It's OFFICIALLY official...

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I received my diagnostic report -- FINALLY. It took 3-1/2 months, but I got it. Everything is just as I suspected all along, although the ADHD kind of surprised me.

DIAGNOSIS:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (299.00)
Dysthymic Disorder (300.40)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (300.02)
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominately Inattentive Subtype (314.00)

Now...a little help, please. Does anyone know what the numbers at the end of each diagnosis means? I'm guessing they have something to do with severity, but I don't what the scale is. Anyone have a clue? Thanks!

I believe they are just the numerical codes for the diagnoses in (presumably) DSM-5. They at least match up to an online listing I found for DSM-IV-TR.

OH! Okay...that makes sense. Thank you.

They're actually codes that insurance companies and doctors use to catalog the disorders, and to describe the fact that similar disorders are separate from each other:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSM-IV_codes

Congratulations on the diagnosis by the way

Congrats on your diagnosis - hopefully it answers some of the lingering question you had about yourself and brings you a measure of peace of mind.

CONGRATULATIONS Webalina. It is so good that you finally know. I am really happy for you that you found out. Three and a half months was a long time to wait. Glad that's over!

In my opinion, Autistic people who are also ADHD are the most fun and interesting people to be around.

So, how do you feel about getting the official diagnosis?

4 diagnoses!! ! Now you know why it took so long . I hope and expect it will be helpful for you.

I suspect I have more than ASD but don't have the funds to confirm it. While it would be helpful to know these other conditions I know the most important thing I am neurologically different. I believe the other conditions are related at least partially to Aspergers

I have kind of mixed feelings about it all. The diagnosis wasn't a big a deal as the realization to begin with that I might be Aspie. It just comfirmed what I was suspecting all along.

But I'm having some issues with it. One is simple -- it bothers me that the problems I have are something that I can't just "get over". It makes me feel deficient in a way. I know it's not necessarily a bad thing, but just a different way of thinking. That leads me to a more pressing problems -- my family's reaction.

Interestingly, I just got through with an intervention of sorts with my mother and brother over the results. They both saw the results as completely negative (and to tell the truth, there was nothing of a positive nature in the report, as it only highlighted the areas where there are problems). Both -- but particularly my brother -- used my report as an excuse to point out everything that is wrong with me, how annoying it's always been, and how they've both been walking around on eggshells because I'm supposedly so hard to get along with. My brother believed that I was intentionally talking myself into having a condition that I didn't have. He pointed out that he has a lot of the same characteristics (???) and there's nothing wrong with him. He says the testing seems legit enough, but that I may have just misinterpreted my social problems, and that he sees me as having no social problems at all. I tried to explain to him how the ASD affects me, but he would shoot down every one of my explanations and say that I can't blame all of what I am on ASD. He pretty much tuned me out when I was trying to describe the basics of ASD in a way he could understand, and he refuses to read any books on the matter.

I was going to get into it with him over all this, but I chose to keep my mouth shut. They said it wasn't "Attack Cindy Night", but it sure felt that way. I started to cry at one point because of the frustration of it all, or I would have done more to defend myself. I started today on some new anxiety medication. My brother tells me that I "get mad at everything", which is total horse$#!+. But I acknowledged that I may have been reacting to situations in an extreme way that might have been interpreted as anger, rather than confusion or frustration or astonishment. Maybe the meds will help with this, and subsequently with his and my relationship.

Yep....Asperger's, Chronic Depression, Anxiety (another therapist had already dx me with Panic Disorder) and AD/HD. Quite the psychological stew, huh? The dx recommended that I find a therapist, so the hunt is on.

Sorry to hear about your family?s reaction. It sucks. My family?s reaction seemed (at least to me) to be similarly uncaring. They asked me, ?Why do you need a label?? They are not at all interested in talking about ASD or learning more about it. As a result, it?s not something I talk with them about.

Regarding the problems that you just can?t ?get over?, I think that everyone has issues. Of course, that doesn?t make your issues better. Ultimately, it?s all about accepting who you are and figuring out a path forward, by leveraging your own personal strengths. There is no question that ASD comes with certain limitations (vis a vis neurotypicals). However, it also comes with some powerful strengths. It?s all about leveraging those strengths and finding peace and contentment in the world.

Now, if I could only take my own advice, things would be much better. LOL.