Autistic
OCD
ADHD
and a whole load of others?
I know people will often (angrily) declare that you can't be 'a bit' autistic, OCD etc, they're very serious diagnoses, you either are or you aren't etc etc.
However
The diagnostic criteria are made up of lists of indicators. You fulfil a certain number of these, you get the diagnosis.
So if the diagnosis is based on fulfilling, say, 25 of the criteria, and you fulfil 20, would it not be fair enough to say you are 'more' autistic that someone who fulfils 5?
Is it not the nature of all spectrums, that everyone must fall somewhere on them?**
AIBU?
To think you actually *can* be a bit...
gringlewalden · 29/03/2024 10:47
MurderousCheekbones · 29/03/2024 10:49
Well it's a spectrum but no, not everyone is on it.
PandaCwtch · 29/03/2024 10:58
Although autism and AD(H)D are often described as being on a spectrum, OCD definitely isn't. It's obsessive compulsive disorder. The subject of people's obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviours will vary, but it is classed as an illness. The diagnosis is based on the fact that the uncontrollable compulsion (the behaviour - such as cleaning, counting things etc.) takes a significant proportion of time, and that doing it is resulting from obsessive thoughts. You either have the disorder or not. You can't be OCD, you have OCD. And you can't have a bit of a disorder.
Malibu12 · 29/03/2024 10:58
YABU
OCD for example...yes most people have obsessions and compulsions and intrusive thoughts, but what makes these things a disorder (the D bit of OCD) is when these things become completely debilitating.
So whilst you may have obsessions and compulsions, you most certainly don't have OCD or 'a bit of OCD'.
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gringlewalden · 29/03/2024 11:02
That's the thing though, surely you actually can have a bit of a disorder?
To use the alcoholic example someone used
You can need three glasses of wine every night and get very anxious if you can't
You can also drink 2 bottles vodka a day and be completely incapable of looking after yourself
Probably both alcoholic, one probably a 'bit more alcoholic'
Which is shorthand for more 'more adversely affected by the condition'
PandaCwtch · 29/03/2024 10:58
Although autism and AD(H)D are often described as being on a spectrum, OCD definitely isn't. It's obsessive compulsive disorder. The subject of people's obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviours will vary, but it is classed as an illness. The diagnosis is based on the fact that the uncontrollable compulsion (the behaviour - such as cleaning, counting things etc.) takes a significant proportion of time, and that doing it is resulting from obsessive thoughts. You either have the disorder or not. You can't be OCD, you have OCD. And you can't have a bit of a disorder.
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