Did anyone’s therapist or psych say this

[Jdeisher]

So I brought my research on ASD and detailed childhood behaviors to the attention of my therapist this week. She wrote down a lot of what I said to her about my childhood. I of course told her that all of the information was witnessed by my mother, who would be willing to come meet if necessary.

She did agree about all of the things I mentioned being signs and/or symptoms of ASD, but also added that a lot of those signs and symptoms could be from other disorders as well. These include OCD(obsessive compulsive disorder) BPD(borderline personality disorder) RAD(reactive attachment disorder) and others she said.
Has any therapist or psychiatrist brought up any of these to any late diagnosed or undiagnosed member of this site?

I have researched BPD and RAD and do not believe they are valid towards myself at all. RAD is a very rare disorder to begin with and I was NEVER neglected or abandoned as a child. Well my father wasn’t around from ages 3-10 but my mother made up for that, and BPD makes no sense to me because it is common to result from an addiction to drugs or alcohol and I don’t do either and have never even smoked cigarettes. Just weed when I was a teenager, but the signs started at age 2!

Just looking to see if anyone else had these disorders brought up or if someone does have one of these(please give some insight if possible)

 

[Ambi]

I have not seen a therapist, but I have read that it is quite common for Aspies to be misdiagnosed with a bunch of other things that only seemed to partially explain stuff or didn't seem to fit at all, until they received the ASD diagnosis which finally made sense and really fit. Also, we can have other diagnoses along with ASD.

 

[Jdeisher]

I have not seen a therapist, but I have read that it is quite common for Aspies to be misdiagnosed with a bunch of other things that only seemed to partially explain stuff or didn't seem to fit at all, until they received the ASD diagnosis which finally made sense and really fit. Also, we can have other diagnoses along with ASD.

Yes as of right now I have just ADHD, which was FINALLY diagnosed after 29 yrs lol

 

[Katleya]

Okay, sometimes I like to see the silver lining, and other times I'm the devil's advocate. I feel like I might be wearing both caps right now, please bear with me:
Could it be that your therapist is just being thorough? I feel that taking the time to discuss with you other possible diagnoses would be a good thing; it doesn't necessarily mean that they don't believe you, it could also be that they are making sure that you have all of the cards in hand before you start anything.
If you are able to provide detailed rebuttal of the manifestations of the possible differential diagnoses, better yet, if you can cite specific examples as proof that these don't apply, you may be able to have a very interesting discussion, and to move forward and closer down the path to diagnosis. So, maybe it's not all bad.

Also, there are things that can co-exist with autism, ADHD and OCD, or depression and anxiety being among them.

I've never been diagnosed with BPD or RAD; OCD is probably logged somewhere in some longlost psychiatrist's file, but I think it's more of a coping mechanism than anything else (in my case, at least). Anxiety, depression, yup, I've had those, and I'd be lying if I said they didn't apply, buuuut I'm pretty sure they are results from the increased challenges that come with ASD and social acceptance (or lack thereof, obviously). I've also been branded with another label, one of the nasty ones associated with severe mental illness, which if they had been properly explained to me I could have rebutted (e.g. no, I don't have a lot of friends, but no, that doesn't make me some kind of sociopath, I just prefer quality over quantity, which seems to be a crime).

Bottom line is, don't worry, maybe it's not your therapist rejecting ASD, and why not send them an email to briefly state that during your next appointment, you would like clarification on the differential diagnoses they mentioned? It can't hurt, can it?

 

[Rasendra]

There was a marriage counselor who mentioned to my husband that I had BPD and started all sorts of stuff that almost ruined our marriage instead of helping. She clearly had some issues and we moved on to a different therapist lol. But it just doesn't fit me and my husband even agreed after we looked at all the info for it.

I have officially been diagnosed with ADD in high school but have had a couple mention OCD tendencies. The last one mentioned my first visit that many things I said could be aspergers, OCD or ptsd. While I eventually understood where she was coming from with ptsd and admit that I might have mild form of it the OCD didn't explain everything that ASD does. ASD just fits and while I guess I could have OCD also I might be more resistant towards accepting that diagnosis. In any case I am not pursuing any sort of diagnosis due to finances so its not super relevant for me.

 

[OkRad]

Yes, I was treated with great contempt by a specialist. The Dr who sent me said he does that to all High Functioning. He does research to stomp it out and gets millions for a famous place. I already KNEW I was not LFA! But that is all he Dxes in order to glean test subjects (they do research, too) and also to keep money from HFA. He was one of the rudest people I ever met.

Oh, I might add, that three years earlier a FEMALE DR with autistic kids DXed me with Autism NOS. So who to believe???

Since then I had karyotyping by a geneticists who said I don't have a mental illness, but a genetic duplication........

So I was way behind and now I am way ahead because he said all autsim and ASD should have genetic testing at this point as they are very common in ASD and Autism and can help narrow down what to expect from your particular kind of ASD etc.

 

[Lady Penelope]

From my research it sounds common for mis-diagnosis of a number of other (let's call them) unique-brain-pattern-behaviours both prior to ASD identification and concurrent to one.

I can see how OCD and ADHD could be associated due to their narrow definitions and how they present in ASD.

I was not (mis-)diagnosed as a child and only made an appointment with a psych this year (mid-30s) to ask directly about ASD in females. My psych did not raise any other potential diagnosis other than ASD.

If I were in your position, I'd research all the unique-brain-pattern-behaviours raised by the psych and make notes why you think they fit and why they don't for further discussion with the psych. During my ASD consultation, I noted quite a few areas where I did not seem to fit the strict criteria but as it is an overall spectrum, I still 'aced the test'. Your psych might be able to discuss in further detail why they still feel you qualify for a particular identification.

 

[Chance]

Hey J...
Dont be upset... My guess is she isn't going to make an instant decision, mine wasn't made till 3 visits with me, 1 separate visit from my aunt, and me having to take lots of tests... Geez, I felt like I was taking college entrance exams... but that means nothing... Everyone is different and in my case I didn't really even know what the symptoms of ASD was... I wasn't in there to get an ASD diagnosis.

I was battling massive panic attacks that got bad enough they labeled them panic disorder at the ER on my 3rd visit and the ER doc referred me. I was having very dark battles with depression, and I started "blanking out." That was what I called a shutdown before I knew what a shutdown actually was...
Anyway don't be surprised if this ASD also has a whole lot of baggage that goes with it...

My counselor said ASD was just the umbrella that also over laps into my Anxiety, Panic disorder, Depression, ADD, High level SPD (sensory processing disorder), Mild OCD, and Mild Tourettes...

I was trying to get him to take the ASD off, but my aunts testimony of my childhood locked that in. Mine just says ASD?? Not LFA, not HFA, not Aspergers...? So I guess I fell somewhere in the middle? It just says, "fully functional, and not under review for assistance."

It was nice I guess to know... It did answer a ton of questions. It gave me something to dive off into and try and understand... But I never wanted it, or wanted to be formally labeled with it... So, maybe I don't have the same mindset as you do right now... and thats cool. Just be calm and it will all work out. : )

 

[Crossbreed]

Most of our family's ASDs have been previously misdiagnosed as ADD. Even after I had an official dx of Aspergers, some counselors would only agree to see me, if I would let them change my diagnosis to Schizotypal Personality Disorder...! (They refused to consider that adults could still be autistic.)

Our local chapter of the Autism Society of America was good about recommending autism-competent counselors.

 

[watersprite]

The therapist I took my concerns to mentioned some of these disorders as possibilities. While I could see (as you mentioned above) why she would say these things, due to her particular perspective and experience; I did not agree. There was, as it goes, "more to the story." Anyway I gathered up my courage and asked to be given a referral to a neuropsych.

 

[Chance]

Most of our family's ASDs have been previously misdiagnosed as ADD. Even after I had an official dx of Aspergers, some counselors would only agree to see me, if I would let them change my diagnosis to Schizotypal Personality Disorder...! (They refused to consider that adults could still be autistic.)

Our local chapter of the Autism Society of America was good about recommending autism-competent counselors.

Too me its so aggravating that the Spectrum is so vast that they cant even agree on what is, or what isnt, or how to come up with some form of specific standard of a process to diagnose....

 

[Crossbreed]

Too me its so aggravating that the Spectrum is so vast that they cant even agree on what is, or what isnt, or how to come up with some form of specific standard of a process to diagnose....

The one shared/common/base trait is our lack of social instinct. We are dyssocial [social klutzes], not particularly anti-social [sociopathic].

 

[Ragnahawk]

So I brought my research on ASD and detailed childhood behaviors to the attention of my therapist this week. She wrote down a lot of what I said to her about my childhood. I of course told her that all of the information was witnessed by my mother, who would be willing to come meet if necessary.

She did agree about all of the things I mentioned being signs and/or symptoms of ASD, but also added that a lot of those signs and symptoms could be from other disorders as well. These include OCD(obsessive compulsive disorder) BPD(borderline personality disorder) RAD(reactive attachment disorder) and others she said.
Has any therapist or psychiatrist brought up any of these to any late diagnosed or undiagnosed member of this site?

I have researched BPD and RAD and do not believe they are valid towards myself at all. RAD is a very rare disorder to begin with and I was NEVER neglected or abandoned as a child. Well my father wasn’t around from ages 3-10 but my mother made up for that, and BPD makes no sense to me because it is common to result from an addiction to drugs or alcohol and I don’t do either and have never even smoked cigarettes. Just weed when I was a teenager, but the signs started at age 2!

Just looking to see if anyone else had these disorders brought up or if someone does have one of these(please give some insight if possible)

Happens way too often. Please fight for yourself. I can't protect you from where I am.

By the way. ADHD is basically ASD.

They tried to crappily diagnose me on deployment at a Air Force Base for ADHD. Which I showed them they are completely wrong. That's not my problem.

They never brought up ASD at all. I had to figure that part out myself. Useless. And it got me a punitive flag.

 

[Rasendra]

Happens way too often. Please fight for yourself. I can't protect you from where I am.

By the way. ADHD is basically ASD.

They tried to crappily diagnose me on deployment at a Air Force Base for ADHD. Which I showed them they are completely wrong. That's not my problem.

They never brought up ASD at all. I had to figure that part out myself. Useless. And it got me a punitive flag.

Not sure about that. My husband is a clear case of ADHD and was growing up too but does not fit ASD at all.

 

[ksheehan88]

When I went into my assessment with the psychologist, she said she had some theories in mind and as the session went on one by one she crossed them off.

She said Borderline Personality Disorder was one of them to begin with but that one was quickly ruled out.

They can't know just from looking at you. They need to observe you, read through everything you've said, ask questions, cross reference information. Don't worry - just because she says it could be other things, doesn't mean its not AS.

Is she/he experienced in diagnosing ASD?

 

[SusanLR]

Schizotypal Personality Disorder...!

That was what my first psych test showed, I was told.
It took 3 visits before my psych started really seeing the ASD.

Since age 13 I have had the diagnosis of Panic disorder and depression. That is true. Anxiety has been my most bothersome symptom all of my life.
Along with the ASD came SPD and ADD.
I'm glad I found the truth and how these other things co-exist. But, I don't feel at my age there is much that can change now. Just understanding why I am the way I am helps me know how best to take care of myself.

 

[Streetwise]

So I brought my research on ASD and detailed childhood behaviors to the attention of my therapist this week. She wrote down a lot of what I said to her about my childhood. I of course told her that all of the information was witnessed by my mother, who would be willing to come meet if necessary.

She did agree about all of the things I mentioned being signs and/or symptoms of ASD, but also added that a lot of those signs and symptoms could be from other disorders as well. These include OCD(obsessive compulsive disorder) BPD(borderline personality disorder) RAD(reactive attachment disorder) and others she said.
Has any therapist or psychiatrist brought up any of these to any late diagnosed or undiagnosed member of this site?

I have researched BPD and RAD and do not believe they are valid towards myself at all. RAD is a very rare disorder to begin with and I was NEVER neglected or abandoned as a child. Well my father wasn’t around from ages 3-10 but my mother made up for that, and BPD makes no sense to me because it is common to result from an addiction to drugs or alcohol and I don’t do either and have never even smoked cigarettes. Just weed when I was a teenager, but the signs started at age 2!

Just looking to see if anyone else had these disorders brought up or if someone does have one of these(please give some insight if possible)

No never said anything about points never heard of that for a diagnosis of autism.

 

[Chance]

The one shared/common/base trait is our lack of social instinct. We are dyssocial [social klutzes], not particularly anti-social [sociopathic].

Thats a start and I fully agree on total social klutz (in my case) but that also makes want to be antisocial because of that, but I get what you are saying...

I do wish they would maybe standardize (make more logical)... for instance DSM-5 they took out Asperger's, well that just added more confusion (in my thinking)... I fully know I'm not an expert. I just like simple and easy to navigate and it seems people make stuff so hard, when some goofy guy like me could truly go make it much simpler in a very short time...

Simply list off what is considered LFA -
Simply list off what is considered MFA (mid-functioning)
Simply list off what is considered HFA

Then list off the "Over Laps" (ADD, ADHD, PTSD, SPD, Anxiety, Panic, Depression, Bi-Polar, etc...)
Now weigh out what is most influencing... the overlaps, or the real traits of ASD...

That might help stop lots of misdiagnosis and give people less aim, and fodder, for all this stuff about ASD people being killers and stuff... Because it would put lots of people back under separate mental disorders that could also be cared for more specifically... This "blanket" ASD thing actually sort of scares me in looking down the road.

If the overlaps out weigh the ASD... then call it as it is, instead of making the spectrum bigger and bigger.
Maybe I just have the wrong mindset over it... It just seems like a tangled, unorganized mess to me. : )

 

[celestialregale]

I was diagnosed with bpd, panic disorder and social anxiety first. I also have ocd traits, but not enough to warrant a diagnosis I think.

I think the big giveaway was talking about my obsessions, which my old therapist didn't really take note of, but my new therapist had me elaborate on.

 

[ksheehan88]

Thats a start and I fully agree on total social klutz (in my case) but that also makes want to be antisocial because of that, but I get what you are saying...

I do wish they would maybe standardize (make more logical)... for instance DSM-5 they took out Asperger's, well that just added more confusion (in my thinking)... I fully know I'm not an expert. I just like simple and easy to navigate and it seems people make stuff so hard, when some goofy guy like me could truly go make it much simpler in a very short time...

Simply list off what is considered LFA -
Simply list off what is considered MFA (mid-functioning)
Simply list off what is considered HFA

Then list off the "Over Laps" (ADD, ADHD, PTSD, SPD, Anxiety, Panic, Depression, Bi-Polar, etc...)
Now weigh out what is most influencing... the overlaps, or the real traits of ASD...

That might help stop lots of misdiagnosis and give people less aim, and fodder, for all this stuff about ASD people being killers and stuff... Because it would put lots of people back under separate mental disorders that could also be cared for more specifically... This "blanket" ASD thing actually sort of scares me in looking down the road.

If the overlaps out weigh the ASD... then call it as it is, instead of making the spectrum bigger and bigger.
Maybe I just have the wrong mindset over it... It just seems like a tangled, unorganized mess to me. : )

I find it really irritating when there is a murder and they just have to point out "the killer has Asperger Syndrome"... So? What has that got to do with the fact that person murdered someone? Do they have any idea how many killers DO NOT have AS?! Given the overall amount of murderers, the number that are ASD are minute. Stupid media.