Hello from the Far East

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Hello, everyone. I'm an undiagnosed 33 year-old living and working in Japan. I've thought of myself as highly sensitive (physically and emotionally), introverted, and geeky for years. I am almost certain that I have Asperger's.

It should've occurred to me years ago. Recently, I was researching how Asperger's presents in children because my son has shown some of the characteristics. As I read more, I began to wonder if I might have it, too. I have taken two tests and have scored well above the cutoff point on both.

I told my wife - who usually provides the antidote to my compulsions and hypochondria - and she essentially said that she had wondered off and on for years whether I had AS. I've been reading this board nonstop. Ironically, I don't think my son has AS.

I would like a formal diagnosis, but it's difficult to do this in Japan. In addition to finding the right doctor, there is no promise of doctor-patient confidentiality here, and I am concerned that an AS diagnosis would blackball me out of my field.

So, I am left with anecdotal evidence and two online quizzes, but very little access to professional feedback. I'm looking forward to communicating with you all and learning more about what your lives are like.

Hi Vaqueiro, welcome to Wrong Planet

I hope we can help you find some answers. There are lots of people here who are self-diagnosed and not able to pursue a formal diagnosis for career, insurance or family reasons, so you are not alone.

I’m new to the site also, welcome.

I live in Spain and also live without diagnoses of a condition I knew made me different from those around me. I realized when I was about six’s years old. Unfortunately it was from a time when a boy my age was only seen and not heard. It was the 60s and 70s England, I guess I’m lucky, the medical world back then locked up people who where mentally challenged. Autistic savants were called idiots...

Koh nee chee wa!

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Vaqueiro, welcome!!

Even though we're making progress in the U.S. with employers helping their workers who have AS, I still don't trust mine enough to disclose my diagnosis. And I think it's still true everywhere, there are disadvantages and advantages to disclosing. The only difference here is that at least you can go and get a neuro-psych test done and get the diagnosis, and that information cannot be shared with your employer without your permission. Although even that I worry about some times, because I've already had it done ...

Dear Vaqueiro.

Welcome. I know what you would have been up against way back then (40s-70s). I hope internet communication can help you. If you can't get medical or psychological care, don't overlook the good books out now, and the excellent programs of supplements, which seem to help so many.

You might be the person who starts an Asperger's Anonymous right where you live, or as a network.

Arigatou and thanks for your comments, everybody. I've been reading Wrong Planet during almost all my free time lately, and I recognize many of the responders here as having made helpful comments on other posts.

I would love to learn more about people who have disclosed at work. I have a small group of colleagues with whom I watch sports once a week - the extent of my social life! - and they would be the first people I'd tell. The obvious advantage would be that I would have a single, digestible label to apply to all the quirky behavior, especially my reclusiveness. It would be liberating. The most obvious disadvantage is that people might start calling my ability to teach into question. Again, the issue of blackballing arises.

I will search this issue, but further comments (or links) would be much appreciated.

Welkome to WP

Mick