Doubts over Diagnosis?

Post Reply New Topic

Just another quick question for everyone...

Do any of you ever doubt your aspergers/autism diagnosis?

I was diagnosed back in May 2005 after an hour-long evaluation. Prior to that evaluation, I had been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and was receiving counselling for this.

Since that diagnosis, I have been on courses with other aspies, and found myself different from them all. Most I came across had a specific characteristic typical of the autistic spectrum (i.e obsession of some kind, outright panic over a change in routine, self-isolation from a group environment, ability to recall or memorize information instantly). When I think of my quirks, I dont have any of these characteristics, certainly not to any great degree.

Contrary to the statistic most highfunctioning aspies are supposed to have higher than average IQ, I would say Im actually quite dumb even in comparison to an NT (neurotypical).

This makes me think quite often if I was rashly diagnosed, and I am not a true aspie in the sense of the label.

Please discuss and share your views.

I have only ever met two other Aspergians in person, and feel as though I am markedly different from them. They both obsess over things that I consider trivial and boring (one over mythological nonsense and the other over Carrie Fisher, Star Wars, weight loss and some other stuff). I do not really get "obsessed" per se, but more along the lines of "interested." I care about things that are measurable and practical. Mechanical and electrical engineering are my two favorites, followed by medicine and nuclear engineering. I will admit that I do have a rather illogical love for old things (mostly old school electronics and medical devices), but I have rationalized that I only love old things for their ease of construction. I am aware that I do not experience emotions in the same way that most do, and I do have a flat affect. My pain tolerance is also unusually high as well, but the formerly written is about the full extent of my autistic behavior. I do not have trouble faking normal behavior or even functionally socializing and forging bonds. I do like structure and order, but do not need it to function. I understand abstract ideas, even if I have very little appreciation for them. I can understand sarcasm and generate humor, and have normal capacities for understanding nonverbal language, innuendo, and figures of speech.

I don't think I would feel kinship with most AS folks either.

I have my doubts about my diagnosis, but I don't doubt that I have a problem. Treating the problem, in my opinion, is more important than finding the perfect label for it. If my therapist thinks I have AS and she wants to help me cope with it, I'm fine with that. I don't care why she's helping me as long as she's helping me.

I am me.