Negatives of your Diagnosis?

[No Doz]

I recently discovered that I display a heavy amount of traits that are indicative of individuals on the autism spectrum. After a few months of learning, researching, testing, and reflecting, I'm now very convinced that I'm on the autism spectrum myself (aspergers with extension beyond into some other areas). It feels like I'm finally being given language for certain emotions and difficulties that I've always experienced but never known how to quantify or express, which has been an unbelievably enlightening but also somewhat scary process.

I'm currently weighing the decision to seek a formal diagnosis. I think I have a good grasp on the potential positives of being diagnosed, so I was hoping for some input about potential negatives I may not be aware of

Besides the cost of a medical diagnosis being prohibitively expensive, what are some negatives you feel you've wrestled with as a result of your diagnosis? Have there been any negative consequences you've endured that you think someone new to this discussion should be aware of prior to seeking a diagnosis themselves (internal, social, government related, etc)?

I'd really appreciate any input or advice you can offer, thanks so much

 

[Magna]

Welcome.

You mentioned cost. I would agree.

Other than that about the only "negative" I can think of for myself is that not everyone you tell once you're diagnosed will respond as you would hope or as you would expect.

Other than that I honestly can't think of any other negative for me being professionally diagnosed. On the contrary, for me it was among one of the best and most positive things I've done in my life and that's not an exaggeration.

I wish you the very best in your journey.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Exactly what @Magna said.

 

[Crossbreed]

I have no new negatives.
I am able to "factor in" my better understanding of myself.

If you are in the USA, see
Autlanders, Thriving Outside of the Box: Finding Support Resources in the USA...

 

[clg114]

I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome using the old DSM-4. For me, this was a very positve experence. For most of my life I have known that I was different from those around me. I just did not know how or why. My diagnosis answered a lot of questions that I had about myself. On the negitive side, I found that it was better not tell people about my diagnosis. Most people do not understand autism. If they know that I am autistic, they think some of the strangest things that you can imagine. So for me, it is on a need to know basis only.

 

[Bolletje]

I haven’t experienced any negatives. Granted, in my country the diagnosis was covered by my health insurance. I wasn’t pursuing an autism diagnosis either, it was a little surprise diagnosis I got while looking for a cause for my recurrent depressions and burn-outs.

The only thing I could consider a negative is that some people didn’t really accept my autism diagnosis because I don’t fit the image they have of an autistic person. Then again, they were the same people that told me to snap out of my depression and cheer up, so the net result was the same.

 

[No Doz]

thank you everyone! i really appreciate the well wishes and the input

If you are in the USA, see
Autlanders, Thriving Outside of the Box: Finding Support Resources in the USA...

i am, new york city. i'll check out these links, thanks so much

I wasn’t pursuing an autism diagnosis either, it was a little surprise diagnosis I got while looking for a cause for my recurrent depressions and burn-outs.

The only thing I could consider a negative is that some people didn’t really accept my autism diagnosis because I don’t fit the image they have of an autistic person.

your post really resonated with my personal experience, particularly these parts. i was diagnosed with clinical depression fairly young and have been having a lot difficulty treating / navigating it as of late. in searching for an answer why, i started to realize my depression might be actually be a symptom of certain difficulties i'm having as opposed to the root cause of those difficulties. a lot of dots are connecting for me lately

i like your adventure time avatar too! that show is good for the soul, find a lot of comfort in it

 

[Luca]

I can think of a few negatives, the biggest one being how people treat me when they find out I'm autistic. It has caused a lot of unnecessary suffering at the hands of bullies.

Like Bolletje said, I don't fit the "typical" idea of what someone would think of as an autistic person, but that's probably because I'm biologically female, and people tend to stereotype autism as the symptoms of "male autism." Even though a lot of people don't realize that not all male autistics have the same set of symptoms either. No one's personalities are identical.
There are a lot of stereotypes about autistic people that are just ridiculous, and obviously most of them don't fit me. I think if you asked (most) non-autistic people what an autistic person is like, and asked an autistic person what an autistic person is like, you would get very different answers. And it's hard to define since "If you've met one Aspie, you've met one Aspie" or whatever the saying is. That is true.

But my special interests are very typical, which is another negative in some cases, although it's kind of double edged because my special interests and talents are also a positive in a lot of ways. But the level of detail and passion with which I discuss my special interests can be really annoying for a lot of people, even other autistic people.

I struggle with maintaining irl friendships, but that has very little to do with my autism, that has more to do with PTSD and the fact that I tend to attract toxic people. People that I have common interests with, and people who are empathetic and friendly, I have no issue maintaining friendships or socializing with. I'm not really an awkward person, I'm just reserved until I get to know someone (irl. I'm much more open online.) So I guess that's a positive.

I would say overall I can think of more positives than negatives, especially in the areas of interests, talents, and knowledge about things I am interested in. But I can recognize that not everyone will see my autism as a positive.

 

[Richelle-H]

I never knew growing up, but aware that I was different from others. I actually reveled in that for I have never wanted to be like everyone else that I met and interacted with. I kept a very low profile back then, only interacting with others when I was comfortable and accepted as part of a group.

It was an offhand comment by someone in my early forties that led to a diagnosis, but it was essentially nothing more than an entry in my medical record. It did not change anything about my perceptions of the world and myself.

Maybe it made me more aware of the mechanisms involved in my reactions and interactions that seemed to upset or disturb others, but I cannot separate the experience gained through living from conscious alterations to my affect. I am still the me as I was way back, just a bit older and wiser about the world.

So, lots of fallout from being on the spectrum to begin with, but the diagnosis itself was too little too late to make much of a dent in my ideation or interactions with others.

Welcome!