I ask this because of the cost. I am willing to pay for an assessment in the lower end of the high cost range which assessments typical have. However, I want to know what it would do for me, if I already have enough evidence showing I’m autistic? I want a therapist who can help me with struggles relevant to being autistic. But I don’t know what an assessment would actually give me? I can see it potentially giving me access to a good therapist who specialises in autism. But can I do that without an assessment?
For those of you who are diagnosed, what has it done for you? Did it make any meaningful difference in your situation?
While there is no medicine for autism itself, there are certain medications that help to better cope with the symptoms to improve one’s overall quality of life (antidepressants, stimulants, anti-anxiety stuff) and if you’re not officially diagnosed by a qualified doctor, you might not be able to get those. The same for certain state & federal services, access to specialized therapy etc. which - bluntly speaking - do not care about self-diagnosed conclusions, no matter how accurate. For most things that involve any form of bureaucracy, you need something “official”.
That being said; if you happen to currently not need / want anything “locked” behind an official assessment (like finding a therapist that you’re comfortable with who does not want to see a prior diagnosis), and the cost is so much of an issue that you would need to decide between getting assessed and getting bankrupt, then it is probably better to wait a little longer.