#the diagnosis process

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Why self-diagnosed autistics are valid

medical diagnosis can be expensive

humans are the experts on their own minds

family may prevent assessment

diagnosis criteria is a poor checklist of stereotypes

diagnosis criteria ignores gender, race, sexuality, culture & more

medical diagnosis confirms autism, but doesn't create it

discrimination within the medical profession may prevent diagnosis.

Assessment waiting lists often long

medical trauma may make assessment unfeasible

Neurodiverse Journeys

[neurodivergenttales]

I wish people would stop expecting instant emotional reactions

When someone tells me something, whether that's upsetting news or happy news or anything in between, it takes me a while to process it

I need time on my own, away from other people's eyes and expectations, to think it through in my head, understand the consequences of it and what it actually means

People think that a lack of emotional reaction at the time means you are cold or uncaring, they don't realise that processing isn't a seconds-long process for everyone

For some people, processing can take minutes, hours, days, months, even years

Give people that time and don't judge people for not following the same emotional timescale as you

[wheelie-sick]

ILY people who are continually wrong about their self diagnoses

being right about self diagnosis isn't what makes self diagnosis okay. it's a process, and you're learning. it takes time to find answers and just like doctors can be wrong in their suspicions so can you.

figuring out what condition you have is hard and I'm proud of you for taking steps towards finding the right answers. being wrong is okay and is even a valuable part of the process of ruling things out. sometimes it's not a horse, sometimes you're just a zebra, and you can't know you're a zebra without making sure you're not a horse first.

[bananonbinary]

as a certified Diagnosed Autist(TM) i cannot stress enough that i am not only pro- self-diagnosis, but also pretty anti- legal medical diagnosis. it is, at best, a cruel hoop we have to jump through so privileged people will deign to give us what we need. don't fucking do that shit unless you have to, it was disgustingly expensive, fucking humiliating, infantilizing, and dehumanizing, and would probably actively cause problems in my life if i didn't have some really good allistic (-passing) people in my corner and also wasn't so fucking disabled that it mostly doesn't matter.

literally get that diagnosis if you need it for job/school accessibility shit or SSI or whatever, and otherwise dont tell the government SHIT about yourself. there is zero good reason for them to want that information. that's between you and the people you want in your life.

[nezoriy]

hello i made a niche meme

[thefrogdalorian]

Spent my day doing Hot Girl Things and reorganising my shelves and I'm so happy with this one!! Gorgeous gorgeous girls have a little shrine to Din Djarin in their bedrooms 🫢

[jojo-schmo]

More Schmojo!! And I decided to name her dark matter friend living in her bubble rod, “Beauregard.” >:3

Plus some doodles I thought of during work, and a lighthearted poke at myself lol.

[absentlyabbie]

still shaking my head about that time my doctor and i were discussing how my Exhausted All the Fucking Time chronic illness had been getting gradually worse and i never had energy to do things

and he asked me "have you considered exercising more? that can increase energy"

to which i replied deadass staring him in the face "cool, sounds great, love to, but hey, doc. one question: with what energy do i do that"

and he just cringe-shrugged and changed the subject

[trans-axolotl]

why is it so hard to find information about POTS that isn't either ableist nonsense from doctors or someone trying to scam me into buying their supplement. losing my mind

[crimeronan]

I TESTED POSITIVE FOR LUPUS ANTIBODIES

[heresiae]

me, before realizing what was going on and starting the diagnosis process: goddammit! I got distracted again. what's wrong with me!! and why I'm not understanding shit?! the argument is simple. why is everything confusing?

me, after the realization: adhd, behave! we need to hear this. I know this dude is boring, the argument is boring, but we need to make an effort. autism... I know, I know. they're confusing and not following a logical narrative pattern. we'll ask ALL the questions after.

[spacecrows]

me (diagnosed with ADHD): *talks about little funny/annoying things my brain does (because of the ADHD)* my mom (not diagnosed with anything): wow that's so funny, the exact same thing happens to me too! i've never heard anyone else describe that. so random that you get that too. genetics, huh? :))

[badolmen]

My psychiatrist: sorry I need to write this down - I love how you describe your experiences; you’re not a box checker type and the language you use is really insightful

Me: this is good I’m getting a good grade in mental illness. normal to want possible to achieve etc etc.

[greghatecrimes]

can i tell you guys the most ironic fucking thing about me realizing I have a chronic illness. it's house related LMAO

[bunhype]

10 grams of salt a day is like. so much salt. the recommended intake is like. 4g a day i think and im supposed to consume over double that.

[8rujaa]

yalllll i’m finally getting a treatment plan for my adhd and my fibromyalgia after a whole decade of it ruining my life