Getting a diagnosis as an adult

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Hello,

I am a 35 year old female and I am wondering if I have Aspergers. I have been thinking about this and researching the topic for more than a year. Well, I kind of put it to one side as my boyfriend and a friend said they thought I didn't have it but I don't really think they know anything about it if i'm honest. My boyfriend was also getting annoyed with me trying to figure myself out and questioning everything all of the time and wondering why I need a label. I think for me it's more about having an explanation for how i have experienced life and maybe that would bring more self-acceptance and understanding. We are no longer together and I have been really stressed at uni and have been struggling to cope with lots of projects at once and so I started thinking about AS again. I have also read up on ADHD (except I don't really have the hyperactivity part - except in more subtle ways like leg and foot bouncing and rubbing my hands together and picking my scalp all the time) and I looked at the non-verbal learning difficulty too, there seems to be a lot of cross over. I've always been a massive day dreamer and am very easily distracted - these have always caused problems socially and in education. So I would like to be reffered to a speaciaist who can tell me if I have any of these things. I was wondering what other peoples experiences were like getting diagnosed as an adult on the NHS. I am worried that I wont be taken seriously and I will be no further forward.

If you search on the forums you will find some threads about peoples' NHS experiences.

Please see my signature for a link to a thread I made about how to go about getting assessed.

I should say these are no the only reasons I think I may have AS. I also have always felt like an outsider and have had a lot of social anxiety, and always wondered how other people make freinds so easily. I do have a few friends though. I have had some obsessions when I was younger in high school with people I was attracted to and maybe acted in a kind of stalkerish way. But I still find it difficult to meet someone I am attracted to and when I do its really difficult to speak to and connect to that person - I just curl up. So I end up going out iwth people I don't have this response to as much but theres less attraction. I like I sometimes have suffered from selective mutism in certain social situations. I am also very disorganised, messy, have very poor time management skills and am easily distracted and dreamy, I forget to eat at times or I'm not motivated to eat if I'm hungry, especially if I am doing something I am enjoying - reading for example. I tend to be a bit of a loner.

thankyou whirlingmind

I was just diagnosed at 36. The last 10 years I was diagnosed with ADD, OCD, depression and anxiety. All can come under Aspergers as signs of it. I was like you in that things just do not make since. So I went to a psychologist and told them I suspect that I have Aspergers could you give me a test or something. He wanted to know a little bit about myself like how was your childhood, relationship with parents, social relationships, school performance, and job performance. He did ask me what I was hoping to gain. I told him that this would give me confirmation by a professional of what I already know. That would mean, I don't have a mental illness, I would have a syndrome. It would mean that I do not have to feel like something is wrong with me because I don't particularly care for things like most people care about. It would mean that I can stop mimicking behaviors of those around me to fit in. After I got my score and let me add that my score for Aspergers was so high that it was know doubt that I had it.

This is what I would do if I were you. Find a psychologist and tell them up front you want to be tested for Aspergers and explain why. The test is only 80 questions long. I would do it soon. The term Aspergers Syndrome is going to change and it will be called Autistic Spectrum Disorder. In other words, you have one diagnoses for Autism and Aspergers and they will be under Autistic Spectrum. I am still new to all this. I was just diagnosed last week. So you are in the right place to learn about it. I believe we will still be referred to as Aspergers or Aspie for short, however doctors will call us ASD. Aspergers is still a real diagnoses and is recognized around the world so the name is changing that is it. So if you are diagnosed, with Aspergers you should be "grandfathered in" meaning you will come in under the old system. This may help in getting yourself services if you need it now or later own in life. By the way, if you decide to have treatment once you are diagnosed it will be cognitive behavior, meaning how to live your life with Aspergers but how to deal with people and social situations. So no medicine in most cases... Believe me it is worth it. My self-esteem is totally different and I feel better about myself. Their are people on here that were not diagnosed until there 50s and they say the same things that I am, that it gives you answers to who you are and you are not crazy.

I am sorry the name Aspergers Syndrome is only changing in USA. If your in another country it is not changing.

Black008: Thanks it's re-assuring to hear your story- though i'm sorry as it must have been awful for you. I live in the UK so I'm not sure about the change of name over here.

At the moment there is no change of name in the UK. USA uses the DSMV, we use the IDC10, which is an international diagnostic manual whereas the DSM is the American one.

There is anecdotal evidence that some UK clinicians are hedging their bets by DXing HFA instead of AS already because of being unsure about where we will be going with the IDC.

I have heard that there are plans afoot to revise the IDC as well, but I don't know whether they will be following suit with removing AS and incorporating it under the autism umbrella as the DSM has. I don't think there is any necessity to, as long as it's officially recognised that AS is a form of autism, but that's just my opinion.

I went to my GP a couple of months ago.

Whilst I knew about Aspergers, I didn't really consider that I might have it. Instead I went to discuss the reasons I have meltdown like attacks, and his questioning uncovered my fear of crowds, noise, touch and difficulty with making and keeping friends.

He has referred me to a place in Winchester.

As of yet I haven't had any contact from them, it apparently took the surgery nearly a month to send out the letter to them. So I'm going to have to chase up...the NHS can be lethargic though

So my advice, is start with your GP. Go in with an attitude to discuss your problems, rather than simply to go tell them you want referral.

But you will need patience it seems. It's hard...I am struggling more day to day now, than before hand. But then I've only just found out I may be on the Spectrum when he told me where he will be referring me, which was more of a shock to my system than one might expect!

BTW, I also have a friend that thinks its ludicrous to suggest I have Aspergers, and just having a week away from it all would sort me out (if only I had the confidence to go away on holiday on my own...hahaha ). I think only a profession can determine that!

Thanks for you input people! I have made an appointment to see my GP. I think I am going to ask for a referal and explain the problems I am having and have experienced. I also think I will write everything down and take that along with me, which might help if I end up forgetting what I want to say or if I need to back up my points and can't remember what to say.

Thanks for your input people! I have made an appointment to see my GP. I think I am going to ask for a referal and explain the problems I am having and have experienced. I also think I will write everything down and take that along with me, which might help if I end up forgetting what I want to say or if I need to back up my points and can't remember what to say. Maybe there is nothing wrong with me and I'm a hypocondriac but then maybe not.

I was diagnosed last fall at the age of 28. Not all psychologists understand autism, so you will need to make sure that you see a specialist. If you see someone who tells you that you do not have it, and you disagree with their diagnosis, than you should seek a second or even third opinion.

My first therapist tried to convince me that my only "problem" is that I "think I have a problem" LOL! What kind of psychobabble is that supposed to be? That wasn't helpful in the least. I went and found myself a specialist who was able to diagnose me and give me practical help with things like small talk and executive dysfunction. The difference is like night and day!!