Yes, there are many others like this and it is a perfectly appropriate space in which to find oneself. If you look up the “broad autism phenotype” or “broader autism phenotype” or “BAP,” you will find threads here at Wrong Planet, as well as websites elsewhere, that talk about people who have autistic traits but who aren’t diagnosed as autistic. BAP traits are more frequently found in first degree relatives of diagnosed autistics and to a lesser extent among second degree relatives. But BAP traits can occur in anyone, regardless of family autism history.
A formal diagnosis of autism technically requires that the autism-related traits produce functional challenges that are severe and pervasive. For this reason, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) acts as something of a “gatekeeper” diagnosis. Obtaining it opens up access to a larger set of more intense services than would otherwise be allowable with other diagnoses. Because these services are expensive, there is some pressure (from insurance companies, governments, etc.) to restrict just who gets the ASD diagnosis. If one has only minor or time-limited kinds of problems from autistic traits, then other diagnosis may be sufficient for dealing with them. For example, research has shown that those who are considered BAP have elevated incidence of anxiety and depression. But for them, an anxiety disorder or clinical depression diagnosis may be all that is needed to gain access to the right kinds of services and medications.
There are two important caveats, however. First, one must carefully consider the impact of one’s personal, informal coping strategies for dealing with the impact of the autistic traits. These skills can be more and less effective. There are some people, for example, whose coping strategies are successful enough that they encounter few problems in daily life and are none the worse for it. There are others who cope successfully interpersonally, but whose emotional wellbeing is drained by the effort. And there are yet others who continue to have substantial interpersonal and emotional challenges, and who have had long histories of varied diagnoses and/or run-ins with authority figures. The first set would arguably least need an ASD diagnosis. The third set would very much benefit from finally getting the correct diagnosis. Second, one must keep in mind that women typically have a harder time getting diagnosed because their symptoms don’t always align as closely with the stereotypical presentation of ASD.
If either caveat seems relevant to you, then a second opinion could be in order. However, getting that second opinion may be easier said than done, given the more general challenges of identifying someone who can diagnose adults.
25 Aug 2018, 11:38 am
