#professional dx

[lowkey-morbid]

i just saw a post in the self dx tag

about how someone was tryna buy a copy of the dsm v to try and prove to ppl that she self dx’d “the professional way” and she found out that it’s $200 … so she labeled it as not only ableist but classist


PLEASE tell me more about how a medical diagnostic manual created for psychiatrists, who are licensed medical professionals, to carry out their diagnoses in order to provide lifesaving medical treatment for chemical imbalances that are life altering, chronic and sometimes deadly is somehow “classist” for costing a couple hundred (which is so cheap for what it is btw) PLS i’d love to hear this explanation

[lowkey-morbid]

-v a l u e • s m a l u e-

[adhdyingthroughsyltherin]

Can s.o. explain why the fuck I feel offended by Self-dx sometimes? Like right now?

It makes no fudging sense and it isnt even anything which I have to mind... but atm I do and argh

[autism-asks]

How do you deflect others when they try to tell you about your own disorder? Sometimes when I tell someone that I'm autistic they immediately respond with "well my cousin is autistic and you're nothing like him" or some other way of trying to subtly tell me that I'm not actually autistic and I don't really know how to stop that without sounding rude or escalating the situation into a serious argument. I have a professional dx from a psychologist, too.

Honestly there’s no reason for you not to be rude back to them at that point. They’re being rude by thinking they know better from interacting with you and often when these comparisons are made, they’re comparing a child they know very well to a teenager or adult they don’t know as well. (You didn’t mention your age so I’m sorry if that assumption is off for your specific situation.)

A counter I’ve seen a lot for this is ‘No shit, he’s a toddler and I’m not’. Of course if they’re comparing you to someone of your own age group this doesn’t hold up as well, but generally speaking pointing out that of course you’re not, you’re a different person will shut most people up.

For me, this is depending on the day either too confrontational or way too subtle though. There are times when it is very amusing for me to pretend to be as ‘uninformed’ as the people talking to me think I am and just watch them try and argue their case and most times during that come to the conclusion that I probably am autistic after all. 

Other days I just flat out tell them they don’t know what they’re talking about and should mind their own business.

These are all valid responses. You do not owe them an explanation. You do not have to prove anything to anyone. 

I hope this helps and if you need more help, feel free to send in a follow up.

-Wren

[aura218]

So my pdoc just told me today that my official autism diagnosis has been sitting in my chart in her computer for like... a while? She doesn't even know. She didn't discuss it with me, or if I wanted one. I wasted TWO YEARS OF MY LIFE trying to get a diagnosis. Trying to get the cool kids at the big autism club houses to let me play with them (I mean I need job support from their job clubs). So now I have a letter in my bag that says I'm diagnosed. It's like I've been given the ocean the beach and all the fishes and I don't know how to fish. Edit: yes you can get diagnosed from a psychiatrist and skip the fun tests if you're an adult. Edit edit she wants to help me get disability.

[autism-asks]

I'm almost 20 and I was only just diagnosed with autism (aspergers/high functioning) a few weeks ago because my parents never really believed in mental illness and I had to seek help myself, and I'm having a hard time validating myself? I never got the words to describe my symptoms until recently so I feel like I might be faking even though logically I know this is not "normal" to experience this and all the signs point to me being autistic.

I think, at this point, you might just need to read about other autistic experiences and see what you relate to. If you want, you can also make a list of the autistic things you do. I’d suggest looking into the advice we give for helping self-dx’ed people feel valid in their diagnosis, since it’s mostly just affirming their autistic-ness.

- Os

(Also, I suggest looking into the use of functioning label, since they’re generally considered ableist by the community. We have a quick explanation in the FAQ.)

[autism-asks]

hi! i just got my pro dx for being autistic today (which was quite the experience) and i was also referred to a psychiatrist due to the neuropsychologist making the dx thinking i could also have obsessive compulsive personality disorder. is there any overlap between autism and OCPD? i have never heard of it before today

There is some overlap and similarities between autism and OCPD. They can be considered cousin disorders, so I’d suggest doing some research yourself to learn more. Also, you can have both.

- Os

[lgbtautistics]

Are you ok with self-dx autistics? I am trying to get a professional diagnosis but my town has virtually no MH services (damn Tories)

Absolutely! This blog supports all autistics, regardless of whether they have paper diagnosis or not.

Ex

(Mod Knight would also like to say that he agrees with your idea of damning the Tories.)