Are the un-diagnosed welcome here.

Page 5 of 5 [ 69 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Previous topic | Next topic

Sweetleaf
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,924
Location: Somewhere in Colorado

02 Jan 2012, 11:47 am

nemorosa wrote:

I'm finding it disturbing that so far we have 8 out of 70 that thinking those without a diagnosis aren't welcome. I've always thought that I was insufferably inflexible, but apparently there are those that have it far worse; completely unable to see that others life, experiences, motivation and circumstances may be different and yet equally valid compared to their own. I think this issue boils down to an inability to see the world from another's perspective, that those who hold different views are somehow a challenge to their "reality".

I have the impression (though it has not been articulated directly) that much of the contempt for the self-diagnosed is due to the incorrect assumption that those guilty of this grievous offence are somehow anti science, because the act of self-diagnosis has been painted as something akin to faith or spirituality. I'm normally firmly behind the scientific method and generally defer to the experts in their respective fields, but this isn't remotely like measuring bilirubin or white cell counts in your blood. There is nothing scientific about some of these apparent experts declaring that as far as they are concerned feelings for other human beings and aspergers are mutually exclusive. If they can get such basics wrong then wonders how often they ever get anything right.

I also find it odd there are actually people on this website that don't think self diagnosed people should be here as well, I mean it even has an option for either diagnosed or undiagnosed when you make your profile. But yeah Ive even taken psychology and its not like the professionals even know everything or get things right all the time.

_________________
We won't go back.

Mummy_of_Peanut
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Age: 52
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,564
Location: Bonnie Scotland

02 Jan 2012, 11:50 am

I feel welcome here and I'm undiagnosed (I won't say self-diagnosed). I have so much in common with many of the other members, including similar life experiences. But, some threads do get me annoyed and I imagine some people would be made feel unwelcome.

But, why am I not diagnosed? For one, I was not diagnosed as a child. I'm almost 39, female, excelled at school and not obvious. No-one saw me as needing to be assessed for anything.

But, why, if I think I may have Aspergers have I not sought a diagnosis for myself? Well, I only came to the realisation a year ago and I'm still investigating matters. Prior to that, I had no idea that doctors could diagnose me with anything. I'd no clue that all my varying issues might even be related.

But, if my issues are so obvious to me, why haven't I felt the need to discuss them with a medical practitioner? Are you kidding. It took me 15 years from self-diagnosis of a physical illness before finally getting diagnosed by a doctor. And you want me to discuss something that's going on in my head with one of them. I've done OK, work-wise and in my very long relationship with my husband, so I've nothing really concrete to illustrate my struggles. Also, a lot of the things I'd need to discuss cause me a lot of embarrassment too. Yes, I'm embarrassed that I can't keep friends, was painfully shy for 25 years, say weird things and people take dislike to me, for no reason I can think of. I'm embarrassed to try to explain my sensory issues. How can he tell my sensory experiences are unusual, just from my description of what it's like. I can hardly explain it to myself, let alone some guy who'll no doubt diagnose me with anxiety or depression. Then there's the severe social anxiety (and I certainly don't need someone else to tell me I have this as it really has stunted my progress in life). As with everyone else that I discuss deep things with, he'll think I'm a complete nutter, so best just to keep quiet about the whole thing.

Finally, this is Scotland, the medical culture is way different from the US. We don't really go in for counselling and psychology. If you want to go to a doc and discuss things about yourself that make you unhappy, be prepared to leave with a prescription for Prozac, especially if you're female.

_________________
"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiatic about." Charles Kingsley

iceveela
Velociraptor

Joined: 16 Aug 2011
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Posts: 438

02 Jan 2012, 12:31 pm

Verdandi wrote:

iceveela wrote:

It's like saying someone is not really depressed if they refuse to take anti-depressants or talk to a therapist, or they don't need to... or saying they are not really transsexual if they cant afford to get diagnosed with Gender identity Disorder...

In the former case, I self-diagnosed myself with that too, last year. It's interesting working out that one is really depressed when unable to feel/identify the emotions relevant to depression.

As to the latter case, isn't it true that most trans people diagnose themselves before seeing anyone? I mean, the idea that one would need a psychiatrist to tell them what their gender actually is strikes me as laughable - which I realize is your point.

Yeah, I knew since I was born that I felt like a girl, and wanted to be a girl. I did not know there was a name for it until I was 17 though, when I read about it online and made a immediate self-diagnosis, of Gender Identity Disorder... Than I had to go to a psychiatrist to have them tell me that I really had this (as if my severe gender dysphoria was not completely obvious BEFORE the therapist wrote it on paper).

At the same time, it is the same thing with aspergers, but I did not make a immediate diagnosis, it actually took me years of studying all sorts of mental illness' out of boredom and curiosity and finally came across this one. Even though for the longest time I thought I was schizophrenic due to my anxiety and panic attacks. but found out later that you cannot be "slightly schizophrenic" and not suffer hallucinations... which isn't too surprising saying that they have similar symptoms.

But yeah, I feel more like I belong here than any other place where I have been, a group of people who all feel like they came from kepler 22b and landed on this weird place called earth. And I have seen or had a few people try to disown me of the title of keplian.

_________________
Aspie score: 164/200
NT score: 60/200
You are very likely an Aspie!

AQ: 36

Jellybean
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Age: 36
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,795
Location: Bedford UK

02 Jan 2012, 3:45 pm

Quote:

Finally, this is Scotland, the medical culture is way different from the US. We don't really go in for counselling and psychology. If you want to go to a doc and discuss things about yourself that make you unhappy, be prepared to leave with a prescription for Prozac, especially if you're female.

Same further down in England. You get a scrip for Prozac and if you are [sarc]really lucky[/sarc] a label of 'personality disorder NOS' which explains nothing and leaves you feeling like a complete waste of space...

Also the diagnosis was a comfort to me as it confirmed my thoughts, however I think I could have lived happily knowing that I might have AS if it had never been professionally diagnosed. I say this because I have yet to receive any of the long list of therapies that were recommended by a top hospital... Drugs on the other hand they give out like sweets!

_________________
I have HFA, ADHD, OCD & Tourette syndrome. I love animals, especially my bunnies and hamster. I skate in a roller derby team (but I'll try not to bite

)

XFilesGeek
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 24 Jul 2010
Age: 41
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 6,031
Location: The Oort Cloud

02 Jan 2012, 4:09 pm

Sweetleaf wrote:

Fnord wrote:

Cringe wrote:

Fnord wrote:

Sweetleaf wrote:

Fnord wrote:

nemorosa wrote:

Fnord wrote:

Of course those who "Diagnose" themselves are welcome! A person's beliefs should have no bearing on his or her eligibility for membership.

Just like so many have "belief" in their "Doctor". All welcome.

At least belief in medical science is firmly based in objective reality.

Well I totally based my self diagnoses on random impulsive thoughts I had, I never consulted with my therapist about it, never looked at any reliable sources about it and fancy myself smarter than everyone with a psychology degree.

At least you admit it.

My question is, what distinguishes a dx from a non dx (assuming they both have AS) if neither are currently in therapy?

Bloody good question! What's the point of a self-diagnosis if the person with the "diagnosis" can not or will not do anything about it?
.

I think you answered your own question there, if a self diagnosed aspie does not want to do anything about it or cannot do anything about it why should they pursue an official diagnoses? so they can endure a bunch of useless behavior modification therapy.

I'm not currently in therapy because I don't like talking, especially not about myself.

I will not pursue therapy with a new therapist once I get out of the military because "new people" tend to cause me anxiety.

Amazingly enough, my "official DX" hasn't disappeared from my "official" government personnel file.

:roll:

_________________
"If we fail to anticipate the unforeseen or expect the unexpected in a universe of infinite possibilities, we may find ourselves at the mercy of anyone or anything that cannot be programmed, categorized or easily referenced."

-XFG (no longer a moderator)

Page 5 of 5 [ 69 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Jump to:

Are the un-diagnosed welcome here. Post Reply New Topic

Are the un-diagnosed welcome here.