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Big day- Assessment

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VeggieGirl
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24 May 2013, 12:12 pm

Hi everyone!

I was diagnosed with Asperger's two years ago by a clinical psychologist. She didn't do any testing, but had known me for over a year when she told me I have AS. I hadn't thought of it before, but I looked into it and agreed with her. But, I still had some doubts, like maybe she was wrong and I was just "weird" for "no reason." A few people have also been really invalidating about it and said things like, "You don't have Asperger's" (by a friend), or "You just DECIDED you have Asperger's" (by my dad). So, I had been wanting to be assessed for other neurological issues I am having, and finally decided to schedule an assessment. Someone assessed me all day yesterday with lots of tests. While I still need to wait for all of the results, he said I have AS for sure and will probably meet new ASD criteria!

I was so, so happy. I feel so validated. I have a lifelong history of people invalidating my experience, and it was so nice to be validated in that way. It made me validate myself more, too, so that was good.



redrobin62
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24 May 2013, 12:18 pm

Good for you! It's a shame you have to go through all of that because of the doubters. At least now you have some paperwork to show them. You know what though? They still might not believe the assessment. Ah, you can't win. :wall:


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girly_aspie
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24 May 2013, 12:19 pm

Congrats. I'm going through the same thing. It's 7-8 months to get an appointment, but I'm also on the cancellation list.


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Rascal77s
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24 May 2013, 1:53 pm

Good for you Veggiegirl! I'm happy that it worked out for you. :D



slave
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24 May 2013, 2:23 pm

VeggieGirl wrote:
Hi everyone!

I was diagnosed with Asperger's two years ago by a clinical psychologist. She didn't do any testing, but had known me for over a year when she told me I have AS. I hadn't thought of it before, but I looked into it and agreed with her. But, I still had some doubts, like maybe she was wrong and I was just "weird" for "no reason." A few people have also been really invalidating about it and said things like, "You don't have Asperger's" (by a friend), or "You just DECIDED you have Asperger's" (by my dad). So, I had been wanting to be assessed for other neurological issues I am having, and finally decided to schedule an assessment. Someone assessed me all day yesterday with lots of tests. While I still need to wait for all of the results, he said I have AS for sure and will probably meet new ASD criteria!

I was so, so happy. I feel so validated. I have a lifelong history of people invalidating my experience, and it was so nice to be validated in that way. It made me validate myself more, too, so that was good.


I'm glad for you!

You dad's denial is his problem.

He does not know more than the expert.



UDG
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24 May 2013, 2:34 pm

WOO?!



VeggieGirl
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24 May 2013, 2:45 pm

Thanks everyone! :)


redrobin62 wrote:
Good for you! It's a shame you have to go through all of that because of the doubters. At least now you have some paperwork to show them. You know what though? They still might not believe the assessment. Ah, you can't win. :wall:


Oh, no, that's not why I got the assessment. I wanted to get some other neurological symptoms checked, but knew that would evaluate for ASD in the process. I haven't found out about the other neuro stuff yet, but I found out that I definitely have Asperger's/ASD, which was really validating to me. I was really wanting to know that, about if I would meet DSM-5 ASD criteria, but that wasn't the main point of going. It was a relief though, because I have adjusted the way I view my life in a more self-compassionate way since originally being diagnosed with Asperger's, and it would have been hard to find out that I really didn't.



1401b
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24 May 2013, 5:11 pm

redrobin62 wrote:
Good for you! It's a shame you have to go through all of that because of the doubters. At least now you have some paperwork to show them. You know what though? They still might not believe the assessment. Ah, you can't win. :wall:

    If having some doubters means you cant win, wouldn't it be more fun to believe:
    As long has you have some believers you do win?

Might as well, who cares what naysayers think anyhow, it's probably a habit for them, and everyone that knows them already know it about them.


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MrStewart
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24 May 2013, 7:09 pm

Good for you. It does feel good to finally receive definitive answers from professionals based on extensive testing, yes.

I hope this opens doors to you for help with any specific life problems you have.



VeggieGirl
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24 May 2013, 7:52 pm

Thanks! I will be getting two to three pages of recommendations, so I think it will. I am hoping to use the recommendations to work more, among other things. :)



Rascal77s
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25 May 2013, 3:08 pm

1401b wrote:
redrobin62 wrote:
Good for you! It's a shame you have to go through all of that because of the doubters. At least now you have some paperwork to show them. You know what though? They still might not believe the assessment. Ah, you can't win. :wall:

    If having some doubters means you cant win, wouldn't it be more fun to believe:
    As long has you have some believers you do win?

Might as well, who cares what naysayers think anyhow, it's probably a habit for them, and everyone that knows them already know it about them.


I really like that. I've been working with a new therapist and much of what we've been doing is changing negative thinking fixations. Your comment is an example of the type of positive thinking that many people on this forum should try to develop.