My Parents Don't Believe I Have ASD

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I'm a 21 year old female. After weeks of researching my parents don't believe I might have a mild form of autism, but it makes so much sense to me. My mother says that all of the things that I'm experiencing are "normal", and my dad just told me to stop self diagnosing and reading things on the internet. I have been officially diagnosed with BPD, bipolar disorder, and social anxiety. I originally self diagnosed myself with all of these, and had the same reaction from my family. My parents STILL refuse to pay for me to go to therapy even after these diagnoses. I'm still financially dependent on them because I cannot hold up a job or pass college courses. They insist that I'm "lazy". I just really need some support, and maybe some advice. I'm tired of feeling different and not being able to function day to day.

Bi-Polar disorders and anxiety disorders occur often with ASD.

Unfortunatly denial of invisable disabilities and the belief that people with invisable disabilities are lazy is very common so you are far from alone with this problem. Since autism is often at least partially genetically based it is possible your mom and other members of your family are autistic or have a lot of autistic traits so they incorrectly think your issues are typical.

I sucks you can not get therapy but you will get sympathy and useful advice from people with the same issues here. Do not worry that you did not get a reply yet. It is common for people who have often been rejected to panic when they do not recieve a reply to thier post. Do not worry about it, getting no reaction happens to us Wrong Planet veterans sometimes also. Sometimes nothing happens then a few days later you get a lot of replays.

Welcome to Wrong Planet

Thanks for the reply, your advice, and your acceptance. I'm so grateful I found this place so I can share my story of trying to get a paper diagnoses with you guys.

If you think you have it then you probably do at your age you are capable of making adult decisions.

I encourage you to keep pushing to see if you have ASD by a professional though. This is quite common for females with ASD to get diagnosed with bi-polar first. The reason why I'm saying it's important to make sure you have bi-polar to and not just ASD is because if you are on mood stabilizers and don't have it, it could seriously mess your body up.

You are welcome

Thanks for your input and your advice. I just wanted to post my list of current medications that I've actually been able to handle. I'm extremely sensitive to medicine. I'm on Paxil (anti depressant, low dose), Lamicital (mood stabilizer, low dose), Adderall (behavioral, high dose). I've tried many medications before these and had terrible side effects or they just weren't working. Lamictal has helped with emotional and sensory overload though. Don't notice anything different with Paxil. Adderall helps me focus and socialize more.

You might want to have this thread moved to General Autism Discussion. You don't have to post things in Women's just because you're a woman.

Thanks for your input and your advice. I just wanted to post my list of current medications that I've actually been able to handle. I'm extremely sensitive to medicine. I'm on Paxil (anti depressant, low dose), Lamicital (mood stabilizer, low dose), Adderall (behavioral, high dose). I've tried many medications before these and had terrible side effects or they just weren't working. Lamictal has helped with emotional and sensory overload though. Don't notice anything different with Paxil. Adderall helps me focus and socialize more.[/quote]

When I was a teenager, I was put on six psychotropic medications! My academic performance declined along with my physical health. After six months of hell, my parents let me come off them. I then saw sunshine again.
Recently, I was put on an antidepressant (Lexapro) for a while because of extreme anxiety. I suffered a great deal. It made me weak and dizzy. I could not walk properly and I fell over many times. So embarrassing. I had to take time off work for weeks. Finally, my GP said I better came off it. I did and felt much better. I do have issues with sensory overload and emotions at times, but I'd rather lie on the ground thrashing than take medications. At least, I function well without medicine. I only rely on psychotherapy and counselling.

I understand that some people need medications. My friends, for example, don't function without her regular meds.

I had the same diagnosis as you, social anxiety (selective mutism) and manic depression (which is the old way of saying bipolar). Then I went to a specialist and was diagnosed with high functioning autism based on the previous diagnosis and problems I explained which were all fitting into the traits.

You definitely need to see a good specialist, I know it may be hard but in that situation the only way you'll get somewhere is probably forcing yourself to get some kind of small job just enough to get a diagnosis in writing, and then if you get fired or whatever, well, at least you'll have the diagnosis.

From what I have learned, don't rely on people all the time, sometimes you just have to do it yourself because everyone else is incompetent in helping you get what you need. Unless you can't sway them into paying after some serious grovelling I'd just say try your best until you can figure out a way to get it yourself.

Good luck.

A place near where I lived had Autism Testing for $150 because it is run by college graduate students (getting their masters). I went and got tested there and found out I am indeed autistic. My parents have not been supportive with my Anxiety disorders (GAD, Panic, Agoraphobia, OCD), and so I haven't told them about my autism diagnosis. I live with them too.

Sorry to hear that OP:(

I can kind of understand, my dad didn't believe anything was wrong with me, and my sister thinks I'm full of it just to be a b***h.

I feel like a lot of my past therapists didn't believe me wither, and I didn't get diagnosed until I was 21. Before that, I was diagnosed with selective mutism, general anxiety, agoraphobia, and panic attack disorder.

If you ever need someone to talk to, message me:)

My mom- a social worker- said the same thing. I think she is denial because the most she would feel like a bad mom and inadequate herself. She might be an aspie too!