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jujubomb
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22 May 2008, 6:03 am

I wish I knew what is wrong with me. 6 years ago I was diagnosed with depression. I learned about AS a few weeks ago and I've done a little research and basing on what I've read, I might have it. Most of the descriptions are befitting to me. I like to pretend I'm normal and it's really exhausting sometimes. I'm having trouble socializing and when I start having a connection with a person, I feel so fake that's why I feel the need to leave the conversation. I like to do things on my own and because of that people are making fun of me. It doesn't help that I'm introverted by nature. I really wanna start going to the doctor but I'm unemployed right now and I can't afford continuous visits to the doctor. I'm also taking an antispyschotic drug (Risperdal) which is a little expensive so it might take a while before I sort this out. There are really many things plus going to the doctor will most likely suck since I won't be able to express myself out of shyness. I wish my mom was a doctor, I can say anything to her but oh well. Do you think I'm a candidate for AS? And how do I bring this up to the doctor? I'm scared I'm gonna be laughed at for being silly.



Silke
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22 May 2008, 6:35 am

Hi there, welcome to WP :-)

I think a good first step would be to take the aspie quiz. You can find it here:

http://rdos.net/eng/

Its not scientific as such but it should give you a good idea whether you want to pursue this further. I don't know where you live but here in the UK for example its not straight forward to get a DX. At least not for adults. But it can be done - or so I've been told (personally I don't want to get a diagnosis for my own reasons but I can understand if people do).

You mention you have a really good relationship with your mum so thats a good place to start. Read through descriptions of AS together and see what your mum can come up with in terms of your behavior as a kid. If you've got AS you would have had it all your life and showed symptoms as a child or at latest as an adolescent. Maybe make a list and compare the criteria of your experience, write down examples of how they are fitting into the picture. Then, when you can get to the doctors take the list with you so you've got something to back yourself up with if you're feeling shy and can't find the words to describe what's going on and why you want to get a DX. If your doctor doesn't know much about AS it might make sense to take copies of the descriptions you found as well.

But - as a piece of mind and in case you just want to know for yourself and not go down the line of official DX just stick around and read and compare yourself to the rest of us.
As I said, I haven't got an official DX but ultimately AS is only a label and its more important for me to know that I'm not on my own with this, that there are others who feel and behave in the same way as I and labeling myself as AS is more for my piece of mind than anything else. To me it means I have finally found an explanation that ticks all the boxes and I can stop being so hard on myself and accept myself for who I am. It means I'm not mad after all!

Either way I wish you good luck and all the strengths you need.



themonkey
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22 May 2008, 9:05 am

Silke wrote:
If you've got AS you would have had it all your life and showed symptoms as a child or at latest as an adolescent.


Does that meens that she/he might be an aspie even if she/he didn't had symthoms as a child but only from adolescent? :roll:



KingdomOfRats
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22 May 2008, 9:23 am

themonkey wrote:
Silke wrote:
If you've got AS you would have had it all your life and showed symptoms as a child or at latest as an adolescent.


Does that meens that she/he might be an aspie even if she/he didn't had symthoms as a child but only from adolescent? :roll:

no,the symptoms would mostly all be there very early on [especially those that come under the triad of impairments],but they might not all be recognised until the aspie is mixed in with NTs who are at a different level.
the only later adolescent onset form of autism officially on the spectrum is CDD and that is a severe form.


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