quickduck
11-28-2006, 01:40 PM
To be diagnosed or not to be diagnosed, that it the question.
Yes, there's quite a bit to consider when deciding whether or not to get a official diagnosis. Do you want to be labelled? What are the potential benefits of diagnosis? How will a diagnosis affect you family?
As for me, I'm self diagnosed. Of course there's some danger in self diagnosis (I could be wrong). That being said, I've done exhaustive research into the source of my many and varied problems. My social awkwardness; My tendency take things literally; My high distractibility; My love of routine. Only AS seems to fit the bill.
I have thought about getting an official diagnosis, but decided against it. The main reason being that I don't consider myself to be ill. Whatever my 'problems' are, they're part of me. Without AS I might never have developed the artistic skills of which I am most proud. Being an aspie has given me so much. I don’t want a cure.
I've also worked very hard to appear 'normal'. I currently hold down a job (something I thought I'd never be able to do). I've managed (though the power of the internet) to find myself a wife. I now have two children.
I've had to consider how getting diagnosed would affect my family. It would certainly highlight what my wife does for me. She handles the finances, tells me when I need to pay bills, buy birthday presents, phone my mother. She reminds me of my responsibilities, stops me from wandering off to live in a cave somewhere.
If I were to get a solid diagnosis, she would no longer be the wife of a social awkward, shy, inattentive, forgetful, naïve man; But instead be the carer of someone with a mental health problem:-(edit, worried that this is how my wife might see Aspersers-not my belief that AS is actually a mental health problem) I don’t like that idea.
I must say however, that although in my heart I know I'm an aspie. I do feel like a bit of a fake without an official diagnosis. So I may change my mind about being diagnosed at some point.
Yes, there's quite a bit to consider when deciding whether or not to get a official diagnosis. Do you want to be labelled? What are the potential benefits of diagnosis? How will a diagnosis affect you family?
As for me, I'm self diagnosed. Of course there's some danger in self diagnosis (I could be wrong). That being said, I've done exhaustive research into the source of my many and varied problems. My social awkwardness; My tendency take things literally; My high distractibility; My love of routine. Only AS seems to fit the bill.
I have thought about getting an official diagnosis, but decided against it. The main reason being that I don't consider myself to be ill. Whatever my 'problems' are, they're part of me. Without AS I might never have developed the artistic skills of which I am most proud. Being an aspie has given me so much. I don’t want a cure.
I've also worked very hard to appear 'normal'. I currently hold down a job (something I thought I'd never be able to do). I've managed (though the power of the internet) to find myself a wife. I now have two children.
I've had to consider how getting diagnosed would affect my family. It would certainly highlight what my wife does for me. She handles the finances, tells me when I need to pay bills, buy birthday presents, phone my mother. She reminds me of my responsibilities, stops me from wandering off to live in a cave somewhere.
If I were to get a solid diagnosis, she would no longer be the wife of a social awkward, shy, inattentive, forgetful, naïve man; But instead be the carer of someone with a mental health problem:-(edit, worried that this is how my wife might see Aspersers-not my belief that AS is actually a mental health problem) I don’t like that idea.
I must say however, that although in my heart I know I'm an aspie. I do feel like a bit of a fake without an official diagnosis. So I may change my mind about being diagnosed at some point.
