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Self Diagnosis; Why the Controversy?

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I went to the doctor two weeks ago for anxiety and rapid heartbeat. He gave me anxiety meds. You know what the problem was? I'm now allergic to MSG. I should have self diagnosed in the first place and saved my $200. All doctors want to do is get that kickback from the drug companies. I quit eating MSG and I'm cured. No more anxiety.

Just in case you didn't know there are theories that some autism problems are caused by excess glutamate in the brain.

High intelligence and high glutamate receptors go hand in hand. Glutamate is an excitory neutrotransmitter that causes a wide range on symptoms when in excess.

Amy Yasko advises autistic and methylation suppress people to remove all sources of glutamate from the diet.

Glutamate is balanced by GABA and I find taking that really helps. There's also a connection to overload I think, but I've not figured that part out yet.
 
Just in case you didn't know there are theories that some autism problems are caused by excess glutamate in the brain.

High intelligence and high glutamate receptors go hand in hand. Glutamate is an excitory neutrotransmitter that causes a wide range on symptoms when in excess.

Amy Yasko advises autistic and methylation suppress people to remove all sources of glutamate from the diet.

Glutamate is balanced by GABA and I find taking that really helps. There's also a connection to overload I think, but I've not figured that part out yet.

Very interesting. I had read something online about the relationship between asd and MSG. I'm still in the learning process as I just made the connection about two weeks ago. For some reason at age 47 I just started having this reaction. It started right after I was given general anesthesia for surgery which also affects the brain so I'm not sure if the anesthesia helped trigger it. Thanks for the information. I will definitely be researching this more.
 
Especially in 'Muricaland where identity politics is trending right now. The more out of the ordinary ("opressed") you are, the more popular you are in SJW and far-liberal circles.

It isn't just in "Muricaland" where this is occurring. Other parts of the world (ex. where I live - Australia) are in an even worse situation than the U.S. when it comes to the infiltration of politically-correct, extreme-left, social justice warrior nonsense into the mainstream media, academia, government et cetera. If you hate "identity politics" then stay away from Australia; it's everywhere, we're drowning in it.
 
Dear Tumblr
^i found this post while searching for autism blogs and it was quite thought provoking for me although i didnt agree with it.

the writer thinks its a bad idea to self diagnose with anything including autism and is quite ranty and certain about it, aparently shes a pyschology student from what i can make out- typically many of them think theyre qualified shrinks when they become a student of the profession.

do you think self diagnosis of autism is wrong and causes trouble for people who diagnosed? i dont agree with her.
people who are autistic but undiagnosed are usually good researchers and have the logical mind to detatch themselves from the traits and difficulties in order to self diagnose,so i take people who self diagnose with autism in the same way i take people diagnosed,ive only come across one person in the 15 odd years of being in the online autism and disability community; who had self diagnosed and ended up diagnosed with something else that i cant remember,however he related to the ASD traits greatly so he should have stayed as it helped him;and he could still have been autistic anyway as he had the 'female presentation' rather than 'male presentation' which might have skewed his assessment, but the unfortunate guy was very upset at the diagnosis and felt like a liar to us all and disappeared.

i think the only way self diagnosis can be bad is if people take on traits they dont have or if they convince themselves they have it so much,and make it part of their identity/culture but end up diagnosed with something different-that would be a massive shock to their mental health and identity.
The only reason I feel (personally) is that getting an official diagnosis would eliminate all the people who are nay sayers or accuse you of making excuses or adapting traits because you want a diagnosis. I have been told by a couple of psychologists that I probably have aspergers... Thing is probably isn't good enough... I am now going through the motions to get officially diagnosed, but it will take some time. When I was a teenager my psychologist tried to diagnose me, but my mother refused the diagnosis and finally after 18 more years of bumbling,stumbling, and wanting to feel normal in any way I could, she finally told me about it.. This kind of made me bitter, because I got into drugs and all sorts of bad things just trying to fit in, quite honestly I am lucky to be alive and free... I can't help to wonder what my life would have been like had my mother accepted my diagnosis and told me about it? Did she think she was doing me a favor or was she ashamed of me? I don't know, but it's going to take a long time if ever for me to forgive her.. Now I am nearly 40 years old living in a country with almost zero tolerance and understanding of aspergers or any neurological/psychological issues with no friends and no way out. I can't help to wonder if I would have even been here if I had known earlier. I would rather be home and getting the help I need... Anyways, you know yourself better than anyone else. I always knew I wasn't like others, but never crossed my mind it could have been neurological issues causing it. I just lost my self esteem,got depressed, and obviously over stimulated and blamed myself for it for a long long time. The docs I have been going to lately have been helping me understand myself rather than speculate.. Those are the only reasons I think an official diagnosis is better than a self diagnosis.
 
If self diagnosing help you understand yourself then that's fine but you might want to seek out a formal diagnosis.
However, how would someone feel if the diagnosis was negative ?

Either way I'm sure everyone is welcome here. :)
 
You do of course realise that a person is what they are regardless of what the "experts" may say, that these "experts" can be (and often are) wrong
Experts are wrong sometimes, but getting a professional diagnosis is better than just guessing. ASD's are similar to some other neurological disorders, and it takes a trained expert to find the difference. Self-diagnosis is not scientific, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a psychiatrist who would say otherwise.
Bellatrix said:
the end result of such investigation to shape the course of that investigation, that us "Aspies" are second-to-none, the best in the world.
What do you even mean by this? What do you mean we're the best in the world? The best in the world at what? In any instance, this is exceptionalitism at its worst, saying that one neurotype is "Better" than another.
Bellatrix said:
If all of the "symptoms" are there, if what is occurring to oneself fits the criteria, and if it explains virtually EVERYTHING about one's life, then who are you to say that we are all wrong to do this?
Because at the end of the day, you're still guessing. Guessing isn't scientific.
[QUOTE="Bellatrix]In my particular case, an "official" diagnosis wouldn't achieve a single thing, it wouldn't tell me anything new, anything I don't already know about myself. Self-examination is something that I have practiced since... well, long before you were even born, judging by your photo. I know myself better than anyone else does, or even possibly could, so yes, I am self-diagnosed.[/QUOTE]Yes, but it's important to know just what neurological disorder you have. You don't want someone with OCD to get the treatment for someone with autism. etc. It's important to know just what neurological disorder you have.
 
I beg to differ, trained professionals make errors quite a lot, especially in regard to females on the spectrum. If you already have a couple of science degrees is that enough? Or do you have to be a specialist?

Is understanding and comprehending autism and being intelligent enough to comprehend it all and put it all together something only 'professionals' can do? Because everyone else is too stupid? Don't think so, and don't put too much faith in specialists. As it is most people with high functioning autism know more about the disorder than many professionals.
If you felt sick, would you just assume you have cancer and start chemotherapy, even if you were a smart person, or would you rather trust a doctor and get a diagnosis first. It's important to get a diagnosis.
 
If you felt sick, would you just assume you have cancer and start chemotherapy, even if you were a smart person, or would you rather trust a doctor and get a diagnosis first. It's important to get a diagnosis.

Silly comparison to make, as it's not comparable in any meaningful way.
 
A doctor killed my Mother. I have trust issues...
I have been "told" at some point I have it all.
None were right. How can they just throw out this or that? Let's see if this works....?

I started researching this seriously not long ago and found this is the only thing that is consistent. The only part that doesn't fit is math. I'm slightly dyslexic and hate math and numbers.
 
A doctor killed my Mother. I have trust issues...
I have been "told" at some point I have it all.
None were right. How can they just throw out this or that? Let's see if this works....?

I started researching this seriously not long ago and found this is the only thing that is consistent. The only part that doesn't fit is math. I'm slightly dyslexic and hate math and numbers.
Every person is different, you don't have to be a math wiz to be an aspie. I can read people fairly well and understand/give humor and those are not traits an aspie usually has.
I'm very sorry to hear about your mother.
 
If you felt sick, would you just assume you have cancer and start chemotherapy, even if you were a smart person, or would you rather trust a doctor and get a diagnosis first. It's important to get a diagnosis.

If I was sick I would see a medical doctor. Autism is not an illness or a disease, bad analogy.
 
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You need to "blow off" this so-called friend of yours, because from what I can tell he is no friend at all. Dump him. He's a jerk. People like him aren't good enough to be friends with people like us. He doesn't deserve the privilege.

It irritates me when he doesn't take me seriously when I tell him about my autism. And how he tries to change me. But, I know that, with this aside, he does care about me. At least I think he does. He does always laugh at the way I talk and the things I say. But he does also want me to succeed and be happy and smile.
 
I started researching this seriously not long ago and found this is the only thing that is consistent. The only part that doesn't fit is math. I'm slightly dyslexic and hate math and numbers.

According to Temple Grandin, one classic trait would be very poor at algebra, but good at visual and shape based maths.

I wasn't allowed to do computer studies at school since my maths was below average.

I left school and have spent 27 years in IT, and I excel at logic based stuff and analytics, so I think it's mostly the algebra that I sucked at.
 
However, how would someone feel if the diagnosis was negative?

I'd be positively thrilled! :) Ever since the very first time I realised I have Asperger's Syndrome I've been wishing and praying for it to simply disappear. Having to live with something like this is a bloody pain, a burden, something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. How could the outcome of a negative diagnosis be anything other than positive?
 
It irritates me when he doesn't take me seriously when I tell him about my autism.

That's one strike against him. Would he do the same if you had some other condition that made you different from the norm, like schizophrenia or blindness?

And how he tries to change me.

Strike two. Friends don't try to change each other.

But, I know that, with this aside, he does care about me.

Really? He has a funny way of showing it.

At least I think he does.

I don't believe he does.

He does always laugh at the way I talk and the things I say.

So he's laughing at you. He thinks that being the way you are is funny.

But he does also want me to succeed and be happy and smile.

Even if that is true that doesn't make up for all the other crap you have to put up with from him.

Okay, now perhaps I'm a little too sensitive about things like this, due to the fact that I see in his behaviour the kind of treatment that I had to put up with over the years, but from what I am reading here it's seems as though this person (who doesn't appear to be a friend, by the way) is being an abusive bully. That's my perception of your situation. I could of course be wrong about this, since I am only going by what you have chosen to reveal to us here.
 
That's one strike against him. Would he do the same if you had some other condition that made you different from the norm, like schizophrenia or blindness?



Strike two. Friends don't try to change each other.



Really? He has a funny way of showing it.



I don't believe he does.



So he's laughing at you. He thinks that being the way you are is funny.



Even if that is true that doesn't make up for all the other crap you have to put up with from him.

Okay, now perhaps I'm a little too sensitive about things like this, due to the fact that I see in his behaviour the kind of treatment that I had to put up with over the years, but from what I am reading here it's seems as though this person (who doesn't appear to be a friend, by the way) is being an abusive bully. That's my perception of your situation. I could of course be wrong about this, since I am only going by what you have chosen to reveal to us here.

I have actually thought about this before, a thought like "is he really my friend? He keeps laughing at me. He's laughing at me, not with me."

I've chalked it up to him being of a low IQ and consequentially being amused by people who act different. I've chalked it all up to him having a low IQ. We don't choose our intelligence when we are born, so how could I blame him for being amused?

But no, it's not right for him to laugh at me.

Any time that I've wanted to tell him, I haven't because:

1. I will say that he keeps laughing at me, he'll ask "Like when," I'll give only one or two examples, and he'll blow it off consequentially. Like any time I try to explain an aspergers symptom that I live with - he asks for examples, I give one, or two if I'm lucky, and he'll blow it off because I couldn't give an essay of examples. He did understand my sensitivities to different sounds, but I wasn't successful in explaining other senses' sensitivities.

2. Every time we see each other, we automatically smile widely because we like each other so much. So when we start talking, it's so positive that I let my frustration of him slide because I'm so excited to talk with him.
 
Sorry for the rant - it just really bugs me when members of tribes attempt to divide the tribe. It's not acceptable to me in any way, and I'd feel exactly the same if I was officially diagnosed.

No, that's okay, rant on, although I do wonder what you mean by the term "tribe". I don't belong to any "tribe", I'm just very different from the majority in the way that I see the world. I don't care for tribalism, you can count me out.
 
Experts are wrong sometimes, but getting a professional diagnosis is better than just guessing.

Oh - dear - Lord! "Guessing"!?!?!? No, my assessments are based upon E-V-I-D-E-N-C-E! I'm not the kind to just imagine things, and then say to myself one morning, "Hey, I think I'll have Asperger's Syndrome today, because it is, like, you know, totally trendy".

ASD's are similar to some other neurological disorders, and it takes a trained expert to find the difference. Self-diagnosis is not scientific...

"Not scientific". What do you even mean by that expression? I'm curious about it, because I don't believe that even you yourself know what that means, within this specific context.

...and you'll be hard-pressed to find a psychiatrist who would say otherwise.

Yes, the very same psychiatrists who decided, in their infinite wisdom, that Asperger's Syndrome doesn't exist anymore, and that I am now autistic. No, I'm not autistic, there is a difference.

What do you even mean by this? What do you mean we're the best in the world? The best in the world at what? In any instance, this is exceptionalitism at its worst, saying that one neurotype is "Better" than another.

What do I mean? I mean that I have come to realise that I am FAR more rational than most people I encounter, that I can think clearly, objectively, and will actually make an effort to determine what is actually TRUE and believe that, rather than just seeking out whatever it is that happens to make me FEEL better about both myself and the world, and believe THAT instead (which is what N.T.'s tend to do). How can you not understand this?

As for being exceptional, yes, I am. What's wrong in admitting that? Why do I need to be self-effacing and (falsely) modest? What purpose would that serve? If I achieved something worth crowing about, why shouldn't I take the credit for it?

Because at the end of the day, you're still guessing. Guessing isn't scientific.

No, I am NOT! "Guessing"!? By God man, don't be... well, I was going to say something extremely rude here, but if I do the comment will be erased, so I won't. My anger and frustration with you is starting to boil over, so maybe I had better not say anymore.

"GUESSING"! The bloody NERVE! As though first-hand, personal lifetime experience counts for nothing, only "science" (whatever that is).
 
That's one strike against him. Would he do the same if you had some other condition that made you different from the norm, like schizophrenia or blindness?



Strike two. Friends don't try to change each other.



Really? He has a funny way of showing it.



I don't believe he does.



So he's laughing at you. He thinks that being the way you are is funny.



Even if that is true that doesn't make up for all the other crap you have to put up with from him.

Okay, now perhaps I'm a little too sensitive about things like this, due to the fact that I see in his behaviour the kind of treatment that I had to put up with over the years, but from what I am reading here it's seems as though this person (who doesn't appear to be a friend, by the way) is being an abusive bully. That's my perception of your situation. I could of course be wrong about this, since I am only going by what you have chosen to reveal to us here.

Actually, its often that somebody is using me and I can't see it. (or I don't want to admit it.) I think you're right. He's laughing at me, not with me. Even if he does care, I shouldn't have to put up with him laughing at me.
 
No, that's okay, rant on, although I do wonder what you mean by the term "tribe". I don't belong to any "tribe", I'm just very different from the majority in the way that I see the world. I don't care for tribalism, you can count me out.

Well you're still part of the tribe as far as I'm concerned, you're just the angry old guy that we don't let near the tourists:D

Seriously though I knew that wasn't the term I wanted, but when I wrote that I'd just had a dose of sulphites and I felt like my skin was going to explode, so I was too irritated to try to think of a better term.
 
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