Why do autists want a PD instead?

I don't understand why some people on this forum, and all over the internet, do this - diagnosing themselves with a personality disorder (or DID for example) when it's extremely obvious they're just autistic or at least that's their main issue. I'm not talking about people who haven't researched mental illness a lot and are simply ignorant on the subject, it happens, but the ones that must have had a bunch of people suggest them they're wrong, yet instead of researching more they feel insulted by this even if they're told in a constructive way, or actually even deny their official diagnosis of autism.

A different diagnosis obviously doesn't make them a different person so they're still autistic. Telling others (online) they have a different diagnosis than they do only makes them look like an idiot when said others in this case inevitably find out because of their lack of social skills or difficulties they would have if the diagnosis they pretend to have is true, but don't. But this doesn't stop them and neither does age, which would suggest more life experience and more opportunities for criticism.

I can't imagine lack of self-awareness is the problem here so denial must be involved, but why? Anyone with a theory on this please let me know.

To add to the confusion a psychopath would probably fake autism to get a reduced sentence and mercy from the court system. In fact they were know to fake mental illness to do their time in a hospital that’s why Cleckley and Hare did their research.

Also Autism and PDs get misdiagnosed all the time, so it wouldn’t surprise me that a lot of people here have been misdiagnosed including myself.

Also something like Aspergers could easily get confused with NPD as being blunt and dismissive because they lack the social nuances may come off as being arrogant. And just as easily confused with BPD as well. Take someone who commits a serious crime now they could be diagnosed ASPD. Happened to caspin if I’m not mistaken

cinnamoncookie wrote:I don't understand why some people on this forum, and all over the internet, do this - diagnosing themselves with a personality disorder (or DID for example) when it's extremely obvious they're just autistic or at least that's their main issue. I'm not talking about people who haven't researched mental illness a lot and are simply ignorant on the subject, it happens, but the ones that must have had a bunch of people suggest them they're wrong, yet instead of researching more they feel insulted by this even if they're told in a constructive way, or actually even deny their official diagnosis of autism.

How do you know for certain they self-diagnosed? Did they tell you that or did you just assume it?

A bunch of people online could tell you you have any disorder under the sun. Does that make it true? My point is, most people online are not in a position to say what anyone really is or has because they're not qualified to do so.

A different diagnosis obviously doesn't make them a different person so they're still autistic. Telling others (online) they have a different diagnosis than they do only makes them look like an idiot

If a doctor or psychologist they've seen didn't diagnose them with autism, who are you to say they have it? Sometimes how someone acts online isn't truly representative of how they are in real life (and I don't mean because they're faking anything or delusional).

Of course people can be misdiagnosed, but I don't think that's really for any of us to determine since we weren't at those therapy sessions and don't have all the information.

I can't imagine lack of self-awareness is the problem here so denial must be involved, but why? Anyone with a theory on this please let me know.

Either your perception of them is off because you're not seeing the full picture or what you're saying is accurate and they're lacking in self-awareness. Denial could be possible as well, though why they would be in denial over it is anybody's guess. I don't think there's any shame in autism, yet it's often used an insult. While I can't personally relate to the disorder, I've known some pretty cool people who have it.

I was just contemplating the number of times someone here has called be autistic.

People pretending to be, or identifying with, something they are not, is the way of the world.

I suspect a large part of the aspies behaviour has to do with the fact that autism is commonly perceived purely as a weakness unless there is some kind of savantism involved. By contrast psychopathy and sociopathy are both often viewed in a positive, or at least strong, way.

My suspicion is that it’s firstly a way of gaining a positive self image and secondly a persona which allows them to express their bile and resentment for a world which excludes them, in a way they could not do as themselves.

I often claimed to have bipolar when I was younger (15-21ish) to excuse my own irrational behaviour. I’ve used autism as a smoke shield for interpersonal f*ck-ups, used anxiety disorders to get myself out doing activities I didn’t want to do. On one occasion I used schizophrenia to explain why an entire tissue of whoppers I’d told someone had turned out not to be true and a couple of times I claimed to be a psychopath to alter the dynamic of a sexual relationship. It is what it is. Given some of the nutty self image stuff I’ve had other people tell me, I’m of the opinion that the only real difference between my bullsh*t and theirs was that I knew I was lying.

Generally the people pretending to be something they’re not don’t bother me unless they start trying to bend the nature of whatever they fancy themselves to be to fit them or start using themselves as it’s archetype.

i don't have autism or aspd. nor do i want either. there's a possibility i have a schizophrenia spectrum disorder though. and i think that makes me cool enough.

Perhaps they believe ASPD is cooler than autism, which makes them feel like a loser.
When I think of autism, the first image I picture is of an obese man living in his parent’s home who can’t hold a steady job nor focus on anything except for anime and video games. He probably wanks to hentai while scarfing pizza.
Is that whatsoever true? No, but that’s society’s regard of it.
What about ASPD?
You assume a couldn’t-care-less badass sociopathic demeanour. People associate the term “sociopath” with people like Dexter and Sherlock Holmes, or serial killers such as Ted Bundy. All the negative aspects of the disorder are pushed to the side and it’s just evaluated as making one distant in a way that makes them mysterious... to mentally unhealthy people, that is.
Is that one whatsoever true either? Well, not for most people with ASPD. However, you can see the difference in appeal.

I've been diagnosed with Aspergers, BPD and ADHD. I'd rather have none thank you very much.

But in answer to the question, maybe it because they don't want to be seen as disabled or retarded or maybe they believe they have been misdiagnosed.

The grass is always greener, so I've heard.

Most of them would have gone through school being bullied, to the point that they would hate being autistic. Then they discover psychopaths / AsPD, who share a similar bunch of qualities, if you don't look too closely.

Now they have a condition that makes them dangerous, not weak; capable, at least in their minds, to exact guiltless revenge on those who tormented them.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was a similar story, where her creation wanted to be accepted but found only ridicule and hate. As he couldn't engender acceptance and love, took the second prize option and created fear and control.

The danger to the individual, is that when all you have is a hammer, every job looks like a nail. They wish to convince themselves of the new 'diagnosis' and so hover around here being all dangerous and stuff and eventually they'll 'see' that they were right, because they're beginning to mould their behaviour to the symptoms, which will eventually f*ck them up more.

IDoNotExist wrote:People associate the term “sociopath” with people like Dexter and Sherlock Holmes, or serial killers such as Ted Bundy. All the negative aspects of the disorder are pushed to the side and it’s just evaluated as making one distant in a way that makes them mysterious... to mentally unhealthy people, that is.

Agreed. If they portrayed Sherlock Holmes as autistic or with Aspergers (or with bi-polar or any other condition for that matter), they'd not only be seen as less interesting but they'd have to be a lot more careful how they were portrayed.

Portray a person with autism who behaves in a more TV-worthy manner and you'll have every autism action group criticising the series for its portrayal. However, call them a psychopath and no one cares, because it's not a represented condition.

The TV series The Good Doctor tries hard to create an authentic autistic doctor, although it's a bit strained. They try hard to show the negatives rather than just the positives but he still 'wins' in the end. Will it last? Probably not, because autism is understood and there's no real mystery behind it.