Hello

Post Reply New Topic

Hello

I have read these forums for a while now but just decided to join to meet other people like me. I am not officially diagnosed with Aspergers and only discovered about a year ago that I had AS though my partner has been telling me this for years (I did not believe him and never looked into it). One of my best friends has been a researcher of AS for a while now and was talking about how she needed participants for a study. I volunteered and mentioned I could be in the control group. A few days later she approached me and told me she didn't know how to tell me this but that I could not be in her control group as I have AS. Since this time nearly all of my family and friends have told me that they agree completely that I have AS, and now I believe them after doing a lot of research on the topic as nearly everything I read about AS seems to suit me very well. Also a few months ago, I ran into my neighbour from when I was a child who asked if I had AS. She is a primary school teacher and has learned a lot about Aspergers over the last few years because of her students. She said when she learned about this she remembered how I was as a little child.

One reason I am here is to find out about the diagnostic process as people have told me I should go get diagnosed. I do not see the point in this as I am quite happy with how I am and am not sure how a diagnosis would change things. Do other people here think that a diagnosis should always be sought? And if so, why? My friend told me it might be useful for my (NT) partner so he can understand me better. He says he does not care though as he is 100% certain I have AS and my oddness is a plus. Since my friend confirmed this to him he has been much easier to live with as he no longer tries to break my habits like having to sit in my favourite chair and have my computer set up a certain way. He also does complain about me not eating different types of food anymore and keeps the house quiet for me. So even with him I am not sure it would make a difference as he is very accommodating for me. :\

Anyway, other stuff about me is that I am 24 and live in Melbourne, AU. My main interests are scuba diving and computers. I am obsessed with diving and go twice a week usually. I love to do night dives, wreck dives and to watch cephalopods (they are more common at night, hence why I like night dives and also night diving feels more solitary). I usually take a camera and take lots of photos. I prefer to dive alone but I do have two people that I enjoy diving with regularly as they are nerdy like me. Also, I am a software tester and I love my job as I enjoy trying to break computer programs and just generally tinkering with computers.

Cheers
Sas

Hi Saspie welcome, to me really its not about being diagnosed or not, but about understanding self, how we impact on others and our place and right of who we are as individuals... no diagnosis can change that.

But for me being diagnosed gave me a great understand and a stronger sense of self worth of who I really am, and with that came a huge global autistic community, lime a extended family of course being diagnosed or not is a choice and something that needs to be considered over time, as being diagnosed, discovering if your on the autism spectrum, if you have AS can take a while and I often feel people are there own best judges, to be honest the biggest misconceptions of people being on the autism spectrum is that we are all the same, we are not... in fact can be very diverse and different. But for me varying my true identity was important.

So its not a matter of a simply check list, I wasn't diagnosed with any think until in my late 40s, I have many co morbid, associated conditions. Autism is the center, the differently minded part, as for diagnosis.. I feel its best before thinking about being diagnosed, write down as much information as you can will really help, back to when you were a child. As we get older we learn to change and adapt, does not mean we do not still have those differences, do what your doing now research and read as much as you can and then decide, if you feel you are I always say its best to know for sure before being diagnosed,

Some things you can do, list, criteria ands test:
AS Symtoms (Full Official Criteria) and take the AQ Test:
http://asplanet.info/index.php?option=c ... &Itemid=63
good luck in your search, for my discovering I was born neurologically wired differently has answered so many questions, made so much make sense, brilliant....

Hello Asplanet

Thank you for your response Your comments are similar to those that my friend has told me actually. I have been thinking on this a long while and I guess I personally do not really feel I need one but many people tell me it will help me out, so maybe I should listen to them. One thing I worry about is that they will get me to try to change things and I do not really feel I need to. Also I do not like to visit the doctor or the dentist and a psychologist sounds a lot worse than that.

I have done the AQ test and scored 39. I did another test called the Aspie Test and it stated that I am "very likely" to have Aspergers. I also did a DSM-IV personality test and scored highly in a few categories (Schizoid, Obsessive Compulsive, Schizotypal and Anti Social). But I guess these tests are no substitute for a professional diagnosis.

Anyway, I have met a few people who have AS since finding out for myself and have been very happy about that as I can relate to them well (though we are all quite different so I agree that people with AS or other ASDs are not homogenous). Since then I have started to act more like myself rather than pretending all the time that I am normal, which I find very tiring and I am largely inept at this anyway.

Cheers
Sas

I also hardly ever go to the doctors etc... so as for being diagnosed I basically wrote my own diagnosis and then when along speeded the whole process up and only had to be with a clinical psychologist for 1 hour, I think I partly educated her... after that no contact with anyone, decided prefer to speak with like minded individuals and I so agree those of us on the autism spectrum are the ones that really know, are the only ones that helped me anyway, I started here then set up my own web site and support forum and it worked like minded individuals help to keep me on track and remind me who I really am... no one can forced you or brain wash you into having any treatment as truly being neurologically different mined is just apart of who you are and no one change change that..

Oh I see. I was under the impression I had to do tests and that it would take a while and cost a fair bit of money... This is what I was told when I rung a psychologist who specialises in adults with Aspergers. I guess that is what put me off as they told me I would just come in for testing and then after the testing comes back they discuss the results with me. I did not want to bother with testing without speaking to them first to see if it is worthwhile.

A family friend is a clinical psychologist and agrees with an AS diagnosis as does my mother who is a counselor who supports carers (many who may care for people with ASDs) already. But this is just after knowing me and speaking with me in more detail about this rather than any 'proper' testing.

Nice to meet you, Sas.

Hello JerryHatake, nice to meet you too

I'm glad you are doing fine. I wouldn't bother with testing. Come to think of it, I haven't bothered with testing. I mean, you don't need any more testing.

I've just been formally diagnosed by a licensed clinical social worker... my therapist. I think it was not such an official diagnosis as what that specialist was talking about. But her brother is AS, so she is fairly well acquainted with the signs. She had my partner and another friend do a few checklists, and write a description of odd behaviors. With that and after a couple of sessions, during which I think she considered whether or not any of the similar diagnosis applied instead(schizoid, ADD/ADHD, narcissism), she feels quite confident that I am moderately affected by AS. And her exploration with me of how I think and experience things has really helped me.

For me, this is an extensive enough diagnosis. This allows us to devise APPROPRIATE strategies for the difficulties I wish to address, such as the interpersonal stuff in groups. In no way is she forcing me to change the ways I am comfortable with; this is about the things I do that I feel are causing me problems in life. We are also better able to address the collateral damage an Aspie experiences in an intolerant NT world.

This also allows my partner to get support and advice that will help deepen and enrich our relationship, which is already so wonderful...

I think it's important that you do have some sort of evaluation, to check for those other possible diagnosis, and determine what damage you might have suffered from a life of being different in this world, so that those bits can be healed and you can be more fantastically you. It's nice to have the informed support as well.

Thanks DonkeyBuster and lelia for the advice I think I might go see a therapist again about it, and then see if it is worthwhile pursing an "official" diagnosis.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!