Self diagnosis

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What are posters views on it?I know the professionals frown on it, but due to those same professionals you are often left with no choice. This is especially true if you are diagnosed with a primary mental illness, and the mental health professionals are fixated on DSM/ICD criteria for that to the exclusion of the possibility of autism or NVLD as additional factors or alternative explanations.



Recent research : https://sci-hub.io/10.1016/j.apnu.2016.03.009

Well, for me the problem with Asperger's is that as not being a professional the diagnostic criterias are kind of vague.
I mean, if I was hearing voices I could clearly tell that something is very wrong.
But I can't estimate on my own how many gestures and facial expressions I have to use and intuitively understand in order for it to be considered normal.
If I thought a professional is wrong I would ask other professionals and look what they say about it.

Anybody ever heard of Pandora's Box? LOL

I don't necessarily trust it, but I first self-diagnosed and was proven correct. I wouldn't look down upon those who choose to self-diagnose, especially without many options available to them.

I had to seek out an expert and wait several months. It wasn't easy to find someone.

Self diagnosis seems to be the first step for many to finding the real answer.

Those that self diagnose can be right or wrong. But, if you don't bring it to people's attention, they overlook it in the case of HFA situations.

And, even then, you sometimes have to fight to be taken seriously.

There are so many overlaps with labels. Someone made a list here of conditions that mimic autism traits and I would also like to add social anxiety mimics it too and borderline intellectual functioning, social communication disorder, language disorder, anxiety disorder. One can do a lot of research and think they are on the spectrum when really they could just have ADHD and OCD, anxiety, sensory processing disorder, dyspraxia or they could just have NVLD with all those other conditions.

If someone has to self diagnose, then they probably do have impairments and are struggling so they are trying to find answers. I used to self diagnose so I have diagnosed myself with ADD, auditory processing disorder, language processing disorder and it turned out I was diagnosed with all those and I decided I better quit self diagnosing because of overlaps and you can read through a list of symptoms and think it describes you because it's too vague. Even a short description of it can describe you but it wouldn't mean you have it. I have read about slow learners and I found I fit many of the characteristics but it doesn't mean I am a slow learner because my performance IQ is average and my verbal IQ has been tested at 92 in 5th grade and my overall IQ score was a 99. Also I am curious and like to learn about the world around me while slow learners tend to have no interest in learning. Plus I have learned fast in topics before and I picked up on reading quick in 2nd grade when I was placed in mainstream so reading was often required than it was in my self contained room. I even learned to do addition and subtraction fast too when I was first taught to do the problems. So not all of it fits. So just because someone can fit many if the characteristics of Asperger's or autism doesn't mean they have it. It's because of overlaps. Like there are overlaps with slow learning and other disabilities. If someone was actually slow, all their IQ scores would be consistent in the below average IQ range. That is how they know when a kid is just slow than having a learning disability. But what if I had decided to self diagnose myself as being a slow learner despite what my IQ scores have said?

You don't need an official diagnosis to try out the adaptations that many Aspies find helpful.

For instance, while a weighted blanket can be expensive, you can still buy one for much less than the cost of getting a diagnosis that isn't covered by someone else.

A silent wall clock can be helpful, as are ear protectors to cut down on noise. Don't need a prescription for either.

I'm not convinced that it is really helpful where it counts the most--getting a suitable job. Waiving a disability card often gets you jobs that just aren't suitable for you--you might be better off on your own--if you are one of the lucky ones who have unique talents that one employer might find highly desirable.
And, for those Aspies that are just average, there is too much emphasis on the job. Or maybe its just me. I can do a lot of jobs--so I have the idea that maybe Aspies need to find the proper environment first, and worry about what you actually do second.

Many self-diagnosed individuals prefer the term "self aware" or "self identified" in recognition that only a diagnostician may diagnose an individual. Still, there are many good resources for becoming self identified available online and in some good research books sold by Amazon.com. Certain web sites are great at stepping an individual through the diagnostic process.

Still, some individuals, including a handful of WrongPlanet.net members, denigrate self identification and merely shrug when asked what individuals are supposed to do when they can't get diagnosed because of distance, cost and availability of well-trained diagnosticians who have knowledge of how autism presents throughout the lifespan. We can do better by those who wish to acknowledge their probable autism. Self awareness and self identification are good alternatives for many.

Not a fan of self diagnosis, this includes autism and ANYTHING else.

Go to a medical professional. Self diagnosing can be dangerous at times.

I don't have any problem with people who self diagnose. It costs a lot to get a diagnosis in a lot of countries.

I'm currently self-diagnosed. I think that's absolutely fine, if it gives you what you need from it. For me, it provided understanding of myself and allowed me to feel comfortable accessing this community and other spaces online, where I could find advice specifically tailored towards people with autism. If that's all you need, then self-diagnosis is fine. I had a list of reasons why I didn't plan to go for a formal diagnosis.

Things have changed, though. Since self-diagnosing and being more and more a part of this online community, I've found out so much information that fits with me and that I didn't realise was related, even when I first started self-diagnosing. The thought of wanting to be comfortable enough to tell others eats away at me, as does the realisation that I'm only coping so well now due to my specific current circumstances - one slight change in my life could alter everything and leave me an absolute mess. And it's for that reason that I'm now seeking a formal diagnosis.

I posted something similar on a different thread, so i'm going to quote this post with a few minor changes.
(The "you" used in my post is a general "you")