Official Diagnosis vs Self-diagnosis

There's a lot of discussion amongst the autistic and neurotypical communities alike about the importance - or otherwise - of receiving an official diagnosis of autism.

For non-autistic people who uses public forums to complain about an 'epidemic' of autism diagnoses and view self-diagnosed autistic people as 'woke snowflakes' who need to stop whining and get over themselves, a self-diagnosis will never be regarded as valid. But these people are about as well-informed and worthy of your attention as those who believe autism is caused by vaccines, or Elon Musk.

I received my official diagnosis last month. Rather than experiencing any sense of validation, however, it was - as I suspect is the case for most people who go through this process - simply a matter of confirming the truth of something I already knew.

Aisling (the lovely woman who conducted the three detailed sessions my autism assessment entailed) told me that the vast majority of people who approach her for an official diagnosis are in a similar position. An autism assessment is a thorough and at times a difficult process - and unless you're fortunate enough to live somewhere with excellent public health supports, it is also expensive or requires a lengthy waiting period, likely to be measured in months if not in years. It is not something you sign up for if you feel uncertain of who you really are.

I knew I was autistic before I received my official diagnosis. And yes, it was a relief to have that fact confirmed by a medical practitioner. But I didn't need it. And it certainly hasn't made me view people with a self-diagnosis any differently.

We are the same; it's just that I now have a piece of paper to confirm that.