Importance of Getting an "official" Diagnosis

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I was diagnosed later in life and I did it mainly for myself. I personally don't feel getting a diagnosis serves any purpose except for personal curiosity. There is no way of me knowing if my life would have been any different if I had received an early diagnosis. If I had gotten a diagnosis when I was young I can't see how my life would have been changed in a positive way.


EDIT: This was supposed to be a reply to the post asking about the relevancy of seeking a diagnosis.

I was denied permission to get assessed for ADHD.. twice! and eventually grew depressive (denial of a death too) and went in for help for depression.
I was told I most likely had ADHD and suffered from depression. 4 years later of off and on therapy that was a complete fail due to there lack of mental health knowledge, (was fed up when I received a sheet talking about anxiety and how to deal with tunnel vision and suicide... this clearly wasn't going anywhere) So i requested to see someone with a Phd. and within 30 minutes my psychiatrist had me set up to get assessed for PDD. Now I'm diagnosed, Asperger's disorder. And I feel complete. (except my family is very indifferent to my diagnosis, which should change)

I've had an awful past 6 years. (public school was a write off hah)
(Living with and dealing with depression is a hard thing to do growing up alone)

I needed to vent a bit, and I feel getting diagnosed ASAP is crucial. Just because I struggled in the shadows for so long, and I know how it feels to be mild and to be misunderstood so severely.

I'm officially unofficially diagnosed. I was told by my psychiatrist that I have asperger's but he was holding off for a meeting with my parents to talk about insurance and what could happen in the future because of the diagnosis. I really didn't want to.

Thanks for the input on this- looking forward to more. I am in a quandary as well- at 45, is it worth it? Pros and cons both ways but not sure if I can justify the cost for the 'official' diagnosis. It wouldn't change anything but if diagnosis is positive, it would explain a lot of what I went through growing up.