advertisement
Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
LundiHvalursson
Member
LundiHvalursson has no updates.
 
Member Since: Sep 2019
Location: California, USA
Posts: 129
3 yr Member
Default Nov 10, 2019 at 03:43 AM
  #1
I am an American who plans to move to a European country permanently to live. My mother found out this year that she has Asperger's, and after I heard about her condition and reading about it myself, I became alarmed because I have all of her symptoms, except to a more severe degree.

As someone who studied in university in the UK, I am aware of the vast amount of paperwork and bureaucracy, as well as the amount of private information about health records that need to be submitted to the immigration department of foreign countries when applying for a residence visa.

So I am wondering if it is advisable to avoid formal diagnoses of anything related to ASD, especially because in many countries it is considered a disability. And many first-world countries do not want applicants with health problems, much less a chronic mental "disability", even if they only have Asperger's, i.e. high-functioning autism.

Or if people who have had formal diagnoses try to tell the psychologists not to put this on their official health records?
LundiHvalursson is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Lilly2

advertisement
Lilly2
Account Suspended
Lilly2 T
 
Member Since: Oct 2019
Location: You'll never know
Posts: 940
3 yr Member
3,785 hugs
given
Default Nov 10, 2019 at 05:59 PM
  #2
I would avoid it, but that is just me. None of my records are that confidential. If you can find alternative ways to get support for your condition, that would work best. Also, see about your being able to get help after you have obtained permanent status in another country. You could also consider dual citizenship, too. Find out what those requirements all entail. If you need help, get it. But if it is something you can manage without a formal dx, that sounds like the safest way to go.
Lilly2 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Lilly2
Account Suspended
Lilly2 T
 
Member Since: Oct 2019
Location: You'll never know
Posts: 940
3 yr Member
3,785 hugs
given
Default Nov 10, 2019 at 06:02 PM
  #3
Psychologists will still put it on their records. Especially if you use a healthcare insurance company to pay for it. If you can afford out of pocket and seeing a therapist who will maintain confidentiality, and if the psychologist cannot be legally required to state your conditions to immigration in the other country, then that might work, too.
Lilly2 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Lilly2
Account Suspended
Lilly2 T
 
Member Since: Oct 2019
Location: You'll never know
Posts: 940
3 yr Member
3,785 hugs
given
Default Nov 10, 2019 at 06:03 PM
  #4
You may find that you do not have that diagnosis, also.
Lilly2 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
LundiHvalursson
Member
LundiHvalursson has no updates.
 
Member Since: Sep 2019
Location: California, USA
Posts: 129
3 yr Member
Default Nov 10, 2019 at 11:19 PM
  #5
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilly2 View Post
I would avoid it, but that is just me. None of my records are that confidential. If you can find alternative ways to get support for your condition, that would work best. Also, see about your being able to get help after you have obtained permanent status in another country. You could also consider dual citizenship, too. Find out what those requirements all entail. If you need help, get it. But if it is something you can manage without a formal dx, that sounds like the safest way to go.
I was thinking of avoiding it, and most likely will now. It is not like I could get a diagnosis, since my health insurance is so poor (no pun intended) that it does not cover mental health things like that. Of course in Europe I would not have to pay ridiculous sums of money if I ever wanted a diagnosis anyway, but that is another story…

I am particularly focussing on countries with dual citizenship allowed. That means no Spain and no Germany. My first and second picks are Portugal and Italy.
LundiHvalursson is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Lilly2
LundiHvalursson
Member
LundiHvalursson has no updates.
 
Member Since: Sep 2019
Location: California, USA
Posts: 129
3 yr Member
Default Nov 10, 2019 at 11:22 PM
  #6
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilly2 View Post
You may find that you do not have that diagnosis, also.
I would hope that, but based on my past experiences and symptoms, I think that there is a greater chance that I win the lottery than my not having the disorder.
LundiHvalursson is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Lilly2
Lilly2
Account Suspended
Lilly2 T
 
Member Since: Oct 2019
Location: You'll never know
Posts: 940
3 yr Member
3,785 hugs
given
Default Nov 11, 2019 at 10:38 AM
  #7
Is it possible for you to gain dual citizenship first and then after that get diagnosed and treated? Would that risk their rescinding of your dual citizenship?
Lilly2 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
LundiHvalursson
Member
LundiHvalursson has no updates.
 
Member Since: Sep 2019
Location: California, USA
Posts: 129
3 yr Member
Default Nov 11, 2019 at 04:59 PM
  #8
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilly2 View Post
Is it possible for you to gain dual citizenship first and then after that get diagnosed and treated? Would that risk their rescinding of your dual citizenship?
That is possible. But Portugal's citizenship requirement is a residency of six years, and in Italy ten years. To actually get there takes a lot of time and paperwork, and I might not actually start living there until I am 31 or 32. So I might be in my late 30s or early 40s if I did choose to get diagnosed after having obtained citizenship.

It is not really that important though, I suppose. With or without diagnosis, it is pretty clear that I have at least some part of that disorder, especially since my mother has it.

The reason why they want health records is because in Europe they have generous benefits. People with health problems might get questioned about their health status if the government thinks that they might overburden the universal healthcare system. When I was in the UK, I did use the health service on average around twice a month. But my health issues are not serious or anything, relatively speaking.
LundiHvalursson is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Lilly2
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:44 PM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.



 

My Support Forums

My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.