Potential dangers of "labeling"

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Do you feel the "autism" label undermines your individual identity? I'm interested to know your take on this.

I like categories.

Seconded. Defined structures are comfortable.

It's more helpful than harmful if properly revealed.

I know someone who has expressed feeling such. However, for me it's comforting to have a name for this thing I've been dealing with my entire life.

I like fitting somewhere..so it works for me

No, because I don't fit 60% of autism symptoms. My parents are EXTREMELY wary of labels and don't like when I use the label unless it's just to tell a security guard about a behavior or something. I actually find it very discomforting.

No.
I might elaborate later; right now I can't articulate the reasons for my answer.

no, it's fine by me, it's a part of me. saying i'm blonde doesn't undermine my personality either, or saying i'm a woman. Every label has its stereotypes attached, but i'd rather live fighting the stereotypes than have no label at all and just be an outcast to everyone.

essentially, it confines many features of my identity to a neurological condition. boring.

it's useful as a sort of a box that contains a collection of symptoms present in a person, so if i want another person to get a general idea of how i function i may just be like "well, it's aspergers" (very, very rarely--very close friends only) but i wouldn't just stop there, because there are still stereotypes associated with the condition that don't fit me. i'd go on to explain that i'm not all that socially inappropriate, i don't flap my hands, etc. if needed.

Generally I don't feel being labelled as an aspie at all helps me, I've overco me most of my social awkwardness (The only thing that your average NT may see) and have become an extremely popular, unfortunately I still don't have a way with women... I can dream... Only one of my friends references me as autistic, and only ever as an insult when my anxiety surfaces, it doesn't ****ing help. All I ever needed was a place to chill out, but guess what? Throughout high-school I had a teacher follow me to every class, constantly supervising me like I was some kind of reject. What the ****! Labelling me as autistic literally destroyed a quarter of my life.. Don't mess with the mind.

i like categories also

The facts are kind.

The denial of the facts can be very unkind indeed.

Once we know the facts, we can then start to see our common humanity.

Uncovering my natural orientation (HFA) has nothing to do with a Diagnosis or Labelling myself, any more than a man or woman awakening to the fact that they are gay.

It it true to say that it is part of human nature to want to belong to a group, for pleasure or shared afflictions.

For many people understanding their neurological difference was a moment of joy and enlightenment.

I have observed many intelligent, wise and sensitive non-autistic individuals, who feel that it diminishes one's humanity to declare one's autism (talking here HFA) I personally believe such people have little or no understanding of the pain and suffering that comes from being denied the facts of one's natural way of being.

@quaker: awesome posting +1!



I find the labelling to be a life sater (litterally).

I have been doing family councilling/education (me being the educator) and I have often seen how NOT having a diagnosis/the wrong diagnosis ruin peoples lives.

Statistically i believe anxiety disorders and self injurious behavior is more common in when undiagnosed. Since you just feel alone, not understood, crazy etc. With no explanation and (poor) understanding of self. At the same time, you will not be recieving the care, support, understanding and education that you require.

In my opinion diagnosis is a HUGE win.

But I do think that we need more information and conversations about our diagnosis, once we recieve it, to let us know what it REALLY means to us. a pamflet/flyer just wont do.

It's a massive waste of stickers.