So I had my diagnostic appointment today...

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I had already filled out a lot of forms and given her a detailed life history, but we still talked for about two hours about all kinds of things. I think this appointment alone really helped me to understand how my mind works and what I need to do to feel better.

She hasn't talked to my parents yet about my history, which she is going to do before she makes the official DX, but she is leaning towards diagnosing me with AS. She says that she knew I probably had AS as soon as she saw the 17 page "history of your illness" that I turned in, but that AS is most specifically a social disorder more than anything else, and she isn't sure if my social problems are enough to warrant a diagnosis. What she did tell me was that I very clearly have a fairly serious anxiety problem, which I sort of knew already, but it was really important to hear that. I feel like I will receive some sort of liberation knowing that all of my fear is not what I "should" be feeling (I often get stuck in my bad feelings because I feel like they accurately reflect reality, which, if I have an anxiety disorder, they do not). I think she is hesitating to diagnose me with AS because even though it is clear to both of us that I have an AS-like mind, she thinks that the vast majority of my problems are rooted in anxiety, not the AS itself, and my time in therapy might be better spent focusing on anxiety rather than AS.

All in all, it was a very worthwhile experience. I have been in a bad place lately, and I know that this is one big step in the right direction. It is very obvious to both of us that I need more structure in my life, so I am going to write out a schedule for my life and try my best to follow it for the next week, when I have another appointment. Then, I am going to share with her how well I followed it and how it made me feel to follow a schedule. I'm very excited about the potential to be both more productive and, more importantly, to FEEL better.

I will keep you guys posted.

ButchCoolidge, it's nice to know that you are making progress in getting stuff in order.

Did she tell you that anxiety is a direct symptom stemming from AS?

She mentioned that 80% of people with AS suffer from moderate-severe anxiety.

This all sounds very positive

Wonderful feeling to start sorting it all out isn't it