Hello all...

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Thanks guys. I think I'll go for a diagnosis just incase my bizarre behaviour really requires an explanation any time.


I'm actually really cheered up that I've cleared this in my own mind and you've been great, thanks.

Well I've book an appointment to start the diagnosis. Apparently if I need a psych referal I can have one in February - which isn't that long to wait. The advantage of having a Department of Psychology on campus. I'm so frikkin nervous though.

Google asperger's....read syptoms

problem solved!

Yes, oddly enough I worked that much out.


There seems to be a split on here between those who are pro and anti diagnosis, but I just think I need it.

hi celtic,

i would say, especially in the uk, if you need any sort of assistance at uni, having a formal diagnosis certainly helps with that. they normally have a specific department that deals with these sort of things, and i have found, where i'm studying anyway, they are generally very helpful.

lecturers and tutors also tend to be more willing to help out and less draconian about attendance, leaving early in the case of a freak out, taking part in things that might cause you problems, etcetera. in addition they should be more accepting of unorthodox working methods and suchlike. at least this has been my experience.

so i would say go for it. from your original post, you sound very similar to myself in terms of "symptoms", and the process of being diagnosed was fairly easy for me.

It is more difficult to get a DX of AS as an adult.Something you might want to do that helped me a great deal with the anxiety of my appt.(I hate DRs and Appts and strangers in general),is.....

Look through some of the DX traits and write out how they apply to you or how they dont based on current time and childhood.I ended handing my Psych a 19 page synopsis based on the aspie quiz(200 question one).Because I am very literal minded,many of the questions were difficult for me to answer,as I wasnt sure I knew what they were asking.I found it helpful to be able to explain my confusion on these questions....I was afraid I would freeze,if he gave me a test and I couldnt clarify what they were asking.He/she might want to speak with your mother about her memories about your childhood...seems like she would be receptive to this?

Anyway,your so aspie,I am sure it will be a slam dunk(not the kind that USA experienced " winning" the war in Iraq<-----joke sponsored by Goerge Tennant)


Welcome to the planet!! !!

Last edited by krex on 12 Dec 2006, 9:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Krex,

GREAT suggestions! Sometimes it is the obvious stuff you miss.

Steve

Heya celtic, i'm in pretty much the same boat you are except i've already made my DX apointment, for me i think it's the best thing, i've taken the online tests and have way too many symptoms not too have it but for where i am in my life i think an official prognosis would help me come too terms with where i'm at and where i want to get to. It is of course different for everyone.

ps:- Krex's idea about writing things out is really helpful. I've got a 5 page document similar too what krex did that i plan on taking in too my pysch when i get a chance.

Right, its my appointment in six and a half hours. To be honest, I'm really nervous.

I've got a list of all the things I want to point out to him to help make clear my situation-

Social Interaction problems - exhausting, forced.

Clumsy motor movements

Difficulty understanding non-verbal communication.

Lack of empathy - considered arrogant and uncaring.

Difficulty dealing with affection.

The language issue.

Poor handwriting.

Extreme anxiety in certain social situations.

Difficulty working if I'm not keen or interested.

When I do socialise I much prefer to do so with older people.

Like being alone - hate interuptions.

Dislike eye-contact.

Apologise constantly.

Leg bouncing.

Have been known to stammer - but fairly much lost that.




I'm only worried that my effort to 'normalise' over the years wont have hidden my symptoms to the extent that he doesn't see them.

Thats why(normalizing)they like to have the imput of parents.However,if your family is interested in you not being DXed,then they might remember you being very "normal"...and supress any oddisms.

celtic1985 Its like reading a post I have writen myself
I share an awful lot of the problems/issues you have
but I have not yet decided to get a diagnosis
I would be worred about future job issues if I had an actual diagnosis even
with as much talk as there is of "Non-Descrimination" it does go on in
most organisations. There is also the fact I dont like talking about things like this except on here
The only possible benifit I can think of is that im pretty sure my practicly illigible handwriting has caused me to fail exams I otherwise havent particularly in non-numerical based exams where I generaly dont do as well. an offical diagnosis could help me get some kind of accomadation for this problem but I plan to have all my exams finished by the time a diagnosis would take anyway.



"I wouldn't say I'm particularly sensitive, although I can only sleep in complete darkness, any speck of light keeps me too distracted to sleep, don't know if that counts, probably not"

I also find this a particularly anoying issue
I cant sleep even if landing light is on and I need to use earplugs to block out noises or else I cant sleep at all.

I haven't been on for a few days because I've been fairly fatigued by the whole thing.

A quick question - exactly how friggin bizarre are all you guys if I'm considered 'too normal and high functioning' to be an Aspie? Maybe I'm not an Aspie, the doctor seemed fairly sure of that, but then again nobody else has noticed in 21 years and a lifetime of bullying and solitude to the point where you can't take it any more would tend to force you to start conforming and coming up with some tricks so that you don't stand out so much.

I know I conform because my behaviour in private or with those very few people I'm comfortable with is so utterly different to when I'm in society that it can only be an act.

She explained that compared to Aspies she had met I was doing too well for her to consider me as such. My logic is this - those Aspies are long time diagnosed, before they came to university, which suggests either that they act that much stranger or that somebody gave a damn enough to get them diagnosed. I on the other hand have had to condition myself to survive in society. I mean how the hell else can people be diagnosed in their 30's and 40's if they're so much more God damned different than me?

I do not accept her diagnosis, Aspergers is one of the few things that makes any sense to me right now. If she could see how I think and understand my outlook on everything she wouldn't be so quick to call me 'normal', I've just made an effort.


Anyway, sorry but I had to get that off my chest. She's referred me to a psychiatrist, she's sure I've got depression (lets have a round of applause for that genius diagnosis) and I may have some form of personality disorder. Anyway, as much as I'm not keen to sit on a couch and talk about feelings, if I can talk to someone who knows what he's talking about it may work.



Oh and it was a female doctor. What crap luck is that, considering that part of my problem if that I find conversation with women awkward.

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=113

Here you go c...

I think that she did that in 1 meeting proves she doesn't know, she should of sent you to a place that deal's with it, then with a fhew meetings and test's maybe they will tell you what's causing it...


And doing well??? what that have anything to do with it...

I went in for shyness & social anxiety and Gp sent me to crisis team, then couple more groups, then ideal house....

so can't see how she can come down to that..

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1031

Diagnosis should check this first...

Last edited by logitechdog on 19 Dec 2006, 11:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

Thanks.


By the way, I've never met an Aspie - what are they (we?) like? Anything obvious as soon as you meet another Aspie where you can just tell? Is there anything we do or don't do that always sets us apart no matter how high functioning? In other words, can someone just look at me and say 'You're not an aspie' based on observations in a brief appointment?

I don't think there is one particular thing that someone can do and people can go "oh, that person has AS". When i applied for college i had to meet the guy who organizes the course, when i metioned that i had AS, he said that there were at lest three others on the same course who had it, i could never figure out who, there was one person i suspected, but i could never be certain, so i doubt there is one defining and obvious feature.

Maybe you should make an appointment to see someone who specialises in the Autistic Spectrum, i'd been seeing doctors and mental health specialists for years, and it was only a year ago that i was officially diagnosed, though looking back it's so obvious.

A brief meeting isn't the best way to diagnose something on the spectrum, i think, if you do indeed have an autistic spectrum diosrder, or something related, and no-one has known or suspected, then it is probably due to you developing good methods of coping, ways of blending in. That and the fact that wrong diagnosis are pretty common.

A few questions for you.......

What "testing" did she do,or did she just ask you questions based on the DX manual?How much influence did she put on your childhood,family imput,school evaluations?How confident are you in your own memory of your childhood?How many "aspies" has she met?You can see for yourself,the diversity of aspies here.....we may have common traits but how the traits are exhibited can be very individual.

I know others on here have mentioned there are psycs who have issue with what they see as the "over DX" of AS.Their subjective belief is going to influence their DX.Thats the problem with the DX....it appears so subjective.I was DX at 42 but dont know I will fully believe it until they design a more reliable and scientific method.I would agree that your best option is to see a "specialist",if that is possible.

I wish you luck with your new "depression" psych.I hope they are educated about AS,regaurdless of your official DX,I think having someone who is at least aware of possible AS would be more perceptive to your issues.