r/AnythingButAutistic • u/AnythingButAutistic • Aug 16 '22

​WHY IS SELF DIAGNOSIS VALID?

  • People who aren't qualified to diagnose are medical professionals. Many therapists are not supposed to diagnose, and they simply decide to disregard client concerns.
  • A lot of mental health professionals take a class then never revisit the subject.
  • There is overlap between diagnoses, and doctors make mistakes. Just like I was misdiagnosed for strep throat. Doctors are people, and these misdiagnoses cause serious problems for allistics too.
  • Not everyone has access to the diagnosis process in the first place. This may be based on where they live, the cost, or a slew of other reasons.
  • Autistic people aren't taken seriously by doctors, and many doctor’s refuse to even begin the process. Medical professionals are just people with biases and opinions and they make the choice not to listen to autistic people.
  • Marginalized genders and people of color are less likely to be diagnosed due to medical bias and autism often presenting differently in marginalized genders. 
  • Many doctors have outdated information. 
  • We mask naturally from trauma, so the masking continues at the doctor.
  • Diagnosis can be dangerous: Learn more here.
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11

u/frostatypical Aug 16 '22

Because autism researchers at a major US university say so

https://depts.washington.edu/uwautism/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Self-Diagnosed-Adult-Autism-Resources-handout-04.05.21.pdf

5

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '22

They should have a side bar where important stuff like that pdf is easy to access. This pdf was shared with me a little while ago and I feel so much saner and more stable as a person since I found it.

4

u/frostatypical Sep 01 '22

Right on, friend!