Getting an ASD spectrum diagnosis - is it worth it?

Hi Neil 
If I lose my glasses its a big deal so cant imagine how bad it must be for you.  I think having a diagnosis will help, even if it is just so you know what you are dealing with and can do more research.

ATB Rosie

Hi @Neil2017 when aspergers was first mentioned for my daughter I did a lot of research. What really hit me was how much I was reading seemed to apply to myself rather than my daughter until I started finding posts about autism in girls/women. 

I mentioned this to someone who I thought knew me well and I trusted and they immediately dismissed it. Interestingly the reasons they gave for dismissing it only showed me how well I had learned to cope with it.

Fortunately my current boss picked up on it pretty quickly, fortunate because she has a good understanding of it. I hate social activities but being chair of a non profit had to find ways round this and could avoid situations I could not cope with. One of these is parties are a nightmare to me, as are pubs. As I explained to her because all the noise becomes a wall of white noise it is hard for me to constantly concentrate on what is being said or going on, but I have learned when to smile and laugh by taking clues by what others are doing. Because it is important to her I do attend the annual team Christmas dinner, but go home afterwards rather than going to a local club, I don't bother with the work christmas party.

Is it worth the diagnosis? I don't think it is for me at this point, I work with a team where 50% have disabilities of some sort, and regularly give work experience to others through Mind's Leaning Disability Work Experience. They are used to me suddenly including them in a conversation that I have had in my head for the last ten or fifteen minutes and they don't have a clue what I am talking about. I can cope with telephone calls, and they don't have a problem if I suddenly say I cannot cope with this and take a break, usually coming back knowing how to resolve what has frustrated me. Plus as long as I don't ignore the phone they are happy for me to have headphones on listening to music, or just with the noise cancelling turned on so I can concentrate on what I am doing.

I do believe there are advantages in getting diagnosis especially if you need accomodations which might otherwise be difficult to get. But more importantly if you are not sure, and there are other conditions with similar traits. The fact you are asking the question is probably a good indication that it could be right for you. Once you have the diagnosis it is worth remembering it is always up to you who and when you choose to disclose it.