Presentation and my thought on autism.

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First I present myself. I have not been formally diagnosed but I might be on the spectrum. I am male. I live in Europe and my language is French (so excuse my possible English mistakes). I am born in the early 70's. My father once tell me that when I was very young (2 years old), I had a tendency to focus on an object rather intensely. A little later I remember staying for hours watching a washing machine or so. At school I was as far as I can remember (when I was 4 years old) almost always alone, having no or few friends and had motor mannerisms (though not the usual hand flapping). I have had no speech delay, though. The teacher noticed that (I was then 6 or 7) and thinking I was mentally ret*d decided that I should pass a psychological (psychiatric?) consultation where they test my IQ (and maybe other things, I do not remember). The result was above than average, and consequently I was allowed to pursue normal schooling without further support. In the 70's the only autism that was known was very severe autism with mental retardation. Still now, I have very few friends, no girlfriend and have some difficulties to integrate in a group (quickly most people begin to talk to each other and I am just alone, unless I make real efforts; speaking to one other person is much more easier). All that let me think I could be on the spectrum (especially the facts that it dates back to my early childhood).

Now, I know everyone will not agree with me but I want to express my opinion about autism and psychiatry. First I am in fact very happy that the diagnostic did not exist in the 70's. I have never truly been integrated into the group but somehow I found my place into the group at school. Surely a psychiatric diagnostic would have made more harm than good and would have made me weirder than I was really. Still now it is a major reason I would not like a diagnostic. Moreover I find psychiatry a dubious science. Most of the "diseases" in the DSM are not "diseases" per se but just personality traits that some board of "specialists" have decided it must be considered as diseases because it does not fit their vision of a normal person. This has nothing to do with medecine. Just as being gay was a "disease" in the past, now that the general position of the society towards gay people have changed, they have removed the "condition" from the DSM.

Now, I must be very clear. Some form of autism, particularly when there is mental retardation or language delay need a diagnostic because there is something to do. You cannot just drop a non verbal kid into a usual school without special assistance.

Also, some of the personality traits that is now called Asperger or HFA does really exist and I have the feeling I have a lot of them. But I refuse to call this a "disease" and consequently I refuse their presence in the DSM whose purpose is listing psychiatric diseases. I am not a physician so I am not in the position to refuse it, but I do not feel the need to interact with people I fundamentally disagree with, another reason I cannot be diagnosed.

I tend to agree with your thoughts re diagnosis

I never looked for a diagnosis, I was given one via occupational health dept at work and now I am not working and don't want to work, so the labelling process has not helped me. Everyone is different though - some peopel like being diagnosed as it helps them to understand themselves better but others don't like the idea and avoid diagnosis - it's a matter of personal choice.

I think you can acknowledge that you have autistic traits without the need for a diganostic label and I agree that a lot of aspects of Aspergers are just personality traits and not 'wrong' ie they are normal human behaviour, just different from the majority.

thanks for your introduction. your English is understandable. I don't have an official diagnosis either. welcome to WP.