Concequences of diagnosis/treatment

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I've been thinking about this a lot.
Over the past two years, I've been working really hard and spent a lot of money at uni to get into my current job.
Now I get here, and everything is falling apart as it always does because of what I see as AS traits.
All my life I've struggled, and all my life I've pretended to be normal and tried to hide how much absolutely everythng hurt me, how much harder everything was for me, how little I understood. I've been miserable my whole life, whilst consciously working my face into a smile for camoflage.
Now everything is falling apart again, because I can only keep up the act for so long before it all starts to unravel.
I seriously thought this time, I may need a diagnosis and some kind of help. Being "strong" and dealing with my problems myself has obviously got me nowhere.
My worry is this - it seems to me, that when someone gets diagnosed with something like autism, you're basically written off for every kind of job for the rest of your life. You're a basket-case - they put you in the crazy bin and shut the lid. You'd always be told you weren't suitable, always reminded of everything you couldn't do. Plus in this country at least, if you've ever been in therapy you may as well forget about a career, because jobs judge you "mentally unfit." You'd never be judged capable of any kind of worthwhile job. But I'm worried if I just give up and leave my job, go onto the next one without any kind of assistance, it'll all just happen again.
How do autistic people get diagnosed and treated without people forever treating you like you're disabled?

Your parents try to raise the autism out of you, whether they put you through therapy or not.

Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment (meds?) may make no or little difference?

Have you tried exercising? Are you fit? It usually helps out along with a good diet

you can get diagnosed and therapy you need WITHOUT TELLING ANYONE, right.
In the US the hippa privacy laws protect your records so your employer wouldn't need to know.
How does this work where you are? Who and how would you be determined "mentally unfit"

Umm what? I'm Australian and I'm diagnosed with autism (high functioning) and had loads of therapy and no employer has ever judged me on that, mainly because they don't know. They don't have to know. I'm also on disability services who are helping me find a job.

What you said about having therapy and forgetting about a career seems extremely paranoid. Many people who work have therapy. You don't have to disclose that with an employer unless you want to.

There's a push in this country to get better disability services though I'm quite content with the help I receive. And there are some employers who want people with AS especially in IT.

This isn't some backward country. I mean we're no longer under Howard (high five). We're also protected under the equal employment opportunities act where you can't be judged because of your disability.

Well, I know for things like the armed forces, police, security, childcare or caring in general, or even things like train driving, they won't accept anyone with any kind of history of intellectual differences or a track-record of therapy or mental illness. I have been involved with several of these careers, who demand access to your medical files. If they don't get it, you don't get the job.
Plus I am literally incapable of lying. If someone asks me something outright, I'll tell the truth.
Maybe it's paranoid, but maybe I'm just used to being constantly persecuted, told I'm useless if I'm not perfect. Maybe it's cynical, but I don't think "equal opportunity" means much. They have to say it to be politically correct, but in reality, if you're different they'll find some reason not to give you the job.

Maybe try a different field?
I don't think AS fits under intellectual difference. It's not mental retardation and most people know that people with AS are quite intelligent.
Just keep trying. At least you've had work. My small town and lack of communication skills, not to mention aversion to work has kind of held me back. But I've got it much worse than someone with AS.

This is always a big concern with any type of "disability". On one hand, without a diagnosis, people assume you are just as good as them at "typical" things, and you subject yourself to possible over estimation and thus failure. On the other hand, you are certainly correct that many individuals will make false assumptions about you and under estimate you if they are aware you have an ASD diagnosis.

I've been subject to both sides of the sword, so to speak, and it is quite frustrating. I tend to surprise people one way or another.

What we can learn from this is, NT's tend to be neurocentric, think that if you look like them and talk like them, then you think like them, and think that if you don't think like them, or struggle with things that are second nature to them, you are mentally deficient.

Meanwhile, if there are any programs that actually help adults with AS rather than just patronize them and try to make a quick buck, I am unaware of them.

However to address problems, one first must define them clearly, so to that end, perhaps a diagnosis would be beneficial to you, and perhaps a counselor would be less skeptical when working with you that your issues are not caused by some other thing.

I think perhaps that those with AS who are successful in life, are so because they go into a field they enjoy, and also have a fair degree of autonomy in. They seem to tend to be professor, doctors, or scientists who get to spend a lot of time alone.

the first half of your original post pretty much sums up the struggles i had from ages 18-22.
i could go for a period of time. . .sometimes months. . .putting up the act. being normal and holding a job. then it hits you and things spin out of control within just a day or 2.

i really don't know what to tell you either, if you're trying to get into the military, or become a police officer or whatever. you say they need your medical history, so i'm going to assume they need your records from therapy as well?
not even sure how that works. i thought that was suppose to be highly confidential and you were suppose to be cover through laws with it.

i do think it'd be at least worth a try to go see a therapist. if nothing else, just to sit down and talk to. someone to be on your side.

AS female, UK based, new on this site and wondering if anyone has any advice on the following:

-Is there any way of keeping the diagnosis confidential and not have it imprinted on my NHS medical record?
(I am not looking to receive benefits or any other financial gain, I would just like a report for myself)

-Will a diagnosis affect my career prospects? (or create any other issues?)

-Also, is it possible to have your UK health insurance to cover the diagnosis? (if you are covered for psychiatric out-patient procedures) and if so, is it a straightforward "I would like to be diagnosed for AS?" or does it need to be "camouflaged" in any way to make sure that the claim is covered by the insurance company?

(I have already contacted National Autistic Society but they were unable to give me any advice about insurance)

Any information would be appreciated from those in the UK who have been in a similar situation...

Thanks

Alright, I can't speak for Australia, but I do know what it's like where I am here in the States, and I strongly suspect some of the same mentalities exist there as do here. All countries, after all, are run by bureaucracies, and bureaucratic mentality seems to me to be pretty much universal.

Here were I am, a diagnosis of AS does NOT cause you to be "written off." In many cases, it's quite the opposite in fact. "Written off" is a good term for what often happens, but it's NOT in the way you think it is.

Let me use myself as an example. I have AS now diagnosed as PDD-NOS because of my age and years of adaptation. I am married with three children, the oldest of whom is fourteen. As far as getting any government help for my disability, that is the end of the story. I am likely to be "written off" as someone who does not need any assistance, simply because I've managed to stay married for fifteen years, and have raised children. To the powers that be, I don't have a disability. They don't care that I've NEVER been able to hold a job more than three years, and usually much shorter durations. They don't care that I have NEVER been able to manage finances properly even though I know how. They don't care about the plethora of other side effects that prevent me from living a normal life, own a home, develop a career etc.

None of that matters. All that matters is that I have been able to succeed in a VERY limited way, with a few things in my life. Supposedly, if I can succeed at those things, I can succeed at everything else, therefore I must be CHOOSING to screw up my life.

In some ways, I'd rather that your view of it to be true. At least if society would agree that I have a genuine disability, I might actually be ABLE to get some freaking help!



This has not been my experience AT ALL. My experience has been just the opposite. NOBODY that matters seems to believe that anything at all is wrong with me. Those that do believe it, are not in any position to help.

I am constantly told I AM suitable, and always reminded of everything I CAN do. So much focus has been placed on what I am OCCASIONALLY able to display as talents, that everyone thinks I can ALWAYS do it, and that SIMPLY ISN'T TRUE!

I HAVE been diagnosed, and so have all three of my kids. My biggest problem has been nobody taking any of it seriously.