still think I would be relieved to find out I don't have an ASD.

And, just talking from experience and observation, certain people do seem to have a fixation on getting declared "autistic."

I wonder if anyone ever says, "I'm so afraid that I won't be diagnosed schizophrenic."


If I thought I was schizophrenic then I would hope to be diagnosed as such so I could get the professional help and support I needed.



lyricalillusions
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08 Sep 2012, 8:14 pm

lostgirl1986 wrote:
XFilesGeek wrote:
YellowBanana wrote:
XFilesGeek wrote:
I'm not sure why some people seem to have such a yen to be diagnosed with an ASD.


I wrote a response but couldn't phrase it properly so I deleted it. Trying again. It's got nothing to do with wanting to have an ASD. I don't believe anyone would want an ASD. It's to do with having whatever the root cause of your difficulties to be recognised accurately.

In my case apparently it was more obvious to the professionals than to me that I had an ASD.
In the case where the professional does not identify ASD, I don't believe in "doctor shopping" until you get the diagnosis you "want", but there is definitely room for a second or third opinion just to be sure. e

I think I'm rambling a bit now. It's late.


That's fine, but I still think I would be relieved to find out I don't have an ASD.

And, just talking from experience and observation, certain people do seem to have a fixation on getting declared "autistic."

I wonder if anyone ever says, "I'm so afraid that I won't be diagnosed schizophrenic."


If I thought I was schizophrenic then I would hope to be diagnosed as such so I could get the professional help and support I needed.

Very true, lostgirl1986. That's the same reason I and others hope to be diagnosed with an ASD. Because without the diagnosis, one can't get the proper help they need.
For those who have no severe problems related to their ASD, this isn't the case because they don't need the help but some, like me, do need that.


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eric76
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08 Sep 2012, 8:33 pm

If not being diagnosed as AS is to be desired, then how about having a diagnosis of AS being removed as appears to be a fear for many under the revisions found in DSM-V?

Wouldn't it be about the same for those who are self diagnosed as AS and then seeing a doctor to have it diagnosed and the doctor diagnoses something else or even no diagnosis at all?



lyricalillusions
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08 Sep 2012, 8:48 pm

eric76 wrote:
If not being diagnosed as AS is to be desired, then how about having a diagnosis of AS being removed as appears to be a fear for many under the revisions found in DSM-V?

Wouldn't it be about the same for those who are self diagnosed as AS and then seeing a doctor to have it diagnosed and the doctor diagnoses something else or even no diagnosis at all?

Wouldn't the person then just be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder? Not AS specifically, but they would still be on the spectrum, so I don't see how much would change.


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08 Sep 2012, 8:55 pm

eric76 wrote:
CrystalStars wrote:
AS isn't something most people would "hope" to have, either.


That is true, but I think that if it provides an adequate basis to explain why they have always been so different from everyone else their entire lives, then it would be quite attractive.

I think that man is basically tribal in nature. In general, we live according to our tribe (or community of one type or another). Some people are cast out of the tribe for various reasons, but the autistic are probably somewhat unique in casting themselves out of the tribe by choosing not to participate in the tribal activities.


Cause we are the "new" tribe. Succeeding, slowly, painfully, without a care of the individuals subjective experience, just the way nature intended.



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08 Sep 2012, 9:42 pm

He's not saying that he hopes he has ASD, he's saying he believes he has it and is hoping for it to be recognized via reception of a diagnosis. Completely different from saying he hopes he has ASD. He's also dealt with NT's suppressing his self-discovery most of his life, which is typical of their cultural myopia. This will cause that paranoia, believe me I know.

The DSM isn't changing because it's right, it's changing because the doctors are under the influence of the same institution that cuts the checks for SSI and they know that nobody will care about a person who "seems totally normal" yet is inherently different. If you haven't noticed, terrorizing Muslims has become a greater priority than life, liberty, and happiness for all.

You think it'll bother an NT's conscience to send another "defective" person to the shelter? ...it won't! They can overcome their discriminatory nature, but they are very tribal and follow the crowd. If compassion isn't cool, they're not having it. They need an awakening ...when or if that will happen is anyone's guess. I'm hoping this economic thing, plus the near 7 billion global population will antagonize whatever the hell is needed to wake these people up.



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08 Sep 2012, 11:13 pm

I've been concerned about the same thing. The reason is because I've gotten so much better at coping with ASD traits I have. If ASD was an official diagnosis when I was in therapy back in the late 70s, I would have fit the profile perfectly and likely would have been diagnosed properly. Now a diagnosis might be a little harder to come by, because I've gotten a little better at talking to people I don't know and handling things for myself instead of having my mom do everything, and I can now use the phone without going into complete shutdown.

As far as needing a diagnosis, it's not a case of me wanting to be AS. I'm not jumping any bandwagon -- didn't know there WAS a bandwagon -- as I discovered this on my own, not through a suggestion by anyone else. The reason I want a diagnosis is because I do have SO many of the traits. A diagnosis would help me to explain to my family and friends who have complained about my behavior the reasons why I act the way I do. If I just said "In case you're interested, I have Asperger's Syndrome, " chances are I'd get denials and criticism about it.



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09 Sep 2012, 12:23 am

Lyricalillusions, if you feel sure that autism/Asperger's is the correct diagnosis for you, then bring all the documentation that you can when you are assessed. Anything from school or work that would support it, medical history, baby books, report cards, even diaries and online self-tests. In this way you can support your own determination. However, also keep an open mind. Investigating other possibilities as differential diagnoses may either help to confirm autism or it may very well make it plain that you have another disorder entirely... and getting the diagnosis right is far more important than getting the diagnosis you want.


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09 Sep 2012, 1:02 am

I wish you well.

There are many people who have killed themselves
because of the pain of unknowingly being
AS, so having this confirmed can be so
life affirming (literally) The facts are kind
and the denial of the facts can be overwhelming.

In my experience, owning this part of me
has been fundamental in me moving on,
and now I am more able to hold my AS
more lightly, Its less of an identity, its more
an aspect of who I am, rather than who i am.

The big problem facing adults with respect
to dx is that their adaptive skills can
camouflage their inner autistic world, many
'Professionals' in the mainstream system
are not skilled in delving deeper.


Go well.....



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09 Sep 2012, 1:06 am

If you have an ASD, you have it, you were born with it. A diagnosis one way or another won't change who you are.
If you don't have an ASD, and are mis-diagnosed as having one, you still don't have ASD.



Last edited by Marybird on 09 Sep 2012, 2:15 am, edited 1 time in total.