Not so gentle fucking reminder that the groups that self-diagnosis is most common in are as follows:
– People living in poverty without access to medical care.
– Minors with parents who refuse to give them access to a doctor.
– Abuse victims who can’t see a doctor because their every move is being tracked.
– PoC who have faced discrimination from doctors or an inability to find doctors of color who would better understand their needs.
– Disabled people who don’t have access to the means necessary to see a doctor.
– Mentally ill people whose mental illness directly interferes with their ability to see a doctor.
And that the most common reason for self-diagnosis is a person’s desire to better understand themselves and their symptoms and find support and community.
And honestly, if you’re against that, you’re a seriously shitty person.
Also most people who self diagnose, in my experience, would jump at the chance of affordable, safe, adequate medical care that they could access without it having negative repercussions bc of abuse or other reasons. They would seek out a diagnosis if it was at all possible, but more often than not? It isn’t
Yes, exactly.
Overwhelmingly the people who do have access to doctors for a professional diagnosis seek it rather than self-diagnose. Or self-diagnose and then seek a professional opinion to confirm after.
Self-diagnosis is most common in people who literally do not have access (or at least easy access) to a professional.
Also fat people who don’t want to deal with the trauma of all their problems being blamed on their size and the only solution offered being weight loss.
A+ addition.
Don’t forget poor adults with autism. The test for adults is like never covered by insurance and is like $300.
And if you’re AFAB/a girl you’re less likely to be diagnosed.
$300? Try $2000, at least in my area. I’ve looked into it. And no, it’s not covered under Canada’s much-touted single payer systems, either, at least not Nova Scotia’s.
– People who could loose their job because their diagnosis is stigmatized
– Trans people who risk not being able to transition or have their transness doubted if they were to receive a diagnosis
– Chronically ill and disabled people who will have their illness doubted if they were to receive a diagnosis
– Some illnesses have symptoms that prevent you from seeking out treatment, *cough cough* schizo-spec and psychotic people, for example, may have paranoia or delusions in regards to doctors, therapists and hospitals.
– Sometimes, there’s no point in seeking a professional. For example, Cluster A personality disorders have no “cure” or “treatment”. It’d be useless to pay money to see someone and receive a diagnosis when one can easily read the DSM online, as well as talk to people online and compare symptoms.
– Living in a religious area where neurodivergence is seen as “Devil’s work”/”demon possession”/”not loving G*d enough”/”punishment for sin”/etc. Not only is it difficult living in a highly ableist and stigmatized environment, but it van lead to internalized hatred/ableism as well. And gaslighting, in a way.
– Sometimes its a mix of multiple points made on this thread.
– People who are concerned about custody issues because they have kids & parents have had their kids taken away from them due to developmental disabilities.
People who literally ask for diagnosis and the request is ignored due to preconceptions about what people “like that” “are like”.
People who go in for testing thinking this is part of what they’re being tested for, and it’s not even in the battery.
People who have gone to doctors seeking a diagnosis, but have not received accurate diagnostic tests and/or procedures. And are tried of wrestling with the system over it.
Published
Thoughtfulfangirling 