There are two ways that something can lead to needing help with daily living:
- society rejects the trait without good reason, so then someone needs help to deal with this rejection
- the trait leads to an inability to do something that the person wants to do, irrespective of any societal concerns
I am okay with calling the latter a disorder, but not the former. The traits that are recognized as part of autism (social incompatibilities, stimming, special interests, hyper or hyposensitivity — these are the DSM traits for autism rephrased more politely) are clearly in the former case. Traits that lead to being unable to function (such as an inability to feed one's self) are not on this list, but rather are characterized by intellectual disability.
It wasn't invented on the spot. In the past, I have thought extensively about what should be considered a disorder, if the concept of "disorder" is even coherent, and how this applies to what treatments should be performed, available, and researched.
I too have lost solid 20 points immediately after infection. Took the test precisely because the fall was so sharp and deep. Scoff all you want but for me it's settled.
While I mostly agree, I myself unfortunately very likely experienced pericarditis after my covid shot. Worst pain I've had in a long time, but I was "sure" it was just gas and "couldn't be a heart issue because it's been going on for x hours or else I'd have been dead". I wish diagnostics was easier for health & heart conditions.
It is a legal distinction that has a huge number of implications in most countries. As is the focus of discussion on other threads, it necessarily changes approaches to income validation, the laws that apply, the presence or absence of credit history, etc.
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