Is AUTISM self-diagnosis VALID?

Is autism self-diagnosis valid? There’s a lot of controversy and stigma around self-diagnosing, which is why I am so excited to unpack this topic on the podcast with my friend Maia @__learningtolive! In today’s episode, you’ll learn:

- Maia’s life story as an autistic individual recovering from anorexia and other co-morbid disorders
- How Maia discovered she is autistic
- Obstacles Maia faced in getting an official autism diagnosis
- Why self-diagnosis is one of the most valid forms of diagnosing
- How to distinguish autistic preferences and true desires from eating disorder beliefs

To listen to the episode, search “Liv Label Free” on your favorite podcast app or click the link in my IG bio!

[-AnnaAnna-]

I'm still trying to get a diagnosis! At this point I have just self-diagnosed (still trying to get a diagnosed, but I have just self-diagnosed while trying to get one! I'm not just settling for a self-diagnosis, I really do want to be professionaly diagnosed!).
Professionals: "You're going to have to wait on this 2 year waitlist. Oh and you have no support while waiting"
Me: "finally, I can get a diagnosis! After those two years of autistic burnout, things might actually get better!"
Professionals: "I know I've only met you for 2 hours, but you make eye contact and you talk a lot, so your not autistic"
Me: "I'm sorry WHAT?!"
I would rather an autistic diagnose me, not some Allistic who has never experienced being autistic! I have seen an autistic psychologist before (my sister is autistic and that's her psychologist), and she thought I was autistic straight away, but she can't diagnose me. Plus, shes not even my psychologist 😭

[セラフィナ]

In my honest opinion, this is only just an opinion, I dont necessarily consider self-diagnosing valid UNLESS you truly do the research, looking at the dsm, get professional opinions online or in therapy sessions if you are in therapy. The issue with self-diagnosing is everyone can self-diagnose and not present symptoms of that specific mental condition. People fake disorders all of the time and it makes self-diagnosing more invalid now. Although i don’t have an issue as long as you seek professional advice, I have a problem with it half of the time, as long as its meant for good and not to put stigma on it, then I am actually pretty neutral to it.

[MistyAndTwisty]

For all the people who wanna hate:

Well, unless they done the proper research, myself I have been studying disorders for years, since I wanna be one of thoose people who diagnose, so here is one tip: It's easier to get diagnosed from someone whit the disorder, since they experience it theirself, but if they have 2 out of 40 symptoms and self diagnose instatntly whitout even researching anything else, or other disorders that they have the symptoms of, and just say "oh, ye, I have bad memory, I must have ADHD" or, "oh, I'm childish, i must have austim" is not valid