Hi everyone, I'm new here and only found this site last night after trawling other sites i'm pretty sure this is where I belong.
My name is damian (friends call me "Damo" or just "D")I'm a 33 (soon to be 34) year old man from Lichfield in the UK. All my life I have known I was different from other people, even family members and siblings, I just couldn't put my finger on it. Last year I had a serious regression with anxiety, panic attacks and depression as well as a flare-up of my IBS symptoms which led to a considerable amount of time off work but which seemed to have no underlying cause, I just new I was sliding backwards again and things were getting beyond my control. Following this my employer referredme to an occupational therapist who stated that she felt, but could not diagnose that I lie somewhere on the autistic spectrum.
At first I was taken aback and didn't know what to think. Since then (September 2011) I have been doing a lot of reading and research into the subject and strongly suspect that I am an Aspie, and I now identify as such (I certainly tick all the boxes). It's only since discussing this with my mother that she tells me that my teachers always desribed me as very lonely and a loner at school. I was bullied both physically and mentally all the way through school and college (even by my "friends2) and I onlyy made one friend in three years at University.
I've discussed with my GP and he seems to agree with me, however, as I'm an adult, I cant get a diagnosis on the NHS (it seems a common problem with other people here from the UK) and I'm now having to save to get a private diagnosis (which isn't easy with a wife on maternity leave and an 8 week old son).
Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and say hi, I'm hoping to learn more about Asperger's from those who have more personal experience of living wit th e knowledge of the condition, and also, just to meet people who are like me, I don't think I've met another p[erson like me before.
Cheers,
D.
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Your Aspie score: 157 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 50 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie
11 Jan 2012, 6:18 am
