Diagnosis Doctors in Dallas, TX

[Lula1989]

Hi All,

I recently self-diagnosed myself with aspergers last week due to my niece that was diagnosed with it through her specialized school. I have been told over the last 11 years that she and I are the exact same person, and that I acted as she did as that age. When she was diagnosed, I did a 40 point checklist of myself with my husband (since sometimes it's hard for me to realized I do certain things or say things out of context). I hit every single checkmark on the head. Then I watched several youtube videos and articles withing a few hours and everything I read/saw were the exact difficulties I have been going through (more obviously to me) the last several years.

Long story short, after making this story long, is I am pretty sure I have it. How do I officially get diagnosed? I am thinking psychiatrist, but need recommendations on a doctor in the Dallas area.

Thanks!

 

[Lula1989]

Also - I do not do any sort of medications so I am not looking for a doctor to treat me with meds. I've read a few doctor reviews that talk about medicinal treatment, and I am not into that

 

[tree]

What advantage would it be to you to have an 'official' diagnosis?

 

[Lula1989]

Half the time I think I have it, then the other time I don't. It would help me get rid of my self doubt (#1). Secondly, if I know for sure I have it, I can find ways to understand the way I process information and become more socially active. Also, since finding out, my husband has said it's been exponentially helpful to understand why I am doing things a certain way. I am not just throwing a tantrum or being a b*, but my mind is just processing things differently.

I have thought it through whether or not spending money to get an official stamp is worth it, and I think it is due to my back and forth self doubt

 

[Gritches]

The way it worked for me was to see a regular psychiatrist who promptly gave me a referral for a specialist who officially diagnosed me. That's probably the best/most likely way to go about it; I don't know how Texas works, but if it's like anywhere else a specialist who can actually diagnose you probably won't see you without a referral.

Do be aware though, that knowledge of autism is lacking, even among psych professionals. You might have a difficult time getting that referral because even most psychiatrists are clueless about autism. I got lucky, the psych who referred me also happened to know autism, but especially if you refuse psych meds and just go "shopping" for a referral you're going to have difficulty.

Also know that an official diagnosis is no more valid than a self-diagnosis. It buys you zero (0) favors. You sound personally invested in getting an official diagnosis though, so really it's all up to you whether the effort is worth the payoff for you personally.

edit: wow, I'm sure encouraging today.

 

[Lula1989]

Thanks for that feedback. I am actually torn in getting the diagnosis. Sounds like from the 2 comments that there may actually be no benefit in it. My husband is 150% positive I have aspies. I am on the fence. A lot of the things I do, I know other NT's do, so I fight myself in saying it's normal, when I know I am probably experiencing the same feelings they have, but at a more intense level.

I have re-written this 3 times now.. I am pretty much in self doubt lol. Every checklist and assessment is clear that I have it. But then I compare myself to others, and think I don't, because I think my behaviors are normal, even though deep down I see how they have become a short-fall or inappropriate.

 

[Gritches]

Someone back me up here please, but I'd also like to point out (in my torrent of encouraging words) that much of the ASD literature is about male Aspies. It's somewhat different for female Aspies. Currently, its a 4:1 ratio male:female diagnoses, but I suspect the actual rate is an even 1:1; the difference is that it's harder to detect in females.

It is so because female Aspies are able to mimic social behaviors in a chameleon-like fashion whereas males lack that ability (for neurobiological reasons), and thus it is more obvious in males. Females have an easier time of "acting normal" as a result, and thus it goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as Borderline Personality Disorder, most commonly.

I'm not exactly the big expert in the differences between the genders, hopefully someone else can make my point better than I can, but my point is that it would be expected that you behave more "normal" than the literature would suggest is typical of an Aspie.

What many of us will describe is that the first time we read about Asperger's, it was like reading about ourselves, like some creepy person had been following us and documenting the way we are. If that strikes a chord, you can probably feel comfortable in a self-diagnosis; ASD isn't something that sorta-kinda-fits, it either fits like a glove or doesn't.

 

[Lula1989]

Thank you for that! When I read your first few words that females can mimic normal females easier, I assumed that it was because females are a bit more dramatic than males. That being said, a lot of my tantrums may happen with NT females, but internally I feel it about 10 times harder. Not sure if that's true, it is just something that I have felt. This is why I am so confused on it, since I know someone that at least shares one thing I have, but the difference is I don't just have 1 trait, I have just about all, if not all.

Really appreciate your info! I will have to look into what you said a bit more. Makes me also happy I can blend in more than I think I can.

 

[OkRad]

Being female be VERY CAREFUL. I was dexed by a PhD psych who had two kids on spectrum. Then, later, after the new DSM, my new Dr wanted to refer me again to this famous place to see if I still had it. Weird.

I went.

The man was the RUDEST MF I ever met. I have told it a million times and will do so again. He had a cold and coughed right in my face about 25 times in 2 hours

He leaned back in his chair and asked, "So what do you think of all this autism stuff?"

After humiliating me is a supercilious way for two hours, he finally let the ball drop.

"As soon as we met you, we knew you didn't have it. You looked right at and made eye contact. Downright warm!" He actually said "Downright warm".

He never looked at the genetics test I had done (Karyotyping, not mail order). He never looked at the previous dx.

He never looked at the DX I have of Sensory Processing Disorder.

He never looked at anything else.

In the end, the one Dr said I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder. HE comes up and says to me, "You need to find DBT and do that. You just have a personality disorder."

Now, he did NO TESTS to see if I have a PD. THey are VERYYYYY complex and it would take more than 2 hours to dx that! He did not specify which one, so being in the US, he had to put something down. Being that my Non-NT troubles are very widespread (food, sleep, sensory, social, etc etc etc.............) he felt it was just a cover all.

Of course, females are more likely to have to fake, to be molded into acting a certain way, and we present differently.

After that, I had a bit of a breakdown. I went back to the Geneticist who said my trouble is NOT PSYCH and I would NOT benefit from more as I have had more than 3 decades of THERAPY. GIVE IT UP ALREADY.

SO, be prepared to be told you are just PD, espcially if you can Fake eye COntact ( I say Fake eye contact instead of Make Eye contact).

Be prepared, if it's a male Dr to get mocked.

This guy was ONLY looking for Low Functioning Atusim, which I already knew I did not have. TOtal idiot, but employed because he brings in millions for this famous place AND does research on the poor kids enrolled. Heinous.

He would have been put to great use about 1940's in a certain place in Europe, no doubt.

 

[Lula1989]

Being female be VERY CAREFUL. I was dexed by a PhD psych who had two kids on spectrum. Then, later, after the new DSM, my new Dr wanted to refer me again to this famous place to see if I still had it. Weird.

I went.

The man was the RUDEST MF I ever met. I have told it a million times and will do so again. He had a cold and coughed right in my face about 25 times in 2 hours

He leaned back in his chair and asked, "So what do you think of all this autism stuff?"

After humiliating me is a supercilious way for two hours, he finally let the ball drop.

"As soon as we met you, we knew you didn't have it. You looked right at and made eye contact. Downright warm!" He actually said "Downright warm".

He never looked at the genetics test I had done (Karyotyping, not mail order). He never looked at the previous dx.

He never looked at the DX I have of Sensory Processing Disorder.

He never looked at anything else.

In the end, the one Dr said I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder. HE comes up and says to me, "You need to find DBT and do that. You just have a personality disorder."

Now, he did NO TESTS to see if I have a PD. THey are VERYYYYY complex and it would take more than 2 hours to dx that! He did not specify which one, so being in the US, he had to put something down. Being that my Non-NT troubles are very widespread (food, sleep, sensory, social, etc etc etc.............) he felt it was just a cover all.

Of course, females are more likely to have to fake, to be molded into acting a certain way, and we present differently.

After that, I had a bit of a breakdown. I went back to the Geneticist who said my trouble is NOT PSYCH and I would NOT benefit from more as I have had more than 3 decades of THERAPY. GIVE IT UP ALREADY.

SO, be prepared to be told you are just PD, espcially if you can Fake eye COntact ( I say Fake eye contact instead of Make Eye contact).

Be prepared, if it's a male Dr to get mocked.

This guy was ONLY looking for Low Functioning Atusim, which I already knew I did not have. TOtal idiot, but employed because he brings in millions for this famous place AND does research on the poor kids enrolled. Heinous.

He would have been put to great use about 1940's in a certain place in Europe, no doubt.

Geez. Good thing is, I only use female doctors because I feel like they can understand and relate more to the same gender. Weird thought, but every male doctor I went to when I was younger for hyperthyroidism brushed me off saying I had dry skin(what?!?), turns out I have a thyroid goiter causing all my physical problem. So that is why I only go to females lol. My husband does not think I need an official stamp. And the only reason I would really get it, is to not sound stupid saying I was self-diagnosed. But, why should I care as long as I know it and can find ways to improve it?

Sorry you had to go through all of that. I wouldn't have thought that type of female stigma was still around