Re: Pretenders To The Throne

[Guest guest]

Some are probably attracted (like hypochondriacs) to the latest condition.  Others are looking for a reason why they can't help their behavior/lack of responsibility.  Others want to be 'Special'  Others realize something is different about them and are afraid to find out what it really is so they label themselves but avoid the professional scrutiny.  And some recognize that like their already diagnosed relatives, they share many traits and have seen that a diagnosis sometimes creates a limitation in life goals (from outside sources).

Kathy J.On Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 9:46 PM, <FAMSecretSociety-owner > wrote:

 

Pretenders To The Throne

Why should we believe that 100% of those who are self-diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and who are acting as autism advocates and autism ambassadors actually have an Autism Spectrum Disorder? Studies show otherwise.

http://midnightinchicago.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/pretenders-to-the-throne/

[Guest guest]

Some are probably attracted (like hypochondriacs) to the latest condition.  Others are looking for a reason why they can't help their behavior/lack of responsibility.  Others want to be 'Special'  Others realize something is different about them and are afraid to find out what it really is so they label themselves but avoid the professional scrutiny.  And some recognize that like their already diagnosed relatives, they share many traits and have seen that a diagnosis sometimes creates a limitation in life goals (from outside sources).

Kathy J.On Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 9:46 PM, <FAMSecretSociety-owner > wrote:

 

Pretenders To The Throne

Why should we believe that 100% of those who are self-diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and who are acting as autism advocates and autism ambassadors actually have an Autism Spectrum Disorder? Studies show otherwise.

http://midnightinchicago.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/pretenders-to-the-throne/

[Guest guest]

Some are probably attracted (like hypochondriacs) to the latest condition. Others are looking for a reason why they can't help their behavior/lack of responsibility. Others want to be 'Special' Others realize something is different about them and are afraid to find out what it really is so they label themselves but avoid the professional scrutiny. And some recognize that like their already diagnosed relatives, they share many traits and have seen that a diagnosis sometimes creates a limitation in life goals (from outside sources).Kathy J.

All good opinions.

I believe it is possible to make an accurate self-diagnosis. My own issue would be that when self-diagnosed people are advocating for the autistic community, they may not always do what's best for autistics because, if they don't have autism, they don't know what autistics need.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

Some are probably attracted (like hypochondriacs) to the latest condition. Others are looking for a reason why they can't help their behavior/lack of responsibility. Others want to be 'Special' Others realize something is different about them and are afraid to find out what it really is so they label themselves but avoid the professional scrutiny. And some recognize that like their already diagnosed relatives, they share many traits and have seen that a diagnosis sometimes creates a limitation in life goals (from outside sources).Kathy J.

All good opinions.

I believe it is possible to make an accurate self-diagnosis. My own issue would be that when self-diagnosed people are advocating for the autistic community, they may not always do what's best for autistics because, if they don't have autism, they don't know what autistics need.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

wrote: " ... <snip> ... I believe it is possible to make an

accurate self-diagnosis ... <snip> ... "

Even doctors whose speciality is in a particular field of medicine will

seek out their colleagues for a diagnosis rather than self-diagnose if

they feel they may have a particular disorder, disease or difference.

The reason for this is because one is far too subjective when assessing

one's self even when qualified to do so.

I believe it's possible to make an accurate guess as to what one may

have and then to have a licensed and accredited medical practitioner

confirm one's suspicions and then diagnose the individual with the

suspected disorder, disease or difference.

For example, back in early 2008, I suspected that Cub might be

experiencing symptoms that are consistent with Myasthenia Gravis. I

knew enough about this rare disease which strikes 1 in 500,000 children

to suspect it was a possibility. His pediatrician knew nothing about MG

and his medical tome indicated that it was primarily a senior's disease

in males. When Cub was sent to the Hospital for Sick Children, the

doctors ran a number of tests and to humour me, they added the Tensilon

Challenge Test as one of the last tests run. Guess what? My guess was

accurate.

Did I diagnosed him? No. Did I point the doctors in a direction they

would not have gone in otherwise? Yes.

Ultimately, however, it was licensed and accredited medical

practitioners who diagnosed him. It was possible that, as Cub's mom, I

was projecting what I had seen in my brother decades early (my brother

had MG as a 12-year-old ... Cub's age at the time of diagnosis) onto my

child. It was also possible that, as an astute and alert parent, that I

was picking up signs of the disease that was, in the end, diagnosed.

Raven

Co-Administrator

[Guest guest]

" I believe it's possible to make an accurate guess as to what one may

have and then to have a licensed and accredited medical practitioner

confirm one's suspicions and then diagnose the individual with the

suspected disorder, disease or difference. "

A good point, and this is actually what I meant to say. Unless someone is an

actual physician, they literally cannot self-diagnose, they can only guess. And

even if one is a physician, objectivity is required, so they should go to

another physician to find out for sure what their diagnosis is.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

" I believe it's possible to make an accurate guess as to what one may

have and then to have a licensed and accredited medical practitioner

confirm one's suspicions and then diagnose the individual with the

suspected disorder, disease or difference. "

A good point, and this is actually what I meant to say. Unless someone is an

actual physician, they literally cannot self-diagnose, they can only guess. And

even if one is a physician, objectivity is required, so they should go to

another physician to find out for sure what their diagnosis is.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

Its one thing for people to do these quizzes and such and get an idea of the troubles they might be having and go see about a DX. Its another to do them and think they have AS or whatever and then use that as an excuse for bad behavior or, as is the point of this thread, pretend to speak for all with AS. The thing is each time one of them behaves badly and blames AS, everyone who witnesses it will associate AS with them. That makes it dangerous for people who really do have AS to announce that they do because folks will have that bad image in their mind.

Its just like how people used to associate any kind of Autism with "Rain Man." if you didn't act like the Rain Man, then you could possibly have anything like Autism so you were a liar.

In a message dated 4/29/2011 1:06:36 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

A good point, and this is actually what I meant to say. Unless someone is an actual physician, they literally cannot self-diagnose, they can only guess. And even if one is a physician, objectivity is required, so they should go to another physician to find out for sure what their diagnosis is. Administrator

[Guest guest]

Good points, , for us all to remember, whatever our 'differences' and physical states at certain times.When my doctor diagnosed me with 'summer seasonal affective disorder', and also being VERY weather sensitive; she prescribed meds for the seasonal affective disorder, suggested some lifestyle changes, and wisely stated that I needed to become aware of what was affecting me; example the strong west winds, and not use that as an excuse for bad behavior.rl 'My cat Rusty is a servant of the Living God....'adapted from a poem by SmartTo: FAMSecretSociety Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:43:26 AMSubject: Re: Re: Pretenders To The Throne

Its one thing for people to do these quizzes and such and get an idea of the troubles they might be having and go see about a DX. Its another to do them and think they have AS or whatever and then use that as an excuse for bad behavior or, as is the point of this thread, pretend to speak for all with AS. The thing is each time one of them behaves badly and blames AS, everyone who witnesses it will associate AS with them. That makes it dangerous for people who really do have AS to announce that they do because folks will have that bad image in their mind.

Its just like how people used to associate any kind of Autism with "Rain Man." if you didn't act like the Rain Man, then you could possibly have anything like Autism so you were a liar.

In a message dated 4/29/2011 1:06:36 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

A good point, and this is actually what I meant to say. Unless someone is an actual physician, they literally cannot self-diagnose, they can only guess. And even if one is a physician, objectivity is required, so they should go to another physician to find out for sure what their diagnosis is. Administrator

[Guest guest]

' My own issue would be that when self-diagnosed people are advocating for the

autistic community, they may not always do what's best for autistics because, if

they don't have autism, they don't know what autistics need.'

Personally I don't necessarily think even those who are diagnosed always know

what is best for others. People are different and while there may be some areas

in common, what works for one may not work for another, so blanket

ideas/statements, etc are unlikely to be applicable.

If one is going to advocate for either another or others it would be best to do

a lot of research finding out what it is that would be truly useful and

beneficial for said people, not just making assumptions.

>

>

> Some are probably attracted (like hypochondriacs) to the latest

> condition. Others are looking for a reason why they can't help their

> behavior/lack of responsibility. Others want to be 'Special' Others

> realize something is different about them and are afraid to find out

> what it really is so they label themselves but avoid the professional

> scrutiny. And some recognize that like their already diagnosed

> relatives, they share many traits and have seen that a diagnosis

> sometimes creates a limitation in life goals (from outside sources).

>

> Kathy J.

>

>

> All good opinions.

>

> I believe it is possible to make an accurate self-diagnosis. My own

> issue would be that when self-diagnosed people are advocating for the

> autistic community, they may not always do what's best for autistics

> because, if they don't have autism, they don't know what autistics need.

>

>

>

> Administrator

>