Is self-diagnosis okay/valid/a good thing?

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I think that it is good for people to see debates and discussions of important autism-related issues like self-diagnosis on wp.

My experience would suggest that the vast proportion of people self-diagnose, a diagnosis which is then confirmed by a specialist.

Twenty five years ago I spent a week being "tested" by a group of quite eminent psychologists. I had been "let go" from two senior positions on the basis of my not being a "team player", and I wanted to know why. They came up with nothing other than the fact that I had an IQ that put me in the top 5% of the population.

I had had gender issues from childhood, and seventeen years ago I was diagnosed as being transsexual. Subsequent to that I transitioned, and in order to acquire hormone treatment and surgery I saw a Psychiatrist every few weeks for two years. No mention of autism there either. I felt at the time that my inability to get on with people was entirely due to my gender issues.

Following on from above by 5 years, I spent six months undertaking regular sessions with a relationship counsellor as I still didn't get on with people. Nothing positive came from that either.

It was only after I read about Susan Boyle (Scottish singer) and her Asperger's that I started to research my symptoms as they seemed similar. My GP is a very intelligent and knowledgeable person, and when I spoke to her about my suspicions she agreed that I probably did have Asperger's syndrome. Suggesting that there was little to be gained by seeing a specialist to confirm it as there was nothing they could do about it.

I have since spoken with relatives who were around when I was young, and they all agreed that I had been a bit "odd" as a child. Never played with other children or had friends, very much a loner. At school I was brilliant at Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, yet in an English Essay exam scored just 1% for getting my name correct at the top of the blank sheet of paper I submitted. These facts plus others would suggest that I was Autistic as a child. But in the post WWII 1950's in the UK, Autism wasn't something that rang any bells.

So to repeat "My experience would suggest that the vast proportion of people self-diagnose, a diagnosis which is then confirmed by a specialist". A specialist needs to be looking for it otherwise they won't find it.

Not sure about chicken and egg situation, but apparently there is a statistically significant correlation between Gender Dysphoria and Autism. Those with Gender Dysphoria have an increased probability of being Autistic, or vice versa.

allisoncc, your thinking makes sense to me.

I think the people who are opposed to self diagnosis would not find fault with any of this. My experience is consistent with this.

I would not say that I was ever 100% certain of being autistic prior to my official diagnosis, but I was pretty sure. To me that was essentially "self diagnosed" but I would be happy to say "pretty sure" rather than certain to allay the concerns of the anti self diagnosis people. I could not have rested with that degree of uncertainty and really needed the assessment to be satisfied.

I doubt that anyone who is coming here is going to be really put off by this debate. When I first ran into it, my thought was "that's interesting."

I don't think that it's going to work to tell people not to express an anti self diagnosis view for the benefit of the more sensitive visitor.

I find that I respect the views of people on both sides. I think they are largely talking at cross purposes. Their ideas are addressing concerns along different axes, so they use the same terms in different ways and don't acknowledge this about the other. I think the poster who observed early on that the quality of this debate was characteristic of the autism among participants was correct.

If there were no debates or topical discussions on wp, then I wouldn't be here, as it would be too boring.

It's a pity that someone was "driven away" because of a debate. I feel bad about that, actually. Debates shouldn't get to the point where people personally abuse others (ad hominem attacks)

Good, honest, substantive debate makes this website a viable one. People have opinions, and they have a desire to "prove" their opinions. Other people have opposing opinions, and seek to "prove" theirs as well. There's nothing wrong with that at all. If somebody doesn't agree with you, it doesn't mean the person has less regard for you.

What I don't like is when people resort to rhetorical devices (some of which involve insulting the intelligence of those with whom they are opposed). These "devices" often cause the debate to sway to areas which have nothing to do with the resolution of the question which was originally posed. Additionally, the employment of rhetorical devices besmirches the "honesty" of the debate, renders the debate experience unpleasant, and brings offense to many people.

Some people don't believe in "self-diagnosis" for various reasons.

Some people see "self-diagnosis" as a way to "find out about themselves."

Within many contexts, the word "diagnosis" has acquired a broader meaning than the medical definition. This, I believe, is the basis from which the term "self-diagnosis" is used within WrongPlanet. I don't believe people who "self-diagnose" believe they are experts.

I don't believe anybody believes that a "self-diagnosis" carries as much or more weight than an official diagnosis, even though official diagnoses, in some cases, could be as subjective as a "self-diagnosis."

I don't know why people leave forums due to disagreement with others.
I don't leave forums for this reason or any other reason, but I am only on two forums - wp and a small tv show forum.

It would be very unfair if those diagnosed as autistic who believe 'self-diagnosis' isn't a good thing were not allowed to express so - especially given the title of this thread.

To use someone leaving the forum as an example of potential danger of expressing one's views could be seen as blanketing the right to free speech and a form of scaremongering. A debate isn't a debate if both sides can't express their views.

If diagnosed autistics are capable anywhere of expressing their views in relation to autism/diagnosis, it should be on an autism forum - and especially so in threads related specifically to diagnosis.

On the simplest level - if whoever left the forum didn't like the tone of this thread, they should have stopped reading this specific thread. Would you continue watching a movie if the contents bothered you - especially so when the movie detailed the contents?

The simple solution to not wishing to engage in a specific debate is to not engage in that specific debate. Why listen to a piece of music you don't like when you can create your own playlist?

Using someone leaving as an example of reasons not to pursue such a conversation could be seen as a diversionary blanket tactic and an attack on those diagnosed as autistic - rather than the other way around.

Yes, individuals shouldn't offend or attack other individuals. That surely goes without saying.

Maybe someone left as they faced a nugget of truth in this thread. Maybe not. Who knows.