Is it worth it to pursue a diagnosis?

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nyarla_thotep
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08 Feb 2017, 3:17 pm

Just a bit of background, I'm a 21 year old female and I've suspected I'm on the autism spectrum for at least 5 years now, but I've never gotten a diagnosis. I think it runs in my family since my youngest brother has classical autism and my dad has said he had autism symptoms as a child. I'm pretty high functioning but I have issues socially (difficulty making friends and staying in contact with people, and sometimes not understanding people's sarcasm or bad intentions). I also have issues remembering names and faces and following verbal instructions. I get really obsessed with things I like (books, games, random crap like watching live animal webcams online,etc) and it's a struggle to not constantly talk about my latest obsession with people who have already heard about it recently.

All these things have gotten me into trouble before but I'm doing a decent job at compensating for them at school and work. I feel like if I went to get assessed I would probably fall somewhere on the mild end of the autism spectrum, but I'm not sure it's worth it to get examined. I don't know how much therapy would help me at this point, and I'm worried about the stigma if people find out. Especially because I'm considering going into the medical field where good social skills are required.

Do you think it's worth it to see if I actually have autism even though it's probably very mild even if I do have it? What kinds of benefits and drawbacks are there of getting diagnosed as a young adult? And do you think it's possible for someone with these kinds of difficulties to be a doctor? I've already gotten into medical school and am going next year, so at this point the question is just coming from my leftover anxiety about it.



BTDT
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08 Feb 2017, 3:38 pm

You may be able to get social skills training even without a diagnosis if you get it under the guise of being more patient friendly.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/05/opin ... isten.html



Mr_Miner
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08 Feb 2017, 4:05 pm

I think it's worth just so you have some protection from employers. But then you deal with what I think is my problem. From day one they are scared to hire you. What if you sue? What sort of accommodation we the employer need to do? Is it worth it?. Of course they can never even hint that they have these thoughts but they do. There are lots of nurotypical people out there that are less stress.

Sometimes I think I wated my time being diagnosed because I don't tell anyone and personly I can yell you it REALLY scares an employer.



Moondancer
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08 Feb 2017, 5:54 pm

I was wondering about this too. And would you have to disclose it? It seems like when employers want to know if you have any medical problems that I would tell the truth( a trait I can't help)
When I was interviewed at my current job, I work in the mental health field) they never asked if I had any condition that could interfere with my job, I mainly find it hard understanding office politics more than the patients health, so I can't see why you wouldn't make a good doctor



BTDT
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08 Feb 2017, 5:57 pm

That is certainly an issue with Aspies, most of us aren't good liars. And we tend to worry too much about such issues. Its not like cancer in which an early diagnoses will improve the chances of a cure.



NikNak
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08 Feb 2017, 10:43 pm

I can relate to a lot of what you said and I was recently diagnosed. My psychologist described me as 'very high functioning' and tbh I don't think being on the spectrum is what causes most of my problems in life. That being said I feel the diagnosis is useful in proving a tool for understanding behaviour and enables me to access any support I might find helpful.


_________________
Diagnosed ASD Aug 2016, confirmed Dec 2016.
Also have OCD and various 'issues'.