Current Events > I was just diagnosed with "high-functioning autism" by my therapist

(+) Yeah! (+)

For some reason, people seem to feel relief when they're diagnosed, but it just makes me feel worse to have the diagnosis confirmed (I was unofficially diagnosed when I was like 4, so I basically knew all along).

I just don't see how having the diagnosis benefits me at all. My therapist doesn't specialize in autism either so should I now switch to someone who does? It's annoying. Furthermore, my life is almost completely fine and the autism label puts me in the same category as people like Xsquader/Dawkins which is just insulting.

Also autism is an auto-flagged word on here? Lol.

Autism spectrum isn't who you are. It's just a label to describe your tendencies.

You should always love the kind of person you are, unless you're just a terrible person to others.
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Think about it this way:

Have you changed as a person at all because you were diagnosed?
Don't let it control who you are
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Furthermore, my life is almost completely fine

What were you seeing the therapist for?
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I am the same.

I was diagnosed at like 5 so not sure if I was considered high functioning back then...but I have held a job(not as part of any special program or anything. Just applied, interviewed and got it) for over four years(and three years of that is in customer service/food service) have over 10K in savings largely from my personal income, have zero criminal record and a very good reputation with most my coworkers, and our customers.

That seems pretty high functioning to me. I can pass as a functioning member of society in public.
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CommonJoe posted...

Furthermore, my life is almost completely fine

What were you seeing the therapist for?

Addiction problems

but the "addiction" is not to a substance that is cognitively impairing, I could probably live my whole life fine with the addiction but I'd rather not.

Also I was just generally really depressed and anxious when I first saw him but that went away pretty quickly.

IHOP posted...

For some reason, people seem to feel relief when they're diagnosed, but it just makes me feel worse to have the diagnosis confirmed (I was unofficially diagnosed when I was like 4, so I basically knew all along).

I just don't see how having the diagnosis benefits me at all. My therapist doesn't specialize in autism either so should I now switch to someone who does? It's annoying. Furthermore, my life is almost completely fine and the autism label puts me in the same category as people like Xsquader/Dawkins which is just insulting.

Also autism is an auto-flagged word on here? Lol.

I was diagnosed with Asperger's six years ago, at age 31. Nothing changed for me, except that I had a new understanding of myself and my way of doing things.

Xsquader/Dawkins is his own person, just as we are. We decide what our categories are by our actions and standards.

I didn't seek any further counseling after my diagnosis, I figured that if I had been able to (mostly) hide it for 31 years, why should I change. My way of life was fine. Sure, I'm a little odd, and often long-winded (shocking, right?) but I have succeeded at everything that I've tried, so there is no need to change.

In time, you will find what works for you.

Godnorgosh posted...

Thanks for making this topic. I actually wanted to start a series of support group topics for us high-functioning folks on CE, but it completely slipped my mind. This served as a helpful reminder.

I would very much like to be a part of this.
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Godnorgosh posted...

Thanks for making this topic. I actually wanted to start a series of support group topics for us high-functioning folks on CE, but it completely slipped my mind. This served as a helpful reminder.

while imo "high-functioning autism" is generally a better term than "aspergers" (because it acknowledges that they're part of the same thing rather than two distinct things), differentiating between "high" and "low" functioning still doesn't sit right with me
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