Diagnosis? / executive dysfunction

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I think I need a diagnosis to explain this problem I have (I think it's called executive dysfunction?), because it's really debilitating and I need more help from the disabilities office at my school. Does it sound potentially related to Autism? (I've been told I don't have ADHD although I'm not totally convinced.)

If it is Autism-related, how does that diagnosis work for adults? What kind of process is diagnosis? How long does it take? What kind of accomodations do you get in university?

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Background:

I can't think in a straight line the way everybody else seems to.

You know those things everyone seems to take for granted--eating, getting dressed, showering, etc.? I can hardly do them, it takes so much thought and makes me so anxious. I look at all the steps of, say, getting dressed, and think, "How in the hell am I ever gonna do that?"

I think for most people these events occur on a timeline, but I can't seem to think in lines--of time, or words, or anything. I think in poetry and images. The rest is all translation. I'm tired of translating.

The older I get, the worse it gets. It started when I was about 12, when my OCD also started to get really bad. I belong in an old folks home (i'm 24) because I can't care for myself.

I'm going to tell my doc about this tomorrow, and I'm wondering if my doc is going to eventually disgnose me with something that will explain this problem I have...because it's not explained by my OCD or bipolar.

My problem reminds me of that one Zeno's paradox with the guy running from one point to another, but if he has to get to each halfway point, how does he ever reach the end...

Executive dysfunction involves the frontal lobe of the brain, also involved in the Theory of mind known as TOM. It is part of pervasive development disorder known as PDD under which Autism, asperger and Other autistic disorders exist. However executive dysfunction can be caused by trauma to the frontal lobe, lack of oxygen at birth,blow to the head. It is not a sign that you are autistic, as other aspects come into play within the DSM known as Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.check out autism.org.uk for symptoms , I hope this helps.

That doesn't sound like anything I have read that is associated with autism. Although you may struggle with some self-help tasks, it is kind of expected that on your own terms in your own room you should be capable of getting dressed and showering. You might forget to wash or change clothes, but being stressed by the idea doesn't sound right.

I was pretty slow getting dressed or tidying up my room, that was due to being off in my own head, which was different from being anxious about the actual act. What you've described could easily be attributed to bipolar and your OCD.

Everyone is different though..

Jason

Yes, executive dysfunction is a main feature of autism, and my biggest problem too. I think it's a prerequisite for enlightenment, but that's off-topic. There are a few cheats for everyday, normal-people type activities. Planning out loud, for example.

Oyyyy...you guys are right. I guess it could be pretty much anything.

I know it's not the ocd or bipolar though, because it happens even when i'm not having symptoms of either of those. Ugh. Diagnosis of any sort of brain condition is such a complicated thing. If only they could just shine a damn flashlight in there and say "AHA! here is your problem, here is your solution!"