Things my therapist said today

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"It sounds like you have severe sensory issues."

"What's that [finger flicking] you're doing? Are you counting?" "No. It's kind of calming." (she didn't mention the rocking or any of the other stimming I'd been doing)

"I don't have much experience with Asperger's, but I have seen severe cases. I don't see it with you. It sounds like you don't have much trouble socializing on the internet." She also suggested that the internet was actually making my social skills worse, hence my explanation that I used the internet to compensate.

We were talking about ADHD, and she saved that last bit for when the appointment was over, so I didn't have time to argue. I will bring it up next time, though.

Also I can't even get into how much palilalia I was doing, as well as how she started the session left me flailing for something that would give me a handle on how to talk to her about things. When she asked "how are you?" I probably spent five minutes trying to find an answer that wasn't a literal explanation of my morning. When she clarified that she meant for the entire week, I was able to get into things I wanted to discuss (hence sensory issues coming up). Once I was able to get into the purpose of the appointment, I was fine (if constantly digressing). She also pointed out that despite my constant digressions that I was able to redirect back to what I wanted to say.

So, any suggestions on maybe a book to recommend or just outright hand her? Or maybe I should write everything up and give it to her?

From your experience and others' it makes me feel like I don't want to talk to these idiots.

Oh, Verdandi I'm sorry your therapist is such a twit! I have recently started the process of investigating a dx for myself, and I lucked out with a wannabe shrink that came from the military as a GP! Oh boy! Have I got my work cut out for me!! So, he says he is not familiar with AS at all, so I felt it was my personal mission to educate the poor man! I recently got The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome (Attwood), and I first marked all the things I felt directly applied to me and how I feel, and I typed up a 6 page (didn't mean it to be that long, honest!) report if u will and gave it to him. This was after I had previously brought print-outs of how women present differently and the main differences between men and women with AS.

I honestly thought he'd be pissed, but he actually said thanks, and that he wished more patients would do that! He said it was helpful for him because I have a very hard time during our sessions saying what I really mean to say...so this way I had plenty of time to think and prepare the notes for him that describe the major obstacles that I have. And, it is presented in a way that he understands! I was thinking about suggesting some reading for him, but I understand that he has a life separate from my treatment and may not have that kind of time, so I felt it would be better to give him 'hand-outs' that are related to information that I feel he should have.

Isn't therapy grand?!?

It's probably just a matter of not being very familiar with AS. Do what you can to educate her and see if she doesn't change her response. If she fully understands the symptoms and the like and STILL doesn't think you have it, then she obviously has some reason why. Ask her to explain it to you. If it doesn't sound reasonable, then you could always go get a second opinion.

If you like her and think that she could work with you, then keep seeing her. The handouts may bridge the gap and help her to understand you and get you referred to the right person. That's the reason why I didn't call 'cheque please' when I first met my dr. He at least seemed to genuinely want to help, even if he has no knowledge of the condition that I speak of. I actually kind of like this guy...unlike every other dr I've come into contact with. I can't quite put my finger on what is different about him versus the other drs, but I think I'll keep him around for a little longer. If I don't agree with his methods or dx, I'll decide then what action to take. But, I want to give him a chance, and if u like ur doc, u might wanna at least try giving her some printed material...it couldn't hurt right? If all else fails, then you can always start over and get a new dr...I know, who wants to do that again?!

Getting someone new would be easy, as she works in a building containing many therapists, and they assign patients (or therapists choose them).

It would also mean starting over from ground zero, which means I'd have to go over everything again - and I hate doing this*. She is willing to listen and has made it clear several times that if I have anything I want to discuss that's okay. So I'm going to trust right now that she will at least listen when I bring in more information for her to read.

* I failed a class once because they switched teachers. I couldn't cope with an unfamiliar teacher with different routines at all.

At my last appointment I brought up face blindness. He said a few things that would be typical of someone having anxiety over an issue, things like it isn't uncommon for people to not recognize others in unexpected setting. The idea is if you know it isn't just you you feel less anxious over it. I found it very annoying, but it took until today to figure out why. I'm not anxious over it. I was analyzing how others might react if I acted like I didn't know who they were. I was trying to understand the social consequences of my face blindness. He totally missed the point. So I'm going to have to school him at my next appointment.

Yeah, I hate talking things like that out with NTs in general because they constantly assign motivations and emotions to them beyond "I just want to figure this out."