Is it worth seeking a diagnosis?

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Aside from my own thoughts on the matter, I have a professional friend who is quite convinced that I have AS. I raised the matter with her and she told me that she'd held that view since shortly after we met. I should say that she has dealings with adults on the spectrum daily.

Her opinion is that there's little point in actually pursuing a diagnosis though, as all it will achieve is giving myself an 'official' label as opposed to a self imposed one.

Your thoughts?

you have AS if you say you do. now you can become part of AS community and take advantage of behavior and cognitive therapy/support groups

It all depends on whether you need help to function or not.

I do have one or two friends, although they tend to be far flung, I don't see them often. I do have severe difficulty bonding with people and frequently have the impression that I'm being avoided.

Maybe I'm just not a likable chap.

The most frustrating thing for me is not knowing for sure. When I tell people they always tell me I'm wrong. I find people are keen to criticise me in relation to my lack of organisation, my inability to cook or do anything practical, my monologuing and always turning the conversation to my current obsession, and they will call me a know-it-all behind my back. But it can't be anything to do with being autistic, I'm just not trying hard enough. Besides, they say, everyone stims. Everyone has problem areas. Most people forget names and faces. According to them (mostly family) I'm just too shy and anxious and need to get over it.

I'd just like to shut them up, to put it bluntly. They probably wouldn't believe it then.

I do read on forums where people celebrate their diagnosis anniversary and many feel so relieved to at last KNOW.

Unless you are after specific services that require an official diagnosis, then I recommend that you keep your diagnosis unofficial if at all possible. I am diagnosed with classical autism, and I get very few services from the state.

Unfortunately I think that at times I want to be able to wave a "badge" under people's noses when they ask "What the hell's wrong with you?" (family particularly). Maybe I'm just looking for something to blame for my bouts of depression... Although I'm sweet at the moment.

On the other hand as I dabble in things like stage pyro.... People's perceptions may be badly skewed.

Maybe it's best just to stick the head down and drive on.

Official diagnosis serves two purposes:

1) You can know once and for all, the reasons for many of the obstacles you've had to contend with all your life, and come to a more centered understanding of who you are in relation to the world, the universe and the mass of humanity around you.

A self-diagnosis is, at the end of the day, just a guess. I think most who've sought and received the diagnosis of an experienced professional do feel there is a tremendous difference both psychological and emotional, between thinking so and knowing so.

2) Depending on the country you live in, there may be forms of disability assistance available to you, should you ever need them (just because you don't now, doesn't mean you never will). Having your disability pre-established will facilitate any dealings with bureaucracy.

Horsa,
the NAS are in NI as well,so would be able to get help through them if go ahead with wanting an assessment.
it is not worth getting assessed for anything though if are not affected by it in negative ways [like Danielismyname has said],need should be higher than risk/bad side.

If you can do things such as:
-have a job
-live independently
-manage money

then an official diagnosis would only ever be able to provide you with a confirmation. It is only beneficial in any other way if your daily life is a struggle and you're still dependent on others (or if you were 30 years younger). I'd say your professional friend's opinion is as good a diagnosis in that regard.

Here in Florida, it means that I do not qualify for insurance. I do get to borrow books from C.A.R.D. but that is the only advantage of having an official diagnosis.