The Benefit of Diagnosis…
I would argue that most mental health professionals would read that title and continue scrolling, myself included, usually. However, I encourage you to stick with me because it’s not exactly what it seems. Providing diagnoses is often the worst part of our job for a several reasons. First, because insurances require them in the first visit for reimbursement. Frankly, that is just not realistic because it can take years to accurately identify what is going on with someone. Also, that pressure is likely what leads to the ridiculous trail of diagnoses that those who seek services often end up with, because all professionals have a lens through which they view the world and few of us see things the same way. After all, we are talking about humans diagnosing humans and what we’re diagnosing is the human brain and well that is a complex organ.
So, what’s with the title?? Well recently I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1. Now I imagine you’re wondering why I’m excited about that…that’s a fair thing to wonder so let me explain. My entire life I’ve felt like I was putting together a 700 piece puzzle (or as a friend joked more like 1000 piece) without the picture to guide me. I spent a lot of time not really fitting in, struggling with all kinds of medical issues, and just generally not understanding what I had done in a past life to deserve all these different struggles. Then a few weeks ago someone handed me the photo that went with my puzzle (i.e. my diagnosis) and suddenly all the pieces went together and my whole existence made sense. Does it matter that I’m autistic? Not really, literally changes nothing about me…what it does do is so much greater than that. It helps me understand who I am so that for the first time in my life I can fully embrace her.
I learned that my love of school and my above average IQ are correlated with my autism. I learned that my MTHFR gene mutations are common with 98% of people who fall on the autism spectrum. I learned that my gluten allergy and other struggles with my digestive health are very common in those who are autistic as well. I learned that my sensory issues I’ve had my whole life are issues that many other autistic people struggle with as well. I learned that autism presents in women not in the tell-tale male ways (which are currently the ways we evaluate for autism) but rather in our own unique ways. For example, I am highly sensitive and have so much emotional empathy I could fill a room…this is not a common trait in men/boys who are autistic often they struggle with empathy, but for women it is common. My passion for planning and structure are also part of being autistic. Ultimately, all the things that make me, me are also attributed to the fact that I am autistic.
There obviously are many other things that go along with this but the bigger point here is that diagnoses should not be seen as “labels” or a definition of who we are but rather a road map to self-exploration and understanding. Again, me being autistic doesn’t change anything but what it does, is helps me understand the diverse brain I was blessed with so that I don’t feel like I have to fill some set of shoes I don’t fit in. It also validates my existence and tells me that I’m not weird, I’m unique and that is awesome. It also has helped me find others like me that I can relate to easier. Ultimately, it helped me identify my super powers and now I intend to use them to their full potential.
Is this everyone’s experience with being given a diagnosis?? Nope. Sure isn’t and I think a lot of that has to do with how that information is presented. Especially for those who feel “broken”. In that scenario a diagnosis can feel like a “here’s why you’ll be broken forever” sort of thing. So, I encourage all my clients and all of you not to focus on the “label” but rather on the information that provides you and then see where you feel like that fits. I can say from my own experience that I felt completely different when I was told I had PTSD, that diagnosis felt like a permanent parting gift from my abuse and I wasn’t even remotely okay with it. So, I got into this field so that I could show others with PTSD that that doesn’t have to be a permanent place to land, but rather, again, a roadmap on learning skills to cope with your experience. Autism differs from my PTSD diagnosis because Autism isn’t caused by some lived experience or something I did…it’s literally how I’m wired…however the outcome is the same, it is merely a roadmap to understanding myself better.
I also feel excited about this diagnosis because most of us (even in this field) know very little about autism. Had I not had someone bring to my attention that things I was describing could mean I was on the spectrum, I would have continued to walk in ignorance and continued to struggle myself but bigger than that I would have missed the opportunity to help others identify their unique qualities and how to best embrace them. I am hopeful that I will be able to impact the lives of several of my clients and those who follow my writing/page by having the awareness I have now and that I’ll be able to raise awareness on what it really means to be on the human spectrum that is autism.
If you’re curious about any of this information please don’t hesitate to comment below or contact me through my website or social media! I’m happy to help however I can or point you in the right direction for a professional who might be able to help in your area (if you’re not in Colorado).
