Formal Asperger's Diagnosis and OCD Treatment.

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Hi all, first post (probably of a slew in the near future). I've suspected I have Asperger's Syndrome for anywhere between 5 and 10 years, and I have OCD symptoms that have ebbed and flowed through the last 5. Recently my OCD, while it's not gotten significantly worse, has stayed closer to the worse end of the spectrum along which it seems to move, and more importantly it's driving my wife crazy. It's time to do something about it. I've spent a big chunk of time in the last few days reading up on Asperger's, given I know that can be associated with OCD, and I'm wondering if I should seek a diagnosis. The time I've spent researching has convinced me that I definitely have Asperger's (my wife agrees), so a diagnosis would only be a formality for me. Were it not for the OCD issues I have, I definitely wouldn't seek a diagnosis - while I don't find it easy to make friends or socialise, I get on OK, and seem to have done a pretty good job of finding jobs that don't require a lot of contact with others - but I don't know how AS would affect treatment for OCD? Should I try to get an AS diagnosis before I go for treatment for OCD, should I try to get that treatment through a specialist in Autism Spectrum Disorders, is it wholly irrelevant? I've no idea.
Finally, I was wondering if there are any down sides to getting an AS diagnosis. I saw on the Dear Aspie: Should I Get a Diagnosis article that AS is considered a cognitive and social disability, is that something I'd have to disclose to an employer (I'd feel very uncomfortable doing that, I'd rather not stick out - any more than I already do)?

Thanks for your help.

Mmaestro

hte only upside to diagnosis is using it as an excuse to people who believe in psychiatry

other than that you'll have to go through a lot of mental poking and they'll end up telling you what you can't do.

I've no interest in having the AS itself "treated." I'm quite comfortable with who I am, overall. But the OCD is another question. When you can spend 2-3 minutes checking the fridge door is closed and a similar amount of time checking the back door's locked, you've got a problem. It's disrupting, so I'd like to see if I can do anything about that, and was just wondering how much of a bearing an AS diagnosis would have on that.

Here is the "practicle" aspect of getting a DX for AS.It is considered "autism" and many insurences(including the one I have from the company I work for),excludes treatment for autism.Some people here have even mentioned that if you try and get personal health insurence,they can deny you based on a DX of "autism".I dont personally know if that is true as I could never afford to pay for private heath insurance.

I dont think you are obligated to mention your AS to an employer but I'm not sure.Possibly if you know before being hired that you will need "accomidations" to do the job,you are supposed to mention it????The catch 22 is that they are not allowed to discriminate against you for this but they can use any excuse they want to not give you the job,so it's impossiblae to prove that this was their "reason".I dont mention it.I apply for jobs that I think I can do and IF it turned out that I need accomidations(havent in 25 years of working)I would consider asking for them.Basically,I dont hink even many psych professionals have very accurate information about AS,so I wouldnt expect a potential employer to have any knowledge(and more likely just bad information,assuming that you are rainman).


I personally think it would be helpful to see a therepist(for yor OCD),that has an understanding of adult AS but they are pretty hard to find and I dont know if they would help you "unless" you have an AS DX.Another catch-22.You cant get treatment for AS but you can for the "co-morbids...depression,OCD,etc.But I think that treatment would be better from someone who knows about AS(and isnt trying to turn you into an NT or assume that your behavior is a result of being a neurotic NT and not a normal AS with a co-morbid.)What I am not sure of is if your insurence would pay for you to go to AS "expert" for a co-morbid?They usualy have a very limited number of therepist to choose from in the "covered plan" and seeing someone outside of that may cost more or not be allowed at all.


Many of the "psychologist" covered by the different plans I have had are "behavioralist".They arent interested in discovering the deep seated cause(repressed pain from childhood*yawn* at Fraude)but deal specifically with the behavior which you want to change.This maybe more helpful to aspies then the traditional "talk therepy" but thats not why the insureance companies choose this.....it's because "psychoanalysis" takes years (if ever) to show results and behavioral techniques tend to be effective in shorter periods of time....cost efficient.


Good luck.If wouldnt hurt to try and find a psych who knows about AS(You can try and find one by goggling your state+AS,a local AS support group may list some names for you) and ask if they would help you with the OCD with out a DX for AS.