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Never thought I was autistic until the diagnosis yesterday

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PhoenixRain
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
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06 Apr 2017, 4:36 pm

HelloWorld314 wrote:
PhoenixRain wrote:

I never thought of myself as autistic either, but just had two people tell me recently that I should look into getting an official diagnosis (one of them happens to be a Psychologist and have her PhD). I do trust her professional opinion, but I also want to get an official diagnosis from a doctor who can do all of the testing. And honestly, it connects all of the dots that went unconnected before.


Are psychologists not allowed to give official diagnoses for ASD? I have received my diagnosis from my psychologist who specializes in developmental disability concurring with mental illness. But is it not official? Do you know what kinds of doctors have the final say in these sorts of diagnoses? Sorry for so many questions lol, I want to make sure that my psychologist is legal to diagnose me.


I didn't go to her office and get an official diagnosis from her, we were just chatting over Facebook. I'm not sure if that would be considered an official diagnosis. The doctor I am scheduled to visit with does specialize in autism specifically, and states on his website that he also diagnoses adults. I guess for my own self-awareness, I want to go through the testing, so I can learn more about myself and feel secure in the knowledge that I'm not maybe just making this up (I'm a perfectionist and like to be absolutely certain of something, especially if I'm going to be telling my parents about it...). But I think it's more for myself than anything that I get this done officially, and not just through conversations over Facebook. I don't know why.


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AQ: 32
Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 132 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 81 of 200
You are very likely neurodiverse (Aspie)


HelloWorld314
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06 Apr 2017, 5:18 pm

PhoenixRain wrote:
HelloWorld314 wrote:
PhoenixRain wrote:

I never thought of myself as autistic either, but just had two people tell me recently that I should look into getting an official diagnosis (one of them happens to be a Psychologist and have her PhD). I do trust her professional opinion, but I also want to get an official diagnosis from a doctor who can do all of the testing. And honestly, it connects all of the dots that went unconnected before.


Are psychologists not allowed to give official diagnoses for ASD? I have received my diagnosis from my psychologist who specializes in developmental disability concurring with mental illness. But is it not official? Do you know what kinds of doctors have the final say in these sorts of diagnoses? Sorry for so many questions lol, I want to make sure that my psychologist is legal to diagnose me.


I didn't go to her office and get an official diagnosis from her, we were just chatting over Facebook. I'm not sure if that would be considered an official diagnosis. The doctor I am scheduled to visit with does specialize in autism specifically, and states on his website that he also diagnoses adults. I guess for my own self-awareness, I want to go through the testing, so I can learn more about myself and feel secure in the knowledge that I'm not maybe just making this up (I'm a perfectionist and like to be absolutely certain of something, especially if I'm going to be telling my parents about it...). But I think it's more for myself than anything that I get this done officially, and not just through conversations over Facebook. I don't know why.


Lol yeah Facebook diagnosis is definitely not really a diagnosis. I got assessed by my psychologist and the complete diagnosis took 6 hours of interview + 3 hours of written questions, though the process was for diagnosing both psychiatrist disorders and developmental disabilities. The whole thing + my report costed me $2000 though, so I guess it just depends on if you think the money is worth it.


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HelloWorld314

p.s. English is not my native language, please correct me if I have made any mistakes. I would really appreciate it. Thanks:)


renaeden
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08 Apr 2017, 12:42 am

For someone whose second language is English, you write it extremely well. :) I am still having trouble and it's my first!

I was diagnosed with HFA back in 2004/5 and I had no clue about what autism was beforehand. I didn't have a computer so I couldn't look it up on the net. It happened after a hospital stay for depression, the psychologist I saw afterwards recommended that I go and see her friend who specialised in ASDs. I had 2 long appointments with her and she also called my mum. I told my mum the psychologist was going to call but not what it was going to be about. So my mum was stunned by the end of the phone interview because she couldn't help but say "yes" to most of the questions concerning autism traits in me. She felt a lot of guilt that I wasn't diagnosed sooner (like when I was a child) but I told her lots of girls go under the radar so to speak and besides when I was a child, autism was barely heard of unless it was severe.

I remember being told I was HFA and then driving home in a numb state. It is a big life changer being diagnosed with something as major as autism. After receiving the diagnosis by the psychologist, I had to see a psychiatrist to confirm it (it's the way it is done in Australia for adults). So I was told I was autistic twice by professionals. It took me a very long time to get used to.