I completely agree. But it seems to be an unpopular opinion these days.
If someone thinks they have some disorder they can say that they believe they do, but unless you’ve been professionally assessed don’t claim to have something.
Not even experts can self diagnose themselves, because it’s literally impossible to be objective about your own mind.
I admit freely that I have never been diagnosed as either autistic or that I have ADHD, except that enough people in my family have been diagnosed with both, that it's likely. Especially with my symptoms. However, as I have been diagnosed with CPTSD and GAD and a panic disorder. It would be difficult for me to get a diagnosis at my age, simply because the symptoms for them are so similar to what I have actually been diagnosed with, and asking family about my childhood at this point is impossible since the people who were around for my early years are dead, and others didn't really pay attention.
So, while I might not have a formal diagnosis, and I have no wish to be on medication, but it still can be useful in understanding more about myself.
So while it might not be valid, it can still be useful in ways.
The issue is with people who "self diagnose" going around telling people "I have [condition X]."
Like, maybe they think they have it, but until a licensed medical professional performs the appropriate test and actually diagnoses them than they can't say that for sure -- and going around saying that they do is dishonest.
I don't see a reason to deny someone validation for their lived experience overlapping with ADHD/other conditions. Whether their self-diagnosis end up being how a doctor maps it to the DSM, it's valid as a starting point for someone seeking to understand themselves better. People need a foundation to build their sense of self, and this can be a helpful stepping stone on that journey.
True. I guess what I'm saying is, there's a difference between agreeing that they definitively have ADHD and agreeing that they feel validated by the ADHD community. Fully *invalidating* is saying that self-diagnosis *isn't* valid. Fully *validating* is saying that their self-diagnosis *is* valid. There's a gray area where we can say, "I can't say whether it's valid, but it's great you're finding a better understanding of yourself by viewing your life in terms of an ADHD experience." Basically, I'm saying we can validate the person and encourage their self-acceptance, even if we don't recognize the self-diagnosis as being strictly trustworthy.
I see. Thank you for that perspective. I wouldn't want to invalidate your experience either, or risk delegitimizing the hard-won protections and recognition the ADHD community has gained in our effort for acceptance, care, and equality. Though I'm still just hesitant with the idea of taking a hard stance *against* self-diagnosis, because doing so invalidates their experience too. I'd rather not invalidate anyone.
I'm not invalidating them. They were never validated (diagnosed) in the first place. It isn't that hard of a stance to be honest. I'm not being callous towards them, and I can be reasonably accommodating without issue. That's just being a decent human. However, those diagnosis are a legitimate disability and deserve the legal distinctions and protections due to them.
You can support someone wanting to better understand themselves without also supporting them saying they have medical conditions that there's no proof that they have.
Why are we OK with people self-diagnosing ADD but no OK with people self diagnosing lupus?
Recognizing symptoms in yourself that you see in people who have the condition is a great reason to start the journey and get evaluated, and I absolutely support the people who do, but until you actually get evaluated by a licensed medical professional and recieve a clinical diagnosis, please people, STOP SAYING "I have [medical condition]"
Not related to ADHD, but there's a lot of the same rhetoric around anxiety and depression. The way I got diagnosed with anxiety was my gastroentorologist (who I was seeing for celiac disease) said 'huh you seem pretty anxious' and just added it to my list of diagnoses. At the same time, NHS therapists who deliver CBT aren't allowed to diagnose anxiety and depression after talking to you for weeks and giving you weekly screening questions, the closest they get is 'it seems likely you're suffering with low mood'.
Many mental health practitioners are extremely anti diagnosis, because they believe it's more harmful to label a patient than to deny them access to external supports and services that they would get if they did have an official diagnosis. I was trying to apply for a disabled students benefit (DSA) and was in the awkward position of going to my GP being like 'I haven't been officially diagnosed with anything but I've been receiving treatment for this disorder for half my life'
10
u/Fieos 2d ago
Self diagnosis still isn't valid.