I actually fought against my diagnosis at the time...

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Really weird, but I was actively arguing with the psychologist because, honestly, I never seriously considered AS before in my life (which, I see now, is quite unique among 'net users...) - still had this impression that all my traits were mine, and not due to a condition. As opposed to how most people here seem to get on their way to diagnosis, I was merely referred to an educational psychologist... really passive, I didn't even request anything (so, it was effectively much easier than some others' experiences, especially those outside the UK...)

The thing is, ever since I got the diagnosis it helped me practically (education-wise), but... not at all psychologically. I've actually deteriorated and I've had my first panic attack a year ago after re-reading my diagnosis; it's as if I can't find myself anymore, all of my personality is merely pathological... and the worst is that I feel trapped inside my mind - along with thinking about the philosophical notion of determinism for quite a long time. (AS = brain = following determined paths.)

AS may be a very prominent aspect of your personality but, try to remember that it is only an aspect. You may have received a a diagnosis but You're still you. Besides, what's wrong with being an Aspie?

Same boat. I mean now it's a bit easier externally, as I have something to tell people as an explanation for why I'm so weird, but yeah. After I got my diagnoses, I just ignored them for 2 years. It was only after I met someone with NVLD/AS and spent a lot of time around him did I start thinking my diagnosis was true, as we had the same traits and same problems. I finally reran a rough verbal IQ and performance IQ tests and the results were about the same as when I was tested, and the AS self tests (Which do seem sorta lame) came back the same, too.

But I can't say the diagnosis has helped my self esteem any.

A peyote trip will help you out, but I feel like I've posted too much about the subject lately. Anecdotally speaking, it fixed my whole life. It's legal to do everything with it but eat it over there. It's also very gentle, and I find you don't need to be babysat like with other psychedelics. It lasts about a day, it makes you puke before it starts working, then you have no psychological problems of any kind for several weeks, and will learn a bunch of junk about life. Then when it wears off you eat more. Don't use if you have a history of psychosis. I think that's what my condensed talking points on it are, basically.

I also fought against my diagnosis when I got it (at 14 years old). I fervently denied that I had it actually. It took me quite a long time to accept it.

i got diagnosed aspergers on wednesday, and ever since my thoughts are "i have aspergers omg" i feel my confidence has gone down abit

ive gotten worse actually like a self-fulfilling prophecy has descended upon myself, i feel so vulnerable more so than ever

i'm hoping it will get a little better after a couple weeks that my main thought wont be ive aspergers..... i think i'm still getting use to it , but then i was watching Stephen fry tonight on QI, and i thought hm hes pretty cool and he supposedly is supposed to be a bit aspergers

apparently people with aspergers can be really smart with their special interests, i have special interests, but i'm now gonna try and use my self-fulfilling prophecy strange happening in my brain, to go yeah i'm smart i'm gonna try and make my special interest Social Policy, which is a large part of my degree, i'm gonna try trick my head into becoming obsessed with it so i can actually do well this year

that makes no sense probs, what i mean is i'm just gonna try and focus on the good parts of aspergers, kinda my good parts and use them to my potential, thats if i don't go back into my i'm useless and hopeless mode ive been in all day

Consider the alternative: not knowing.

I was diagnosed at age 63. I spent my entire life trying to figure out why I had problems with social interaction and anxiety. For me diagnosis was the most freeing event of my life. It was spectacular beyond description to finally understand. It is almost three months and my life has changed dramatically because I no longer pretend to be NT. I knew I was different and I tried to be like everyone else. I don't do that anymore because I get it. I am not NT. It is OK to not be NT. Even better, I am happy I am not NT. The only thing I would change is I wish I knew it when I was young.

I "fought against" it too. My parents had to bribe me to get me to see a psychiatrist (they didn't tell me why) at all. I had never heard of AS. He was condescending and I didn't like him. I argued with him. After I was diagnosed I ignored it for a few months, not speaking to anyone who mentioned it. Eventually I got curious and started reading about it. I accepted it after I knew what it meant.

I have the opposite feeling about the helpfulness of the diagnosis though. It has been harmful practically and possibly helpful psychologically.

I have done alot of things in life not knowing i had aspergers such as joining the army as a rifleman, which is one of the hardest courses in the australian army. only 30% pass. i passed but the no freedom thing scared me.so i quit

i Probably wouldnt of known if my mum didnt tell me i might have it about 2 months ago. so i went to psychiatrist and got a diagnosis. I consider myself lucky but i feel like im retstarting my life from scratch.

For aspies who are dying of shame, self-blame and guilty feelings, an AS dx is liberation and a new start.

This is pretty much my motivation. It would be nice to know that all my difficulties are not because I am a useless f***-up and there is a reason behind it all. The feeling of relief when the psychiatrist said he was inclined to agree was immense. I imagine it will be similar when/if the tests confirm things.

edit: There is also a sad moment when you think "why couldn't this have happened 15 years ago?" but it's pointless to dwell upon it.

I was Dxed with autism at the age of 3, then ADHD a year or 2 later, then depression and generalized anxiety in adulthood, when Asperger's was suggested. I wanted to believe if I lived my life at least as ADHD I could just work a little harder and triumph over the difficulties. While I have gained confidence and independence in a few arenas of life, I wonder how much woe could have been averted if my parents had let the autism Dx ride, though I can sort of understand their motivation to raise me as the normal of their perceptions

I think I would've reacted with denial in very young years, because I was full of hope back then and things weren't nearly as bad as later on. It was only when I had no more justification to blame the disaster that is my life on bad luck and childhood abuse that I welcomed a neurological difference as the explanation.

The shrink that diagnosed me, upon seeing me raise my arms to the heavens and thank God for salvation, was very moved and told me that in children the reaction is the opposite (of course, she diagnoses mostly children, as adults go largely undiagnosed here).