Transition as an autistic?!

Post Reply New Topic

Hey ho!

I have a problem: I want a diagnosis, I've doing some research, tests, self-reflection etc, I feel like I am autistic and I am now learning to unmask myself. BUT! I'm also trans. And here in Germany, if you're trans and autistic, you have extra struggles to transition, if it's even possible which isnt always the case.

So my answer to that is to wait with a diagnosis until Im transitioning or even full transitioned. But is that okay? Can I still call myself autistic? Can I talk about with friends, co-workers, family etc but try to keep it out of sight from my psychiatrist so that I dont have to struggle with my transition? I ask you as a communtiy because I dont want to harm anybody nor claim something Im not allowed to.

Thank you for your answers!

A lot of people on here don't have a diagnosis and still call themselves autistic.

I'm personally in America and often wonder if I should wait until I've transitioned to get a diagnosis. If you can handle waiting and it really is that hard to transition as an autistic person where you live, maybe you should try to wait to get an assessment afterwards. It's also not like you can't change your mind whenever you want and seek a diagnosis anyways.

I have the impression that health care providers may be less willing to help transition if there is also an Autism diagnosis.

From my collection of anecdotes, "First we need to fix the autism" ( good luck with that), but balanced by the carers of an autistic trans person who actively sought out a therapist specialising in the field of gender and sexuality diversity to help the person prepare for the process

What are the issues nowadays with transitioning with an autistic diagnosis?

Again, taking account of the limitation that this is anecdotes rather than rigourously sought data, one person of my aquaintance reported investigating transition with professionals only to hear "First we need to fix the autism"

I think it possible that professionals may be extremely cautious about signing off for the medical sides such as hormones and surgery, becoming concerned in case what they were seeing was "Autistic Obsession" rather than anything else.

I know receiving a diagnosis is a relief and validating to a lot of people. But a lot of people who would deserve a diagnosis are denied it because of the sexism and racism issues in the diagnostics and inaccessibility to healthcare in general. So I think it's wrong of anyone to call self-diagnosis invalid.

I have done enough research and talked to enough autistic people to know I'm very autistic. So, what you have to know is what is it you having official diagnosis would really mean for you? If you are in the community and want to be connected to other autistic people then you are welcomed without one anyway. If you are wanting accommodations, well, truthfully most countries do not do that for diagnosed adults anyway, unless you need drugs to function which you can with most things get for comorbidities without a diagnosis. It depends on the country and the accommodations you might need.

In fact, there can be negative things to come from diagnosis: insurance issues, even bans to move to certain countries for example. Also yes, your judgment and other things related to misconceptions of ASD might come into question with unprofessional or uneducated healthcare workers when you seek for treatment concerning other things. Be really careful you know what you are expecting to come of it and then you can know if it is worth it for you! Depending on the country it can be difficult to get, long wait, a lot of work, finding school papers, interviews with parents and they may still say you are "a little bit but not enough to receive a diagnosis". How will you then feel about the time and energy, possible money, you have spent? Only you can really know if it is necessary and important enough for you.

If those are the practices in your country I'd wait on the autism diagnosis IF I ever bothered with it at all. I'd do my best to conceal it from the psychiatrist doing evaluations for transitioning, too. I don't think there would be anything illegal, immoral, unethical or wrong about going about the process like this - you're simply looking out for your own best interests.

As someone else pointed out, many on this site are self diagnosed vs. professionally diagnosed. Some can't afford diagnoses or have no access to a qualified psychiatrist, others don't need/want a diagnosis for a variety of reasons, and many just Know for themselves and that's good enough for them. Some only pursue a diagnosis in order to qualify for government disability benefits, while some do it for some sort of personal "closure," of having a credentialed expert validate their diagnosis. Everyone is different and there is no right or wrong in ever obtaining a diagnosis - simply do what's right for you.

_________________
No for supporting trump. Because doing so is deplorable.