A Good Day

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I'm not one for starting threads but I have some news.............

Just over a year ago I joined WP out of curiosity having learned about AS/ASD in a couple of documentaries I had watched. Two weeks ago I decided to take the plunge and see my GP for a discussion over whether he thought it was worth my while seeking a diagnosis. He was in agreement in referring me onto a psychologist but warned me it could take some time, I decided to 'go privately' if the cost was acceptable and this Wednesday his secretary phoned to say I could see a Consultant Clinical Psychologist 60 miles away [the nearest].
I agreed to see that person and the appointment was today.

I had to get up early, ruin my routine, drive 60 miles to a private hospital and see someone I have never met before and unload my life story within an hour.
The Consultant Clinical Psychologist has 37 years experience so I was at ease about what was said and because I have read so much here, I knew what was a relevant thing to mention and what was not.
To cut a long story short, I have autism, not Asperger's but 'Asperger's like' and unfortunately I stopped listening at that point as I was just so relieved that someone that experienced had diagnosed me in under 50 mins.

So I am quite relieved that aged 45 I have some closure over my inner demons.

The cat and I are going to p-a-r-t-y tonight.

Congrats on getting validation.

Congrats with the diagnosis. It is a relief to get a confirmation/formal diagnosis that explains so many confusing things about your life.

I hope yourself and the cat have a great party, congratulations.

Thanks Zen, Amik and LostAlien for your comments.
I spent today informing my parents of my diagnosis but of course they found it hard to take in and were initially anxious that I must obtain treatment from some source.

After some explaining I told them I wasn't going to die, I will print off some information for them I think.
I just have to tell my brothers who will just laugh....probably.


p.s. the p-a-r-t-y broke up at around 3am when the cat left by the catflap.

Congratulations for getting the closure that you needed.

Thanks Cockney one door shuts and another opens so to speak.

Can I ask how you told them?

Had your parents had any clue prior to you telling them?

I want to tell mine, out of some sense of duty - not because it'll make any difference, but have no idea how to bring it up with them.

The psychiatrist I saw last week is almost certain I have ASD, but wants to do further evaluation in conjunction with the local Autistic Society. They want to involve my parents and I was reluctant to do this - they said we could discuss it further at the next appointment.

Hi YellowBanana,

I think my parents are very much rejects of The Sherlock Holmes Academy. However, they are who made me so I felt duty bound like you are feeling to inform them. I had asked them questions over the previous year as to my language development, walking abilities, was the pregnancy normal, was my birth normal etc. but they probably forgot that as they are getting old and cannot remember what they had for breakfast.

I went to see them at home over coffee and told them I had seen a psychologist as I thought I had a condition causing my hearing sensitivity, this was a good reference as my father knows how much his whistling can get to me and how much a noisy neighbour causes me distress. I told them I had seen my GP who had agreed referring me to the psychologist as he thought it would be worth while. I then told them as much as I could about the consultant and how things came to light during the appointment.

They found the word autistic quite hard to accept as they are of the generation I presume institutionalised autistic people, so I had to be as clear as possible explaining there is a spectrum from mild to severe. I left my father educted that there is no treatment, it is something I have to live with and he probably contributed, if it is indeed of genetic origin. My mother just asked if I was concerned to which I told her I was not. It was easy to do because at the end of the day, nothing about me or them has or will change but now they know the facts.

If you feel you don't want to involve your parents in future consultations, then ask them to give you some facts to aid your curiosity about a condition you may have.
I hope you have a good outcome too.

Welcome Cosmic. I'm happy that you finally know and can have some relief. My diagnosis progress took 4 months for an unofficial one and another 9 months (after finding out my other one wasn't official) to see a psychiatrist who diagnosed me after the first appointment.
It really offers some relief and changes the way you see things, for the good.

It was actually my mum who suspected I could have autism. I at first didn't believe her. Oh well. Telling the rest of the family was hard but now they are comfortable knowing that I am autistic and also have ADHD.

CosmicRuss - just to say thank you for telling me about how you spoke to your parents. It was very helpful.

I think my main difficulty is that I'm not very connected to my parents, I live at the other end of the country and rarely see them. I don't phone them (because that is the phone, and I have real problems with that), and they don't really email. They phone me sometimes.

I think once the conversation is started it'll probably be OK, but how to start it I have no clue.... Hmmmm.

I met with my GP yesterday to discuss the written report which stated:
"The dx for him would include other autistic spectrum disorders, schizophrenia spectrum, obsessive compulsive disorder, depressive disorder..... he is liable to be an individual with Asperger's syndrome."

A couple of errors or misunderstanding:
I had stated I have never had any long term relationships. This was reported as I have never had a relationship with a woman which is somewhat true as I identify as being celebate gay.

I mentioned I am a good mimic of animal sounds to which I was asked if I did it for any particular purpose. I said I could not give an explanation for why I did this.
In the report it stated I am a good mimic of animal sounds, do not intend to mimic animals but suddenly the urge takes me over.
Just for the record, I only make cat noises to my cat and cow noises to cows in fields, everyone else is safe ok !