#self-diagnosing

[veinflowers]

How to properly self-diagnose (in my opinion, specifically neurodiversity)

Before Notes: The example I will be using most is Autism for most of this because I know many suspected Autistic people or self-diagnosed Autistic people, and Autism self-diagnosing is most familiar to me. Also, mostly talking about Neurodiversity since visible disabilities and mental health disorders usually are less undiagnosed than Neurodiverse conditions. And "conditions" are in no way meant to offend anybody. It's just the only term I can use that is considered neutral to most people I've talked to.

Disclaimer: Keep in mind that I am clinically diagnosed. However, I acknowledge that clinical diagnoses can be limited, inaccessible, and expensive so I am providing this guide as a temporary solution. Please try to get an actual diagnosis before assuming anything fully. If you are self-diagnosed, specify this. You aren't "officially" that condition you suspect you are yet. You are not a professional but you do know yourself and how your own brain works the best. This also prevents misunderstanding but if someone accuses you of faking for being self-diagnosed, they don't know what self-diagnosis really is.

Steps (w/ long descriptions):

1. Recognize that having a few symptoms, doesn't necessarily mean you have that condition. For example, stimming is a symptom of Autism. However, allistic (non-Autistic) people stim and stimming is a thing that every person does. And also, recognize that relating to the people with those conditions doesn't necessarily mean you have that condition either. People have similar experiences all the time. That just makes us (physically) the same species. 2. Only study and research your suspected conditions from websites, books, and other sources that are informational or considered valid. For a website, you can tell it's informational if when reading the text, it doesn't provoke any extreme emotions like anger. This is standard when researching anything for any purpose. If it it ends with .gov or .edu, it's likely to be more reliable. Sometimes, .org is okay if it is a medical company like kp.org. 3. Find a community related to that condition. For example (Autism self-diagnosing example), the actually Autistic community on Reddit or Tumblr. Or most preferably, find Autistic people in real life. Ask questions, gather their feedback, and take that feedback into consideration. Remember that if someone (who has that condition) says they don't think you have your suspected condition that it shouldn't be taken in offense. You may just not present enough symptoms to qualify as that condition. 4. Once you've gathered enough evidence, if you can or when you are old enough to do it on your own, ask your doctor about it and try to get a medical diagnosis. I understand that getting a proper evaluation to be diagnosed can be difficult, depending on where you live so this may take years to get even on the waitlist of being evaluated but I still highly recommend it, especially if you genuinely want to know. It's all about your patience and while you're waiting, remember that you are valid. And you have every right to want to get to know yourself better.

Why self-diagnosis is helpful:

It can help with loneliness or feeling isolated from the people around you.

It can help you find strategies to deal with struggles you have, maybe due to you maybe having that suspected condition.

It can help you become more aware about who you are.

It can clear up confusion.

It can help you know that whatever you are experiencing is normal, no matter what condition you have and even if you don't have any conditions.

After note/disclaimer (since if someone browses our posts, they might assume something like this): This is also not anything that has to do with plurality since most (non-disordered) plural systems that diagnosed DID or OSDD systems fake-claim are not self-diagnosing themselves as DID or OSDD. It's just commonly believed that DID and OSDD are the only forms of valid plurality. There is a reason why non-disordered systems call themselves "non-disordered". They aren't claiming to be DID or OSDD. And plurality is more diverse than it is commonly thought of. So is every human (physically) brain and person(s).

-Zero/Sal

Terminology note: Writing "(physically)" after "human" because I don't want to exclude any fellow alterhumans reading this.

Edit: I found this Diagnosis Checklist Masterpost that is helpful but should probably still be taken with a grain of salt even though it is heavily referenced from the DSM-5. I also do not recommend referencing this if you have hypochondria or have constant anxiety about disorder symptoms.

[theofficialkai517]

So. Does anyone know the pros and cons of self-diagnosing? I'm considering doing it, since I currently have no way of going and getting a professional diagnosis; my mom strongly disagrees with my thoughts that I have it, but my counselor (who has known me for 10+ years) thinks she can see signs of "high-functioning" autism in me.

Pros and cons?

[nymph-of-books]

so sometimes i forget rich people exist and then one of my acquaintances says smth like “self-diagnosing is bad” and i’m like. oh yeah.

[stopmakingliberalslookbad]

Hot take: I think self diagnosing can be very helpful. But ONLY if you follow that up with going to a professional and be like "Hey, I think, based on x, this is what's wrong with me, can we focus on that and see if it's true?". That's how I got my diagnosis of apd (antisocial personality disorder) after going from therapist to therapist because they only focused anxiety, which, as it turns out, I don't have

That's self-advocacy, which is perfectly fine.

[stopmakingliberalslookbad]

One problem with "I'm [x] because I have this vague symptom" is that it creates the idea if you're not [x], you don't have any real problems. Ex. say you're sad but don't have depression. You're still allowed to seek out a therapist and care for yourself. Just because you don't have it "worst" doesn't mean you don't matter at all. The important thing is to not take up resources strictly meant for those with depression, or to talk on their behalf and spread misinformation. Same for other stuff.

^^

[stopmakingliberalslookbad]

Technically I’m “self-diagnosed” on a few things such as my dermatillomania and anxiety, but only because I did extensive research and then talked to my doctor, who agreed. I was never officially “diagnosed,” and technically don’t take medicine since it makes my (officially diagnosed) depression worse. But the self-dxers on this site are awful, they give people who actually look into a condition they think they have and take reasonable steps to see if they have it a bad name

What you did was self-advocacy, since you spoke to a professional. Self-advocacy is a good thing.

[stopmakingliberalslookbad]

Self dx people self dx to find help and resources and a community! They do it to help themself! A lot of people cant get a therapist or a doctor, but they CAN get advise from people who knows exactly what they're going through and can provide insight and help!!!!!

There's nothing wrong with getting advice from the community, but there is a problem with insisting that you have a condition that you haven't been diagnosed with and speaking over people who have actually been diagnosed. And at the end of the day, you self-dxers won't get the help, care, or accommodations that you need.

[stopmakingliberalslookbad]

I also thought I had Autism and got tested and diagnosed and tbh people make it seem like it’s IMPOSSIBLE. I have Medicaid which helped. It’s not as impossible as people make it out to be. I think lots of people don’t want to get tested because they don’t want to be told they don’t have it.

That's my theory too. How do they have the resources to research the symptoms but they don't know how to research resources that can get them financial aid?