Newbie, recently diagnosed

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Hi, I'm AspieDoug. It took 49 years of struggle to find out that I am an Aspie. Well, Asperger's sure explains a couple of million things that have gone wrong over the years. It's great to finally know. I'm looking forward to joining in on the forum when I can. See ya here.

Hi Doug, and welcome!

I'm 56 and looking for a diagnosis. So far I've been waiting 7 months for them to call me with an appointment date. I have to go through a mental hospital.

How was it for you to get a diagnosis? Lots of waiting? Lots of screening?

Welcome to WP,remember to psot,never post.

Howdy from another Texan who enjoy the stars and planets....especially this one.

welcome

Welcome to Werbert's Planet. Crack the fly and light the wig! For the Holy Monorail! Post. Never psot. SPAM!

Thank you all for the warm welcome! I think I will like this planet, and I certainly will psot or post, which.

Claradoon, the hardest part is finding a qualified person who screens and works with adult Aspies. I went to the Aspergers.com site and found a list of clinicians. Then it took a long time to find someone in my area who dealt with adult Aspies, not just children exclusivel

I spent years floundering through the mental health system being misdiagnosed and being verbally abused and humiliated. Hopefully, you will not have that experience. And I hope they get an appointment for you SOON! It's so hard to be waiting.

Once we got to the diagnostic part with a clinician, things went smoothly. The big part of the diagnosis as an adult is the diagnositc interview about your history and experiences. If you have a partner or family member who knows about your struggles well, that really helps complete the picture for the clinician. There is some standardized testing to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. You already know you have it; it's just a matter of getting that official diagnosis.

Welcome to WP Doug

Hey there,

Also diagnosed in my 40s--what a trip and a relief at the same time Stuff on Adult Aspies/Adult Aspie issues is hard to find, I also had to search to find the guy in my area who diagnosed adults. As for more information on adult aspies and autism in general, if you're into books, I recommend the following three:

Tony Atwood COMPLETE GUIDE TO ASPERGER's (it's just out in hardcover, but he does a great job of including adults and his writing is on the mark)

Temple Grandin THINKING IN PICTURES (she's older as well, diagnosed autistic in the 50s, amazing story, good writer and good ideas about Asperger's)

Roy Richard Grinker UNSTRANGE MINDS: REMAPPING THE WORLD OF AUTISM (brand new in hardcover) written by anthropologist whose daughter was diagnosed with autism. Grinker has written a cultural study/cultural history of the diagnosis of autism over time and in other cultures. I haven't been able to put this down since I got it last week.

welcome to the planet--you are not alone

--keats

Yes, absolutely get Tony Attwood's Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome---FANTASTIC! It's what helped me get to this point. If you are wondering if you too have Asperger's, Tony's book will answer all your questions. And as adult, it will stir your memories of your childhood and how life was for you as an undiagnosed Aspie. I have to check out the other books by Temple Grandin and Roy Richard Grinker. Good points Keats!

glad you liked it as well. Hope you like the others as well.

The one thing I'm sure we'll be seeing in the next 5 years is more information/services for adults.

The AS diagnosis is so young (mid 1990s) that there is this funny disconnect along the lines of "kids have AS"--but all those kids with AS diagnoses and IEP are going to be adults with AS and they're going to join the us "late bloomers." At least I sure hope so Until then wrongplanet and books are my life line

--keats

Welcome to WP from a fellow Texan!

Tim

Thank you all, you make me feel welcome.

It's nice to have some fellow Texans here as well.