Aspies For Freedom

For context, I am a college student and a US citizen.  I am self-diagnosed and two other acquaintances have independently reported their belief that I am an aspie.  I have access to a testing center and psychologists, as a service provided by my state university, but am uncertain if I want to walk in their door to be given a label.

I would like to get an "official" diagnosis because...
...I want to eliminate any doubt in my mind.  I am finding that my doubt is making it tough to focus on finding a realistic direction to move forward in life.
...I want to more confidently approach people for guidance on shaping how my inward personality is perceived on the outside.
...I may want to become politically involved in the future, confidence adds strength to voice.

After being officially diagnosed...
1.) ...will this information be stored in a database?
2.) ...if I apply for a medical or insurance plan, could I be denied or asked to pay more?
3.) ...in some future situation (such as applying to a government job), might I be legally required to report the diagnosis?
4.) ....would someone (outside of the testing center) be able to access this information?
5.) ....would courts be able to access this information?

Please contribute other possible advantages or possible disadvantages of being tested.

Thanks.

It's kind of like a secret--once you tell somebody there's no control over what happens with the information.  So...if this is a concern to you, then you might want to hold off. Even if you get a diagnosis, you may still be uncertain.  Friends might be able to help you with seeing how you're perceived by others.

I understand the risks you're trying to manage. I can't comment on the institutional situation in the US but I imagine these issues may have more impact than they tend to in England. In general AS isn't well understood, and you would have to assume that most people would take a diagnosis to mean that you have some kind of mental illness, with the stigma that comes with that (a nut, dangerously ill, a weirdo, a problem, etc).

I'm in the process of getting a diagnosis right now because I want those who really care about me to be able share an understanding of just how different and difficult by existence is, in the world that they take for granted. I need to build appropriate expectations with them instead of labouring under the burden of inappropriate ones. There's a lot of work involve for a person who wants to do this; and its much more work than most people - and organisations - are going to be interested in doing. However the risk to me is quite small - i'm retired and this buffers me from a lot of institutional games: I no longer have to jump through the hoops of employers, insurers and so on. And I have some major long-term personal relationships at stake: my wife and son.

In making a judgement about the risks to you, maybe the key question is: what would an official diagnosis do to help your friends and loved ones to recognise and accept and support you?

Maybe it would be good to do some work on the positive dimensions of your aspie nature? Have you seen 'The discovery of Aspie criteria' by carol gray and tony attwood? <http://www.thegraycenter.org/sectionsdetails.cfm?id=38>

best wishes
/michael

Just get an unofficial diagnosis if it bothers you. Say it like this: "screw the official test doc, just give me your opinion". Don't pretend the official diagnosis will be much more deterministic than that. Since the result won't be a test, you can actually say that you have never tested positive for AS.

Pay in cash.