How important is an actual diagnosis?

[LovebirdsFlying]

My husband and I are both possible aspies. My oldest daughter also has that possibility, and if I am correct, she is actively seeking a diagnosis. I don't know whether hubby and/or I really need a doctor to tell us we have it, though. For hubby, I think he would say (he's not here right now, so I have to guess) that having it on paper would not make a bit of difference in his daily life. He is 48 years old and has been making a decent enough living for himself and me, and despite having been a victim of horrible child abuse, he doesn't see the need for any kind of mental health support. He says he has always known there was something different about him, in the way he expresses his emotions, but he sees no need to change it, so why a diagnosis or treatment?

For me, I have several mental health diagnoses already, and I am under the care of a psychiatrist and a therapist. One more label wouldn't mean much to me either. But if I do have Asperger's, which I strongly suspect we both do, I would want to know for sure if some kind of change would help either one of us cope, or open new doors to us.

Oldest daughter is also diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and is already on disability. Another diagnosis would probably not change her routine either, but is there some benefit to knowing for sure, as opposed to only suspecting?

 

[dayhiker]

I'm a big fan of understanding what makes us tic. So from that point of view a diagnosis might be helpful. But if you already know that AS explains the issues you are facing, then you have all you need. With this info one can't solve their problems but they have an explanation and can perhaps develop a skill to cop or know to avoid that type of situation as much as possible.

 

[Sabertooth]

I agree. Having the most accurate diagnosis available helps us to better mitigate that condition, whether it is a medicine or some kind of coping strategies. Some conditions appear very similar to ASDs, but may require completely different interventions. ASDs can mask comorbid conditions that would go untreated if overlooked by a biased amateur.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

As for me, the main reason I would want to get a professional diagnosis is to keep people from brushing me off with, "Yeah, YOU say you have it." The more I study AS, the more convinced I am that this applies to me, AND to my husband and daughter. But I don't want it to be seen as just another product of my wild imagination, or some excuse I made up.

(Not sure about my younger daughter. She has some traits, and is curious now and wants to take the test I took after seeing it in this forum, but I'm guessing she would not actually come out in the spectrum.)