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You diagnosis status and gender
I'm male and diagnosed. 26%  26%  [ 28 ]
I'm female and diagnosed. 36%  36%  [ 39 ]
Male and undiagnosed (but think I might have it). 20%  20%  [ 21 ]
Female and undiagnosed (but think I might have it). 13%  13%  [ 14 ]
I have absolutely no idea, can be either way. 5%  5%  [ 5 ]
Others (family, friends, therapists, plain curious...etc.) 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
Total votes : 107

y-pod
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30 Sep 2011, 4:00 am

I was just wondering about the percentage of members here who are diagnosed vs. undiagnosed. Of course I know there are NT members as well so I put in the "other" category. :D

*If there's already a thread like this can someone please link it? I haven't found a way to effectively use the search engine yet.


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incorrigible
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30 Sep 2011, 4:03 am

I chose that I'm diagnosed...but I'm here as other, too. Both my kids are also diagnosed...so I read posts about being an adult with AS, as well as ones about parenting AS children, and I read what the AS kids are posting for greater insight into my own children.


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TwistedReflection
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30 Sep 2011, 4:22 am

I've been diagnosed, twice (technically thrice), but I still don't feel comfortable calling myself an "Aspie". It's not that I don't like the label, quite the opposite as I believe neurodiversity to be "evolutionary growing pains" with equal gifts and curses, it just seems to me that the condition has been spread too thin, applying to just about any form of introversion.

I probably do have it, but it doesn't affect me the way it does others, and it makes me feel bad for claiming I have a neurological disorder that only barely affects me when others are having such a rough time of it. It might be better if I tell others I meet that I am merely "on the Spectrum" as opposed to committing to a label that remains an ill fit.



y-pod
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30 Sep 2011, 4:50 am

Ya I just got the diagnosis recently although we were pretty sure before. I don't think I'll tell many people about it. I do have a lot of troubles with everyday life, but I'm sure telling people I have this label will make them think I'm using excuses. It's probably much easier for them to relate if I tell them I can't do such and such due to anxiety disorder, depression, allergies, previous injury which caused nerve damage (which are all true as well)...etc. I'm at least for some people, telling the truth might be hard for them. "Look, if whenever I seem nice and friendly and paying attention to you, I'm faking it, OK?" :D

I'm not ashamed of being an aspie of course, but I'm not proud of it either, just like I'm not proud of having shiny hair or long fingers, it's just something I'm born with. I don't really want people to think I consider myself special or something just because I have this thing. Unfortunately there does seem to be some negative attitude towards the term "aspie". Sometimes I almost feel my kids are lucky that they're not "aspies" and are more autistic. :(


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skenasis
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30 Sep 2011, 5:38 am

I just got the results of my tests back today, and yes, I'm officially an aspie. My folks think it's just a mild case; I'm not sure. It's definitely not a severe case, but I don't know how mild it is.



Teredia
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30 Sep 2011, 6:10 am

I am undiagnosed. since i realised i may have it, 10 weeks ago, it has now been 5 weeks of waiting to hear back from the referal to see if i can be diagnosed or what...
(Australia's mental health system sucks).



trappedinhell
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30 Sep 2011, 6:49 am

I need another option. After two interviews a mental health professional thinks I have it, but he is not qualified to make a formal diagnosis, so has referred me to a specialist. So I am beyond the "I scored high on an online test" stage but am not officially diagnosed.



trappedinhell
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30 Sep 2011, 7:12 am

TwistedReflection wrote:
I've been diagnosed, twice (technically thrice), but I still don't feel comfortable calling myself an "Aspie". It's not that I don't like the label, quite the opposite as I believe neurodiversity to be "evolutionary growing pains" with equal gifts and curses, it just seems to me that the condition has been spread too thin, applying to just about any form of introversion.

I probably do have it, but it doesn't affect me the way it does others, and it makes me feel bad for claiming I have a neurological disorder that only barely affects me when others are having such a rough time of it. It might be better if I tell others I meet that I am merely "on the Spectrum" as opposed to committing to a label that remains an ill fit.


I completely agree. However, if one of has an equally debilitating condition that does not have a name, and has broadly similar outcomes, it is helpful to focus on any overlap with aspergers because it is more accurate than saying "I am normal."



LittleBlackCat
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30 Sep 2011, 8:10 am

I am undiagnosed, so on my profile I have put I am not sure whether I have it or not, as I do not wish to mislead anyone reading my posts on here. In fact, I often flag up the fact I am undiagnosed in my posts as well (although I am questioning whether this is necessary as anyone who wants to know can look at my profile). In my heart of hearts I am pretty convinced it is me. I am not sure whether to go for diagnosis or not, although I would really love to have that definitive "yes". In order to get one I would have to get a consultant referral to a centre in Bromley (this is what the National Autistic Society told me) and that would mean kicking up one hell of a fuss. And I am not sure whether they would be able to give me a clear yes or no answer because:

1. I am female
2. I am (almost) 33
3. I do not have a parent or sibling or similar to go with me and give evidence from my childhood
4. I have not so far been able to get hold of any old school records
5. I have some abuse issues in my childhood
6. I was a very gifted child
7. I have co-morbid major depression and anxiety
8. I have a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (although I think this is a misdiagnosis and even the professionals disagree on it)

My husband thinks I am a very mild case, although he does support me in the sense that if I think I have it and find it a helpful way to describe myself than that is fine by him. I think it helped that my way of introducing him to the idea was to read out a description of how somebody with Aspergers would be in a relationship, leaving out the word Aspergers, and he said, "Oh is that you?" and I went on to explain from there. I think "mild" is a very subjective word. I am mild in the sense that I have been able to hold down jobs from time to time, get an education, get married and have friends and I don't have very obvious tics and bizarre behaviour. On the other hand, I suffered chronic bullying at school, have suffered from mental health problems all my life and have not thus far achieved career success commensurate with my intelligence.



trappedinhell
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30 Sep 2011, 8:52 am

LittleBlackCat wrote:
I am mild in the sense that I have been able to hold down jobs from time to time, get an education, get married and have friends and I don't have very obvious tics and bizarre behaviour. On the other hand, I suffered chronic bullying at school, have suffered from mental health problems all my life and have not thus far achieved career success commensurate with my intelligence.


I know exactly what you mean. Not the bullying - I was always the biggest in my class by far, and thanks to my fantastically supportive parents and cult-like church I had ridiculous levels of self confidence. But like you I have held down various jobs, and was married. Customers always seem to like me better than other people. I am a qualified physics teacher, I have a marketing degree, I'm programming an online game engine, I've developed and solve five games from scratch, I've run my own multimedia company, ran a church, published a book on Bible prophecy and helped write comic books, I've solved some of the world's hardest philosophical and economic problems...

... and yet....

I am a 43 year old living with his parents, with no money, scared to answer the phone, I have never been able to hold down a job for long, even at minimum wage; the simplest social situations terrify me and friendships never last (even though as far as I can tell I am never rude and I do wash)

Clearly something is wrong somewhere. Aspergers is the closest thing I have found and I am clinging to it like a life raft.



aFiendishThingy
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30 Sep 2011, 9:41 am

I chose the "I have absolutely no idea" one, which seemed closest to the truth. I did actually get a diagnosis, but I'm still not convinced I have it. I don't feel like the psychologist who diagnosed me knew enough about it for the diagnosis to be valid.
The way I see it, I just happen to be a weirdo and former bully victim with ADHD, social anxiety, an unusual temper, tremendous issues with executive function and motivation, a certain degree of social derpitude, obsessions/special-interest-like tendencies, and a strong dislike for certain sounds and bright light, among other things... So, I nearly have AS, but not quite. :P



MakaylaTheAspie
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30 Sep 2011, 10:42 am

Diagnosed female here.


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identity
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30 Sep 2011, 10:54 am

LittleBlackCat wrote:
I am undiagnosed, so on my profile I have put I am not sure whether I have it or not, as I do not wish to mislead anyone reading my posts on here. In fact, I often flag up the fact I am undiagnosed in my posts as well (although I am questioning whether this is necessary as anyone who wants to know can look at my profile).


I often feel the need to say this aswell and in fact sometimes don't post because of it.
I suspect I am on the spectrum.



Aspiewordsmith
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30 Sep 2011, 11:08 am

I have been diagnosed in 2003 on June the 26 in Cambridge and have now don't have any problems accepting that I have Asperger syndrome. :idea:



TPE2
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30 Sep 2011, 11:25 am

As a side point, it is curious the female/male ratio



IdahoRose
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30 Sep 2011, 11:50 am

I'm female and diagnosed. I was diagnosed in May of '06, when I was 15.