Book Review
Title: I Think I Might Be Autistic: A Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis and Self-Discovery for Adults by Cynthia Kim
Genre: Non-Fiction, Mental Health
Rating: 3.5 Stars
This book is written by an autistic author so a lot of the advice comes from personal experience rather than professional learning. As Kim laid out in the introduction, when she was attempting to get discovered with autism she realised how little of the information was aimed at adults and how tough it was to be taken seriously as an adult wanting a diagnosis. This book is an attempt to bring that information to people and give them the tools to self-diagnosis if that is what they wish.
The first two chapters just introduce us to the language and definitions that are going to be used throughout the book which was useful. However, the best piece of information presented is breaking down the DSM diagnostic criteria into understandable language which really helped me grasp what sections you have to meet for an official diagnosis. Kim’s writing is really easy to understand and how she explains things makes it clear she’s done a lot of research and gone through these same events herself.
Kim runs through the process of self-diagnosis including what things you should research and what things you should reflect on. She also encourages taking your time and thinking every step over before proceeding to the next one which is a great piece of advice. She also provides a lot of resources for people on the US as that is where she is based. For myself, I live in the UK so this didn’t apply to me but it was interesting to see the differences and similarities in mental health care between countries.
Kim then goes through the actual process of the diagnosis, from the various tests she took, how she felt about them and what they designed to look for. These were really interesting and most likely, the most interesting part of the book for me as there isn’t too much detailed information on the assessments you would undergo if you have a ASD or ADHD assessment. Obviously, this is very US centric so there are tons of elements that Kim discusses that don’t apply to me living in a different country with a drastically different healthcare system but I still really enjoyed her personal experience as someone in their 40s looking for an official diagnosis. I also really apricate how she endorsed self-diagnosis as not everyone has the money, time or inclination to want a formal diagnosis and she validates this as an acceptable way of finding out you are autistic as long as you have put in the research.
Kim concludes the book by touching on what happens after the diagnosis, how to come to terms with this new label on your identity and how to disclose if you choose to do so. Disclosure was an area that many people I know were unsure of, meaning they were unsure as to whether they should disclose their autism to friends, family or work. Kim explains that this is an individual decision but urges people to disclose early if you know you are going to need support or adjustment in school or work rather than waiting until you are on the verge of breakdown. Overall, I felt this book had some very interesting things to say but it didn’t really do anything new for me which is the reason for the 3.5 rating.
Buy it here:
Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
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