slate "journalist" diagnoses herself as autistic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because there is no cost to her. She has relationships, a HARVARD education, kids, a job. Now if she had been labeled as autistic as a child, there could have been a huge cost to her.

But without an actual professional evaluating her, she really has no business spouting this opinion.

She has an autistic kid. It helps her kid for her to come out. It helps your kid too.

Also, I don't think you're aware of what it looks like for an adult to be diagnosed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because there is no cost to her. She has relationships, a HARVARD education, kids, a job. Now if she had been labeled as autistic as a child, there could have been a huge cost to her.

But without an actual professional evaluating her, she really has no business spouting this opinion.

She has an autistic kid. It helps her kid for her to come out. It helps your kid too.

Also, I don't think you're aware of what it looks like for an adult to be diagnosed.

Well maybe I would be, if she had even attempted to actually get herself diagnosed. Anyway, I asked Jeff to delete this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because there is no cost to her. She has relationships, a HARVARD education, kids, a job. Now if she had been labeled as autistic as a child, there could have been a huge cost to her.

But without an actual professional evaluating her, she really has no business spouting this opinion.

She has an autistic kid. It helps her kid for her to come out. It helps your kid too.

Also, I don't think you're aware of what it looks like for an adult to be diagnosed.

Well maybe I would be, if she had even attempted to actually get herself diagnosed. Anyway, I asked Jeff to delete this thread.

Are you the OP? Why would you ask for the thread to be deleted?

[Anonymous]

DP, but I have trouble understanding your perspective too. If she goes out and gets a diagnosis tomorrow, will you be satisfied? It does not sound as if her childhood was easy, even if she was able to get into Harvard. I agree with PPs that once your kid gets a diagnosis—as hers did—you are much more likely to take a closer look at yourself, and that’s true whether the diagnosis is autism, ADHD, lupus, or whatever else.

[Anonymous]

OP, shame on you.

As an adult with HFA who has learned to mask pretty effectively- this really pisses me off.
The only thing worse than growing up in a great state of constant depression and confusion is having people now scoff at the idea.
And no, I'm not going to rattle off reasons who I can diagnose myself in order to satisfy you. Because its none of your business.
Afe you one of those who doesn't believe women who've been harassed, raped, assaulted because no one else witnessed it??

[Anonymous]

OP, do you feel the same if someone writes about having depression (without having had a psychiatrist diagnose them)?

[Anonymous]

PS: or anxiety?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because there is no cost to her. She has relationships, a HARVARD education, kids, a job. Now if she had been labeled as autistic as a child, there could have been a huge cost to her.

But without an actual professional evaluating her, she really has no business spouting this opinion.

It’s just really weird that you think the writer has something to gain by doing this. Or, more troubling, that you seem to think she is taking something FROM you.

You have a very peculiar view of the world, pp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why the eye-roll?

You think people with ADHD, autism, anxiety or depression cannot recognize their symptoms?

I think the idea that a woman with access to health care is going to self-diagnose autism and write about it as an attention-getting mechanism is absurd, yes, considering all we do here to get effective diagnoses professionally for our kids. Autism is not being a "weird kid" or feeling awkward.

No. I spent lots of money to confirm ADHD in my son for school support, but we know he’s also Aspie and will not pay for a diagnosis, since it won’t get him more help. I can well imagine this person doing the same. She’s an adult. She found an interesting thing to write about. A formal diagnosis won’t change much.

The point is she likely has NO diagnosis. She as a personality that she's decided to call "autism" because it provides some kind of reward for her to do so. Likewise, you don't "know" your son is autistic, because you haven't had him tested. I have no issue with you not pursuing testing, but if this stuff means anything, it's got to be based on actual science, not how you "feel." Next thing we know anyone will be able to self-identify as autistic because they feel like it.

Actually my husband and I are doctors and research scientists (but not psychologists), and we do have an excellent idea of what’s likely to be clinical or not.

My point is that those disorders are on a spectrum, and I tend to trust intelligent adults to recognize their own symptoms. She may be clinical or subclinical in her presentation, but there is no reason to disbelieve her if she thinks she has symptoms.

It’s not a good look to roll your eyes at others’ experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why the eye-roll?

You think people with ADHD, autism, anxiety or depression cannot recognize their symptoms?

I think the idea that a woman with access to health care is going to self-diagnose autism and write about it as an attention-getting mechanism is absurd, yes, considering all we do here to get effective diagnoses professionally for our kids. Autism is not being a "weird kid" or feeling awkward.

No. I spent lots of money to confirm ADHD in my son for school support, but we know he’s also Aspie and will not pay for a diagnosis, since it won’t get him more help. I can well imagine this person doing the same. She’s an adult. She found an interesting thing to write about. A formal diagnosis won’t change much.

The point is she likely has NO diagnosis. She as a personality that she's decided to call "autism" because it provides some kind of reward for her to do so. Likewise, you don't "know" your son is autistic, because you haven't had him tested. I have no issue with you not pursuing testing, but if this stuff means anything, it's got to be based on actual science, not how you "feel." Next thing we know anyone will be able to self-identify as autistic because they feel like it.

But why would anyone do that? It’s not some virtue or something. I mean, really, there is a STIGMA around it so why would anyone want to casually embrace the “diagnosis?”

Because there is a ton of wokness points and victimization kudos around having a "diagnosis". It’s big money. Lots of clicks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why the eye-roll?

You think people with ADHD, autism, anxiety or depression cannot recognize their symptoms?

I think the idea that a woman with access to health care is going to self-diagnose autism and write about it as an attention-getting mechanism is absurd, yes, considering all we do here to get effective diagnoses professionally for our kids. Autism is not being a "weird kid" or feeling awkward.

No. I spent lots of money to confirm ADHD in my son for school support, but we know he’s also Aspie and will not pay for a diagnosis, since it won’t get him more help. I can well imagine this person doing the same. She’s an adult. She found an interesting thing to write about. A formal diagnosis won’t change much.

The point is she likely has NO diagnosis. She as a personality that she's decided to call "autism" because it provides some kind of reward for her to do so. Likewise, you don't "know" your son is autistic, because you haven't had him tested. I have no issue with you not pursuing testing, but if this stuff means anything, it's got to be based on actual science, not how you "feel." Next thing we know anyone will be able to self-identify as autistic because they feel like it.

But why would anyone do that? It’s not some virtue or something. I mean, really, there is a STIGMA around it so why would anyone want to casually embrace the “diagnosis?”

Because there is a ton of wokness points and victimization kudos around having a "diagnosis". It’s big money. Lots of clicks.

Somehow I don't think a short article about how she ate paper as a kid is going to make her career. But I wish her well anyway, because my kid eats paper and it's good to have things pad your resume with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you feel the same if someone writes about having depression (without having had a psychiatrist diagnose them)?

If someone claimed they had clinical depression and never sought therapy for it — which would entail a diagnosis — yes, I would feel the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why the eye-roll?

You think people with ADHD, autism, anxiety or depression cannot recognize their symptoms?

I think the idea that a woman with access to health care is going to self-diagnose autism and write about it as an attention-getting mechanism is absurd, yes, considering all we do here to get effective diagnoses professionally for our kids. Autism is not being a "weird kid" or feeling awkward.

No. I spent lots of money to confirm ADHD in my son for school support, but we know he’s also Aspie and will not pay for a diagnosis, since it won’t get him more help. I can well imagine this person doing the same. She’s an adult. She found an interesting thing to write about. A formal diagnosis won’t change much.

The point is she likely has NO diagnosis. She as a personality that she's decided to call "autism" because it provides some kind of reward for her to do so. Likewise, you don't "know" your son is autistic, because you haven't had him tested. I have no issue with you not pursuing testing, but if this stuff means anything, it's got to be based on actual science, not how you "feel." Next thing we know anyone will be able to self-identify as autistic because they feel like it.

Actually my husband and I are doctors and research scientists (but not psychologists), and we do have an excellent idea of what’s likely to be clinical or not.

My point is that those disorders are on a spectrum, and I tend to trust intelligent adults to recognize their own symptoms. She may be clinical or subclinical in her presentation, but there is no reason to disbelieve her if she thinks she has symptoms.

It’s not a good look to roll your eyes at others’ experiences.

Right ... it’s so hard for doctors to diagnose, yet easy for people to self-diagnose? The ONLY way that makes sense is if autism is now a trendy identity (in some circles) based in part on a belief that the medical establishment is discriminating against them. That pisses me off because it muddles up a lot of stuff for people conscientiously trying to understand and access care for their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why the eye-roll?

You think people with ADHD, autism, anxiety or depression cannot recognize their symptoms?

I think the idea that a woman with access to health care is going to self-diagnose autism and write about it as an attention-getting mechanism is absurd, yes, considering all we do here to get effective diagnoses professionally for our kids. Autism is not being a "weird kid" or feeling awkward.

No. I spent lots of money to confirm ADHD in my son for school support, but we know he’s also Aspie and will not pay for a diagnosis, since it won’t get him more help. I can well imagine this person doing the same. She’s an adult. She found an interesting thing to write about. A formal diagnosis won’t change much.

The point is she likely has NO diagnosis. She as a personality that she's decided to call "autism" because it provides some kind of reward for her to do so. Likewise, you don't "know" your son is autistic, because you haven't had him tested. I have no issue with you not pursuing testing, but if this stuff means anything, it's got to be based on actual science, not how you "feel." Next thing we know anyone will be able to self-identify as autistic because they feel like it.

Actually my husband and I are doctors and research scientists (but not psychologists), and we do have an excellent idea of what’s likely to be clinical or not.

My point is that those disorders are on a spectrum, and I tend to trust intelligent adults to recognize their own symptoms. She may be clinical or subclinical in her presentation, but there is no reason to disbelieve her if she thinks she has symptoms.

It’s not a good look to roll your eyes at others’ experiences.

Right ... it’s so hard for doctors to diagnose, yet easy for people to self-diagnose? The ONLY way that makes sense is if autism is now a trendy identity (in some circles) based in part on a belief that the medical establishment is discriminating against them. That pisses me off because it muddles up a lot of stuff for people conscientiously trying to understand and access care for their kids.

It doesn't do that, no. Although it's pretty clear that you think that it does, somehow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, shame on you.

As an adult with HFA who has learned to mask pretty effectively- this really pisses me off.
The only thing worse than growing up in a great state of constant depression and confusion is having people now scoff at the idea.
And no, I'm not going to rattle off reasons who I can diagnose myself in order to satisfy you. Because its none of your business.
Afe you one of those who doesn't believe women who've been harassed, raped, assaulted because no one else witnessed it??

I’m not scoffing at the idea an adult could have undiagnosed autism. I‘m scoffing at the idea of self-diagnosing with no attempt to actually get professionally diagnosed. If you believe you have autism yet refuse to try to access any services, claim that all the doctors are out to get you, or it’s just a neurodivergent personality and you don’t need anything ... then yeah, big eyeroll from me.