just got a preliminary "yes" for a diagnosis

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my therapist just did a formal test (I don't know the name, it was age-adjusted for 12-21 year olds, I'm 25 but she said it was the closest one she had. it had a green booklet for interpretations) for Aspergers and I scored an 88, which is apparently right on the threshold (for this test) of "definitely" and "probably". I am feeling so vindicated right now. since I started wondering if my social anxiety/depression might not all be tied to an ASD I've talked to half a dozen medical professionals and been told outright:

I told my therapist after the test that I was worried about potentially misleading her because this diagnosis would make everything in my life make sense and I knew which answers were how aspies are "supposed" to answer. all my idiosyncrasies and so on would suddenly have explanations. my weaknesses and strengths would be tied together. she smiled and said that she'd actually already filled out the entire questionnaire based on our previous meetings and that me "taking the test" was just to see what I thought, and that there was no way I was biasing her decision.

I am so excited!

Congratulations on finally getting your answer. I am still awaiting assessment but don't see how it could be anything else - Like you, AS explains far far too much about who and how I am to be just a coincidence or misunderstanding.

This was my experience trying to get a diagnosis in Texas, except it was 10 instead of 12. Ridiculous that medical professionals can get away with telling people these things.

yeah, I just had to find a therapist who specialized in developmental disorders. I mean I can kind of forgive doctors for not knowing everything about everything, but it'd be nice if they'd admit that. most of them have no idea that there's a spectrum, you know? like, I make eye-contact once and I'm 25 years old and have learned to mimic like 4 different people to the point I can talk like a "normal" person, especially in ritualized settings like therapy and doctor's offices. that does not mean I don't have it at all. at age six I was wandering around reciting encyclopedia articles on particle physics by rote to try and make friends. believe me you haven't seen everything, Doc.

I was told 22 was the cutoff for most unless you are severely impaired (i.e. can't take care of yourself), but if you got it before that you always have it since it's lifelong. How can medical experts be so unbelievably stupid? THAT is why I'm not wasting what little money I have on a formal dx as I know more than these so called professionals do and I am more Aspie than 90% of diagnosed WP members.

Man, no offense towards your home state of Arizona (which I quite like due to the spring training games held down there) but I've noticed that people who seek assessment in more southern states seem to have a MUCH harder time finding people willing to listen and treat them. I talked to a few psychologists and a doctor in Washington, and all of them were completely receptive and totally open to helping me find some answers (not to mention, I'm 24 and definitely fit into the "you're too nice to have Aspergers. You care about what other people think. People with Aspergers have no empathy at all" category). I hope everything goes much more smoothly for you now and best of luck!