Mastodawn

chicken Jul 16, 2023

what are the downsides of a diagnosis?

https://lemmy.world/post/1602022

what are the downsides of a diagnosis? - Lemmy.world

im pretty sure im autistic, or at least neurodivergent in some way. i think getting tested would give me some peace of mind and validation, but it’s not extreme to where i would need extra help. so i dont really need to be diagnosed if itll just make my life harder. i heard that if diagnosed, you have to take your driving test every year which sounds like such a hassle. are there any other downsides of a diagnosis i should know about? specifically for the us / california. getting a diagnosis would feel validating but maybe its not worth pursuing for me.

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AlexWIWA Jul 17, 2023

It’s expensive.

I’ve also seen a few people start to mold their personalities after a diagnosis. They’ll start exhibiting stereotypical behavior that they didn’t exhibit before the diagnosis. It might be that they stopped masking, but it’s something to be aware of.

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frequency

Can confirm. Got a 20yo roommate, who before the diagnosis was striving to be better, was trying to learn and figure stuff out. After diagnosis turned into total pain in the ass, blaming everything on the disability, stopped cleaning after himself, kinda gave up on himself in general. I agree, it might be because he stopped masking but it was just sad to see such a change for worse, he took it the wrong way.

OP though sounds like a conscious person, weighing their options, asking for opinion from others. Good job OP!