Aspergers??

[KateSpaceCadet]

Hi everyone, I'm not sure whether it's Aspergers or not, but I've always felt I was just really different from everyone else and until I recently started researching this topic I hadn't ever come across a group of people who understood some of the things I experience every day. I've been diagnosed with other disorders, but none of them explain things like why my clothes feel so awful against my skin at times, why the world is so noisy and confusing- like the sensory information gets 'stuck' somewhere and it becomes really hard to interpret what's happening. I often say things that people react negatively to, and although I've become pretty good at blending in and faking it I just can't empathize, understand, or connect with people as easily as I'd like to. I often have to call my mom and describe a situation- she'll try to help me interpret what the person meant and how I should respond. She has said that as a kid I didn't make friends, and when other children approached me I didn't know how to react to them. Most of the time I just want to be alone- I have a rich inner life and love to write stories and illustrate them, but I ALWAYS feel like there's something I'm missing about why people make friends and hang out with them. I know I'm not a sociopath because I do like people and want them to like me too, and I am very justice oriented. If anyone has anything to say about getting diagnosed as an adult I would be more than interested to hear. Thanks for reading and it's good to be here!

 

[Tom]

Hi,
There are a lot of people walking around feeling the same as you. Undiagnosed adults. Thinking it fits, but unsure. Its not easy to discern sometimes with HFA.

I would just add a 'diagnosis' to the other aspects of HFA that you investigate. Quite a few adults chose not to get it, and there are pros and cons, like anything else. One factor is that there is no medical treatment/medication currently for autism. Only for the co-morbids (like Anxiety, OCD, etc) that often, or I might even say usually, come with it. And these can be treated separately. What there is for autism is learning how it operates and coping skills. Some things require a diagnosis (ie. disability, work place accommodations). Whatever you choose, I would suggest being very careful about whom you inform, and initially limit it to those whom you totally trust or absolutely need to know. A lot of people have a negative stereotype in mind about autistics.

 

[KateSpaceCadet]

Hi,
There are a lot of people walking around feeling the same as you. Undiagnosed adults. Thinking it fits, but unsure. Its not easy to discern sometimes with HFA.

I would just add a 'diagnosis' to the other aspects of HFA that you investigate. Quite a few adults chose not to get it, and there are pros and cons, like anything else. One factor is that there is no medical treatment/medication currently for autism. Only for the co-morbids (like Anxiety, OCD, etc) that often, or I might even say usually, come with it. And these can be treated separately. What there is for autism is learning how it operates and coping skills. Some things require a diagnosis (ie. disability, work place accommodations). Whatever you choose, I would suggest being very careful about whom you inform, and initially limit it to those whom you totally trust or absolutely need to know. A lot of people have a negative stereotype in mind about autistics.

Thank you Tom! That is interesting, I wouldn't have thought not to tell too many people, sad that some are misinformed or judgemental. I think it would help to get a diagnosis because I feel like I missed the first day of social skills class and never got the handbook. I think that I shoot myself in the foot by being too good at acting and therapists have never been able to understand just how much information I'm missing about that stuff. Again, thanks!

 

[On the Inside]

Welcome, this is a place that has given me a lot of answers, support, and a feeling of belonging, so hope it helps you as well.

I was diagnosed in my 40's, after a long time searching for answers to my baffling problems. Four different therapists, 5 years and a two day, 7 hour assessment to come up with the diagnosis of ASD level 1, general anxiety, ADD-inattentive, mild depression.

Have a look around, there's a lot of information here.

 

[Astroganga]

Welcome, I share many of your experiences, I am 34 and did look into Asperger's a good few years ago, but put it to the back of my mind as in those days there was far less info online than there is now so it was difficult to discern just how well Asperger's fitted, or not.

I also tried to get referred for my various problems, ten years ago and it was just all dismissed as depression-related by the mental health team local to me at that time. A while later they referred me to a counsellor, and she was one of many counsellors and therapists over the years; and while she was nice enough she just didn't get why I couldn't slter my way of thinking or doing things.

I have now been put into the referral system by my current GP, and should be receiving an appointment within the next week or so. From what I have been told it will be an interim assessment by a specialist adult autism team, then if they decide to refer me onwards, a proper diagnostic assessment at some point in the future-anything from one to four years. This is in the uk but even within the uk, things vary drastically from one area to the next.

 

[Elemental]

Welcome to Central KateSpaceCadet

 

[Myway]

Welcome and I hope that you enjoy meeting people and learning new things. Good luck.