Worried about being told I do not have an ASD

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Now that I have health insurance and can get tested for an ASD, I'm worried that I will be told I do not have one or that I will not be taken seriously because of my history with social phobia and agoraphobia. I believe an ASD (specifically Asperger's or PDD-NOS) explains all of my problems. From the developmental delays I had during childhood, to my sensory issues, to my social issues, among other things. Getting a professional to realize this, I feel, will be very difficult. Because of this, I almost expect to be told that I have no ASD at all and my problems are only social phobia and agoraphobia (or avoidant personality disorder and bipolar disorder, which are other diagnoses I've been given). Even though none of those disorders explain all of my problems or my entire life the way Asperger's/PDD-NOS does.

I guess this post is just to vent. I don't really have any questions to ask. I'm just worried about being tested and being told it's all in my mind and I have no problems other than the ones I've been diagnosed with. Or even being told I'm a hypochondriac. Knowing that my diagnoses do not address my childhood problems or my sensory issues, I know there must be something more and I believe that to be an ASD. But getting a doctor to understand that will be difficult, no matter what evidence I present.

If only my mother or father, or some teacher, would have done something when I was a child I'm certain I would have been diagnosed with an ASD at that time. But since I am now an adult, getting a diagnosis will be much harder. I just don't know what I will do if I am told that I do not have an ASD. It's the only thing that fits, unlike everything else I've been diagnosed with, which only fit a bit.

If I were anyone but me, I could consider this thread pretty offensive..

i would suggest trying not to stress about it too much. i cant offer any genuinely helpful advice. just...if you are really sure that AS fits, it probably does and you'll likely get that diagnosis.

If I was being tested, my concern would be that they might misdiagnose it as something else and start trying to force me to take drugs to "cure" it.

Re-read my post, OP, I never said I was offended. To me, it seems like you're hoping to be diagnosed with AS so you can justify several issues. Also, you're born with AS, so your chances (at least to my knowledge) of being diagnosed are the same as they would have been if you were a child. I'm going to come off as a jerk (more of a jerk) if I continue with this, so I'll drop it.

I had quite a few of the same fears. Turns out they were unfounded - the psychiatrist who diagnosed me (who had an interest in ASDs in adults), after 4 hours of meetings, said he knew as soon as he met me that I had an ASD. A year later I saw an autism specialist who said he'd never met anyone who "ticked so many boxes and hadn't been diagnosed until they were an adult".

To say I was surprised by both of these reactions is an understatement. I didn't realise I was that obvious ... but apparently if someone knows what to look for ...

Stay strong! Only you know the real you. If you feel AS is the only thing that accounts for ALL of your issues, then it's probably true. I thought nothing much of AS until I really started reading into it.

It seems like you are taking initiative at least. I have to get a diagnosis because my wife is demanding it, which doesn't feel particularly nice...

I was afraid of the same thing. AS explained so much of the pain and trouble of my past. I was afraid of not getting the diagnosis because then I would be back to not knowing or understanding what was wrong.

I needn't have worried. My therapist could tell almost by looking. If you feel it fits that well, then you're probably right. And if the first psychiatrist doesn't agree, you can try another. Not getting the diagnosis with the first doesn't mean much, since there are psychiatrists that believe autism isn't even real. /boggled.

If you can, get a psychiatrist who specializes in ASDs. That's what I did. It was a great relief to be have my suspicions confirmed by an expert on the condition.