jetbuilder wrote:
My realization that I might be on the spectrum was a lot like what happened with Hank on the show Parenthood.
Someone asked me if I had aspergers. I didn't really know what it was, so I called a friend who knew me very well and who did therapy with autistic kids. She said that she thought for years that I may be on the spectrum.
For the next few weeks. I spent every second of my spare time reading about autism. It was a huge "EUREKA" moment for me. I couldn't believe that I didn't figure all this out a long time ago. There were so many things written by autistic people about dealing with autism that I related to, it felt like I was reading a biography of my life. That was over two years ago, and not a day has gone by since that I haven't spent at least an hour or two on this forum, or reading about autism. It's become one of my long term special interests.
It was one of the most important discoveries of my life. I understand myself so much better now.
I contacted a local autism services organization last week. One of the evaluators emailed me back and said that after reading my self report, she agrees that an evaluation is a good idea for me. They're sending me a bunch of paperwork to fill out as the first step of getting an evaluation and hopefully a diagnosis.
Jetbuilder - your experience was roughly similar to mine, except that I was in my mid-50s.
If you have read any of my posts, you will know that I am fairly sceptical about the wide variety of approaches to the processes of evaluation and formal diagnosis.
Like you, I had a EUREKA moment, and my GP referred me to the local Mental Health unit. But I was met with a total refusal to even consider the possibility of Asperger's/ADHD, and after a bit more research it became clear that the UK National Health Service has very little interest in dealing with adult autism.
Eventually I decided not to pursue the matter any further - my own research had given me all the answers I needed, and I couldn't really see that I had anything to gain from having my self-diagnosis either confirmed or denied by somebody whose knowledge of the subject was probably not much greater than mine.
I am glad that you have received a positive response from a professional evaluator, and I really hope that you will find the procedure useful. I wish you well.