Concerns regarding getting diagnosed

[Soleil]

So, the more I read and learn about people with autism, the more I think I'm one as well, even if I'm a fairly "high-functioning" case.

But I'm not comfortable diagnosing myself and calling myself autistic without a professional diagnosis. I don't know how everyone else feels about self-diagnosing (I assume opinions vary), but without a diagnosis there will always be a nagging doubt that maybe I'm lying to myself. Plus, a diagnosis would be sort of vindicating- something I can present as proof that I'm not just after attention.

And on a personal level, it would be nice to have some sort of explanation as to why I act like I do.

But then there are a few concerns. For one, I don't even know where to begin, but I think I've heard that I should ask my general practitioner for a referral to a psychologist. I guess I could also ask my therapist if she knows anyone, but I would hope my GP knows someone a bit more local.

But I'm also concerned about the fact that I'm transgender. With autism presenting differently in men than in women, which characteristics will the doctor compare me to? Male (my assigned gender) or female (how I identify)?

And what if the doctor says I'm not autistic? There would be a constant doubt in my mind about that, too (misdiagnoses happen, especially in girls, from what I understand).

I don't suppose anyone has any advice or other ideas? Thanks.

 

[Thinx]

There's a higher proportion of trans people on the autistic spectrum than amongst neurotypical people. My thinking on that is that we tend to be somewhat oblivious to aspects of social conditioning, and just simple and direct about how and who we are, so more likely perhaps to embrace our truths about gender identity where others feel they can't or never really get to grips with who they are.

I identify as nonbinary, as well as gay. I'm happy with self diagnosing, I don't have any nagging doubts, but neither do I feel sure I would be diagnosed, as diagnosis is not always given to people who are seen as coping, and more particularly it seems autism is less diagnosed for people who are socialised as women, who tend to be brought up to learn and use more social skills and to accommodate and facilitate others.

I'm glad to have realised that autism is the source and cause of some of how I am, and that's all I need really. I think the process of diagnosis varies depending where you are in the world, I think the GP is first stop here in the UK .

 

[Au Naturel]

"Assigned gender"

I hate that term. It sounds like there was an assembly line of identical babies and someone with a clipboard stood there randomly sticking labels on them. That's not how it works.

The psychologist would begin with the traits that an autistic person would show that are common between the genders. That would likely be enough to diagnose. The fall-back would be how you identify. Since autistic traits primarily impact your psychology, your psychology would control how autism presents.

Failing that then they could look at your genetic sex. No matter what you do, even if it isn't controlling your psychology the Y chromosome will still be there and will have some impact on your biology. But I can't imagine it getting that far if you weren't right on the borderline. And then it wouldn't matter so much.

A psychologist who is sensitive to trans issues will know exactly what to do.

 

[BrokenBoy]

I recommend going for a diagnosis. It is beneficial.

 

[Peachie]

And what if the doctor says I'm not autistic? There would be a constant doubt in my mind about that, too (misdiagnoses happen, especially in girls, from what I understand).

I haven't been on here long, but seeing how many people this resonates to end up here. I'd be curious to hear other's experiences where people go "that is totally me", then go get an assessment and end up as something else.

I find it interesting that there seems to be is a vein of self-taught and research ability inherent in ASD. I do love how trepid folks here are to self-diagnose, which I find comforting. Maybe a self-diagnosed ASD has a higher chance of being right.

If they come back with something else, then I guess it depends on how much the other thing resonates with you. I'm not sure how many other things share similar traits, but I'd imagine the assessment will give you a good sense as to what makes you tick. And I have to imagine that is useful knowledge to have regardless of the label added to the end.

There's a higher proportion of trans people on the autistic spectrum than amongst neurotypical people.

Maybe the people who do the assessment are thus more experienced/exposed to exactly your situation?

I'm very intrigued about the ASD differences in mail/female and how transgender fits into it. Seems like social adaptability, the ability to mask and mimic is maybe easier for females, as it is more innate to them?

 

[VAW]

So, the more I read and learn about people with autism, the more I think I'm one as well, even if I'm a fairly "high-functioning" case.

But I'm not comfortable diagnosing myself and calling myself autistic without a professional diagnosis. I don't know how everyone else feels about self-diagnosing (I assume opinions vary), but without a diagnosis there will always be a nagging doubt that maybe I'm lying to myself. Plus, a diagnosis would be sort of vindicating- something I can present as proof that I'm not just after attention.

And on a personal level, it would be nice to have some sort of explanation as to why I act like I do.

But then there are a few concerns. For one, I don't even know where to begin, but I think I've heard that I should ask my general practitioner for a referral to a psychologist. I guess I could also ask my therapist if she knows anyone, but I would hope my GP knows someone a bit more local.

But I'm also concerned about the fact that I'm transgender. With autism presenting differently in men than in women, which characteristics will the doctor compare me to? Male (my assigned gender) or female (how I identify)?

And what if the doctor says I'm not autistic? There would be a constant doubt in my mind about that, too (misdiagnoses happen, especially in girls, from what I understand).

I don't suppose anyone has any advice or other ideas? Thanks.

In my son's case his doctors spotted it in him... His neurologist said he had the worst anxiety he has ever seen, and his G.I. specialist had two sons with ASD so he spotted it. We were told he had to have a Neuro-psychologist to diagnose him since he was over 18. I had said this online before that the Neuro-psychologist almost didn't diagnose him with ASD, she did as borderline because he didn't have ALL the signs. I guess you never can tell, like you said if you are going to get a mis-diagnosis because his family doctor noticed it, his neurologist noticed it, his G.I. doctor noticed it, and the first councilor noticed it who worked with children with ASD but couldn't diagnose him, she was certain of it. YET the neuro-psychologist almost didn't diagnose him with it. We live in an area where there isn't a lot of places who work with people in the autism spectrum, but I would say if you felt you weren't diagnosed correctly and you can go to another place, I would get a couple of opinions. Or in your case like someone else had mentioned someone who deals with Transgender people. I have a friend who is transgender and her psychologist knows all of that, but my friend isn't dealing with autism so that wasn't the case for her.

 

[SDRSpark]

I've found that, in general (with exceptions, but they're not the majority by a long stretch) the autistic community is very accepting of self-identification because there are so many barriers to diagnosis (some people can't even get as far as an evaluation because there are no diagnosticians in the area willing to work with adults.)

It's not like you aren't autistic until you get a diagnosis saying you are...there's no magic switch in your brain that gets flipped when the doctor signs the paper. You still have the same neurology you did yesterday, the only thing that's changed is that someone with authority to do so says you are autistic. And those authorities often don't agree with each other. (To complicate matters even more, once you've done as much research as most of us have done, you could probably convince at least some diagnosticians that you're autistic even if you aren't - but the bigger question becomes, why would you? There aren't many neurotypicals out there that really want to be autistic, and it never would have crossed their minds to pretend that they are. So the people fighting for a diagnosis are, most likely, doing so because they're right about who and what they are.)

 

[Soleil]

I spoke with my therapist today, and even though she's not qualified to diagnose autism, she said that she has noticed certain things that could be explained by autism. And honestly, just hearing that felt good, because it meant that this isn't all my imagination.

She also said that getting a diagnosis wouldn't really change anything: I'd still be the same me.But I still think I want one, so I'll be looking into therapists or psychologists who deal with autism and autism diagnoses.

And thanks for the responses; I'm learning lots here

 

[Peachie]

That is amazing to hear, warms my heart. Congrats!

 

[Au Naturel]

Diagnosis is a crap shoot. I went to numerous therapists and only one of them thought of it. I can mask well for short periods of time and not even realize I'm doing it. My theory is that if the shoe fits, one ought to wear it until a better fit comes along.

 

[Kalinychta]

I wouldn’t be comfortable calling myself autistic if I hadn’t gotten a formal diagnosis, however I completely understand why so many people cannot pursue one—usually for financial reasons or because their primary/GP doctors don’t believe them (based on autism stereotypes) and thus won’t refer them. I was diagnosed by a behavior analyst who specializes in autism and even writes books on the subject...and yet my neurologist (I have epilepsy) decreed after five seconds of thought that I am not autistic. It’s a subject that is so very misunderstood, even amongst doctors, and it can be very difficult to be taken seriously, especially when you’re female.