If you don't try getting a diagnosis, what do you do?

Post Reply New Topic

It's very unlikely that I'll be tested for AS in the next 4-6 years. After talking to you guys in the chat, I'm not even sure if it matters anymore. People have said that there isn't a point to getting a diagnosis because there aren't really any benefits; I've also been told that it can affect your employment. I highly doubt that I'll be able to get a diagnosis even if I want to. So now I'm a little lost as to what to do. I don't know if I have AS or not, and I can't really find out. I'm not sure if I should just try to completely forget about it (not sure that I could if I wanted to), or maybe look into self diagnostic processes. I'm not asking you guys if you think I have AS by the way, more just asking where I should head. How would you tell someone about it if you were me? I honestly don't desire to tell anyone at all about my suspicions, but supposing that I ever did in the future, would I just say "I probably have AS", "I might have AS", or maybe "I do have AS". Honestly, I'm not even sure why it's a concern to me. I thought I was functioning well before I had heard about AS (albeit looking back, my strange social behavior and special interests make a lot more sense now). I'm not even really sure what I want at this point, I guess just direction. What would you guys do in my situation.

tl;dr
I can't get tested for AS. I think I probably have AS. I don't know what I should do now.

A little back story: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt212759.html

EDIT: I'm not even sure if I want I diagnosis now. Maybe I do, I've just been told/read things that have made me consider that it is fine if not better to not seek a diagnosis.

Last edited by r84shi37 on 26 Nov 2012, 4:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

If you are in the UK you can go to your GP and request referral, maybe take a list of traits saying why you think you have it. If you are elsewhere I don't know what the process is, but is probably similar.

If you can't or don't want to get a diagnosis, you can still get a benefit out of knowing about your possible AS.

Firstly, you can start to understand yourself better, and become closer to yourself as a result. I used to get mad at myself for failing at things that others found easy, but now I'm gentler to myself about it because I know it's not that I'm stupid or lazy, it's because I'm autistic.

Secondly, many ways of handling AS can be done independently by an adult. You can read up on body language and learn how to recognize nonverbal cues, for example. You can also modify your environment to a certain extent, for example if you have sensory issues, you can arrange your schedule to try to avoid crowds as much as possible.

Thirdly, if you have others in your life who will accept your word on whether you're AS, without you needing a diagnosis, explaining it to them can be helpful. (A diagnosis is helpful because some people, in particular those in an official position such as teachers and bosses, are a lot more likely to give you what you need if you have a diagnosis.) For example, my parents benefited from me telling them I thought I was autistic, and explaining what that meant, long before my official diagnosis.

You can still learn about stuff that folks on the spectrum typically don't get, like "small talk." If you already know that, fine, but it can be really helpful to learn about stuff that "everyone knows about" except you.

It's a fallacy that you can't get any services.

People can. I get them and I was diagnosed in June. It's been essential for me, and now I have a therapist who helps me with all my other stuff (see below) while being understanding of Asperger's.

Do what you need to do for you. Asperger's can be an identity thing....it really is. I got diagnosed because I needed 3 things (no particular order):
1. Accomodations at school
2. An answer to my pervasive social issues
3. Validation of all that I have struggled through.

Even if I didn't get accommodations, I would have done it for the other two. And here's the deal - you can get a diagnosis and not have it reported to insurance.

Of course, everyone's situation is different. But you have to do what's right for you - and no one else. Give it time. If you want a diagnosis, get one.

And the employment thing is more relative than it sounds. You don't have to disclose it (to my knowledge) and employers care about what you CAN do, and how responsible you are. My mantra is - don't make a big deal of it and they won't make a big deal of you. Don't be afraid of discrimination unless you feel there's a REAL reason - that fear is terribly unproductive and paralyzing.

And in the end, if you don't want a diagnosis, so what? You know you more than anyone else does, and that's what matters. Don't let people pummel you for "self-diagnosing." If you're this up in it, you're probably right. I was.

If I REALLY wanted to I could look up a psychiatrist's number in my area, set up an appointment, drive there, and pay for it out of my bank account. It's not that I 100% cannot do it; it's because of two reasons. (1) I'm not even sure that I should/if it's worth the gain. (2) My parents have kinda been talking me out of it saying that it's a little pointless. Now, before you try going hostile on my parents, realize that both are extremely nice to me and a love them. Regarding AS, I'm just confused about what they think.

With the accommodation, I don't really think I need help at all. I don't mind solitude. I spend most of my time sitting in my room working on school (homeschooled), browsing the internet, and working on what ever my current "special interest" is. I decline almost all party/get together invites, and I don't really feel bad about it either. I don't feel like I'm missing out. The only issues that I really hate or adversely affect me are eye contact, zoning out in social situations, and not knowing how to talk in person to person talking situations. Well, that's to name a few, I'm just saying that I don't need help.

To be honest, I just don't know if I will benefit from a diagnosis as much as other aspie's do. I just want to know I guess. Plus I don't want to ever mention or think that I do if I don't. I probably do, I just can't be sure at all. To be blunt, I'm stuck.

tl;dr
I guess I could get a diagnosis if I really, really wanted to, it's just not a convenient option (Would have to convince parents, decide that I really want one, etc). I don't think I need help, I don't think I really suffer from AS besides a couple of quirks. I'm just puzzled as to where to go without a diagnosis.

Thanks for your help

I see where you are.

It's really tough to make these kind of decisions for yourself especially if you're still with parents and haven't gotten out there and experienced it all (I don't know if you have or not, but I'm assuming).

I do understand the feeling of wanting to be sure. That's what drove me, and I didn't think I would even get diagnosed...although I knew I had it. I thought maybe I was wrong.

My best advice for when one is stuck is just to put it on the shelf and let it go for a bit. Come back to it when situations are different. You can't make a clear decision when you're muddled and stuck. In fact, you just might make the wrong decision in that case.

That way, when you do decide one way or the other, you won't regret your decision.