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thediscowalrus
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25 Apr 2017, 7:19 am

I went to the doctor recently because I thought I had an autistic spectrum disorder, I relate a lot to the descriptions of mild/high functioning/Asperger's syndrome (I know these phrases are problematic I just don't know better ones) on NAS and the autistic not weird 50 things about autism article and I have issues and experiences similar to many ASD people. I was diagnosed autistic until I was 5 years old and I also recently did a quiz from mind checker that indicated that 80% of people who get my score have ASD. He said he did not think I have ASD and said some things about ASD that I know from the autistic community and other sources of information that aren't true (autistic people are mostly like rainman and that have no desire or ability to interact socially whatsoever and can't do well in school). If I don't have ASD I'm not sure what's wrong with me and I'm quite distressed about it. I have another appointment booked with this doctor in a couple of weeks, how should I approach it? Should I get another one? If I don't have ASD how might I deal with it, what other disorder could I have? Thanks



ASPartOfMe
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25 Apr 2017, 8:18 am

thediscowalrus wrote:
I went to the doctor recently because I thought I had an autistic spectrum disorder, I relate a lot to the descriptions of mild/high functioning/Asperger's syndrome (I know these phrases are problematic I just don't know better ones) on NAS and the autistic not weird 50 things about autism article and I have issues and experiences similar to many ASD people. I was diagnosed autistic until I was 5 years old and I also recently did a quiz from mind checker that indicated that 80% of people who get my score have ASD. He said he did not think I have ASD and said some things about ASD that I know from the autistic community and other sources of information that aren't true (autistic people are mostly like rainman and that have no desire or ability to interact socially whatsoever and can't do well in school). If I don't have ASD I'm not sure what's wrong with me and I'm quite distressed about it. I have another appointment booked with this doctor in a couple of weeks, how should I approach it? Should I get another one? If I don't have ASD how might I deal with it, what other disorder could I have? Thanks


Is assume this doctor is a General Practitioner since he clearly has an outdated and simplistic understanding of autism. Do not accept his word that you are not autistic (I not saying you are autistic just that he is a bad source) I advise asking him to refer you to an autism specilist.


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25 Apr 2017, 8:23 am

Unless you are greatly stricken in life, why would you need the label?

Ever since I was diagnosed two years ago, my sister, who is serving a life sentence for murder, has been clamouring for an Asperger's diagnosis.


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25 Apr 2017, 1:05 pm

There is a misconception that the average Joe Blow doctor or psychiatrist understands autism and is qualified to tell a patient whether they have autism or not. Unfortunately this is not true. Most doctors don't know jack s**t about autism and could only recognize the most stereotypical low functioning autistic. If your doctor is citing myths about autism then it is a good chance that he/she doesn't know what they are talking about and it is best that you find someone who specializes in autism instead.



thediscowalrus
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25 Apr 2017, 2:31 pm

Thanks, that's really helpful ❤
I want a label because I want support and I want my difficulties to be validated, I don't want to feel like a broken person anymore.



thediscowalrus
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25 Apr 2017, 2:32 pm

I also made a complaint about the GP and cancelled my next appointment cos, well yeh



Deathbox
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25 Apr 2017, 9:06 pm

I've had over 6 evaluations in the past 2 years and every one of them had wildly different opinions of me - downright conflicting, in fact. I've heard plenty of stories similar to mine, too. You're just left without answers unless you believe the first person who sold you a written diagnosis.

Get your second opinion for sure, but at the end of the day it's going to boil down to what you believe.

You can get any literally any mental diagnosis you want by going to the right person. If that sounds far-fetched, go to a few PTSD specialists and half of them will try and convince you it's what you have.



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26 Apr 2017, 6:04 am

thediscowalrus wrote:
I was diagnosed autistic until I was 5 years old[...]


What happened then?
Did someone undiagnose you?


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26 Apr 2017, 7:51 am

Eloa wrote:
thediscowalrus wrote:
I was diagnosed autistic until I was 5 years old[...]


What happened then?
Did someone undiagnose you?


That's what I'm wondering. Autism is for life. A kid in some cases can progress, like I progressed from level 3 to level 2, but it's still always with a person.