Hello

[Martha Ferris]

Welcome. I look forward to getting to know you. There is a lot of support here and this is where I feel "at home." I hope you will too.

 

[Telepath John]

Hello and Welcome to the forum.

 

[Richelle-H]

What is N.T's ?

Just in case you have not figured out the abbreviation as yet, it stands for NeuroTypical.

 

[clg114]

Welcome to Autism Forums!

 

[ClearQz]

First of all, welcome, you're amongst friends.

Second,...your story is actually a common one.

Where to start with this,...
(1) Since you're over 18, if you call up your insurance company and ask if they cover autism testing, they will usually say NO. However, if you can talk to the testing center,...they likely know the proper coding to get a large percentage of it covered. If I remember correctly, I was expecting to pay around $1900,...I paid around $200 or so. Oh ok, I am in Canada so it might be different a bit, my insurance plan won't even cover psychology, not sure. I will ask the center along with a therapist I found.
(2) You may find more than one autism testing center,...to be specific,...seek out a center that does adult testing. There are plenty of centers that deal with children,...adult testing is different. I have 2 names already for adults.
(3) As an adult, you probably are not going have your parents there as part of the interview process. In my case, my wife was involved. Basically, they want to establish evidence of a long-term history of symptoms. I also took the time to write down an itemized list of experiences, thoughts, symptoms,...over 170 things. It was my, "You might be autistic if..." list. I guess I'll be alone, I already started the list but now I need to add more details to some of the examples.. I haven't thought about asking for long time references with various people, thanks. (bummer)
(4) Prior to doing my list, I had to learn about autism. The symptoms,...that is secondary to the anatomy and physiology. At this point in history, autism is diagnosed in the psychologist's office, but there is a tremendous amount of functional imaging and post mortem studies from a neurological perspective. Sometime soon, autism diagnosis will be done in a neurologist's office. Reading this information prior, I found several things that I had no idea were part of the autistic experience,...that I had,...and added that to my list. ok
(5) Most medical professionals are not familiar with the so-called Asperger's condition,...the ASD1 experience,...nor is the public, your family, friends, co-workers, the HR department, and law enforcement. As an adult, the people in your life know you, for better or worse,...and have made a "moral" diagnosis of you. I have never had anyone I know associate my behaviors as autistic,...so be prepared for that experience. Many of us "come out" as autistic and are immediately met with some combination of indifference, non-acceptance, and minimization,...comments like "OK", "It's a label", "It's an excuse", or "Wow! You must be one of the high functioning ones." Basically, do not expect acceptance and understanding,...expect the opposite. To whom you divulge your diagnosis to is highly individualized.

Thanks for that advice also.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

You have to have interests and those interests can lead to social interactions that you can take at your own pace, just don't rule things out because they make you uncomfortable.

I cannot recommend involvement with interest groups strongly enough. I did that with outdoor activities and paleontology, interests of mine, going in it for the activities. That let me practice and learn to socialize within the group without pressure and, more significantly, helped me escape my social isolation.

 

[watersprite]

Welcome.





Being tested by a neuropsych and receiving those official results was a turning point for me which in hindsite was, and remains overall, positive.

Expensive yes.
Subjectively speaking - well worth it despite the money spent and anxiety surrounding being tested.

 

[ClearQz]

I cannot recommend involvement with interest groups strongly enough. I did that with outdoor activities and paleontology, interests of mine, going in it for the activities. That let me practice and learn to socialize within the group without pressure and, more significantly, helped me escape my social isolation.

Easier said then done

 

[ClearQz]

Welcome.





Being tested by a neuropsych and receiving those official results was a turning point for me which in hindsite was, and remains overall, positive.

Expensive yes.
Subjectively speaking - well worth it despite the money spent and anxiety surrounding being tested.

Ok good to know that it was positive.

I started the investigation with the first clinic I was told about today.. That one should be covered by our "free healthcare" system. (not the same system as in the US, but often the delays are very long.) I was told that it's around 1900CAD to do it with a private clinic and probably much faster.

There is a whole strict procedure to follow with the free clinic, they even need an interview with a person who knew me well when I was a kid of 4 - 5 years old . My parents are still living but... wow, I didn't had in mind to get them involved in this.

I also need to gather any relevant psychological exam available. It turned out that as a kid of maybe 8- 9 years old, I was diagnosed with hyperactivity, not sure but perhaps learning disabilities also. Basically, it was required for me to take Ritalin or they would kick me out of the elementary school for causing too much trouble in the class, they threatened to put me in a special school for children with problems back then.

So I'll try to get a copy of that if the information still exists in the archives after 32 years. It could be a starting point.

 

[Streetwise]

Welcome to the site. I understand much of where you are at right now. I was always rather freaked out by the prospect of job interviews. Couple that with the fact that I did not know I was on the spectrum until my early 40s. Well... I am sure you can imagine. Somewhat, I did tests both gave me "Your autism spectrum symptoms are high" IDRLabs.com and "You are most likely Aspie" in the Aspie Quiz I am still having trouble believing it.

The thing is, as long as I focused on my strengths and controlled my physical tics, they always went well, even when I thought I had blown my chances. I asked one of my colleague who told me about the spectrum to explain to me on a paper, the things she notices. She don't notice tics or physical evidences, it's really a behavioural thing. Maybe a good news.
It is confidence in yourself and your skills that sell you to a prospective employer, at least that is my perception from way out here in retirement-land.

Therapy never worked for me, mainly because I am more than a little arrogant, and like you, I was always skeptical of what I was being told. I still am for that matter, particularly because of all the contact I have had with medical practitioners, of multiple disciplines, in the last seven years . I am very skeptical, like you.

Bottom line, you are not something that needs to be cured. you just need to find comfort within yourself. If therapy helps you in that, then great, but therapy or not, everything comes form inside you.

I perceive you as intelligent enough to figure it out for yourself, but it takes time and dedication. I found people with common interests in my younger days, by hanging out in specialty bookshops. Ah? still searching for that, thanks. I am visiting crystal stores these days.. Ok to find nice gem stones.. but no people so far.

You have to have interests and those interests can lead to social interactions that you can take at your own pace, just don't rule things out because they make you uncomfortable. I can't tell you how many times I got invited to parties that I forced myself to go to, only to sit in isolation, more or less daring someone to approach and talk to me. I see me again, intense discussions on subject can happen but not all the time. Lately I went to the Director's home to teach him how to use a computerized telescope. He had mild interest really.. I wonder what all that was about. 1 Week later he talk to me about selling the telescope.. damnit, a very nice telescope.

At my age, I have built a solid interface to the so called normal world, but I make no more concessions to it than I feel necessary. Just own who you are!

May you find a future in which you are comfortable. Thanks..

CBT can help as you're not expected to have the neurotypical mask on !were you socialised as a young child ?I'll answer why after you answer me!

 

[ClearQz]

CBT can help as you're not expected to have the neurotypical mask on !were you socialised as a young child ?I'll answer why after you answer me!

I did an introspection and honestly my social life was not too bad when I was a child. I was the kind of kid hanging with 1 good friend all the time especially at the elementary school. I never was part of any groups except in high school 4th and 5th grade, but I didn't belong there it was just to hide in plain sight.

Pre-School: 1 good friend (JF) And a couple of secondary friends too from the street.
01: 1 friend. (JF?) And a couple of secondary friends too from the street.
02: One good friend Jo (no more friends from the street) (Major integration problems started here)
03: One good friend Jo (no more friends from the street)
04: 1 good friend (JP) (Jo doubled his school year and remained at the same school, me I went to a special class with 10 students in another school nearby, sad memories but the 4th grade was perhaps my favourite of all of the school years.
05: School 1 , 0 friends (JP changed of school), School 2, 1 friend. (Daniel).
06: Hemmm I can't remember 1 specific friend, Daniel was gone, that year was very difficult socially.

Mostly 1 person all the time and rarely in groups, it happened but it felt wrong to me, too much social dynamics. JO and JP had serious social problems too, just like me but the bond was very strong, these were very good friends.

We supported each other.

I think JP was probably autistic, I remember the first time I saw him, his face was not normal strange eyes, he was the kind of kid with super super deep interest in specific subjects, far more advanced then others. We talked about final fantasy literally all the time and nothing could stop us from talking about it like in some kind of bubble. He was on medication just like me.. and he was not eating during lunch time, ever. Actually JO took Ritalin also.. looks like a repetitive pattern here.

 

[Streetwise]

The reason is lack of socialisation looks like autism but the neurotypical brain could be stimulated (remapped,rewired)to be neurotypical,neurodiverse no will always be neurologically different, comorbid conditions are common but in different percentages to all neurologies,so autism isn't blindness, deafness,permanently non verbal( that is brain damage) or choice (coping mechanism)
I think the problem with ritalin is if you're anxious and autistic it could present as ADHD but the drug would have adverse effects on an autistic neurology.

 

[ClearQz]

The reason is lack of socialisation looks like autism but the neurotypical brain could be stimulated (remapped,rewired)to be neurotypical,neurodiverse no will always be neurologically different, comorbid conditions are common but in different percentages to all neurologies,so autism isn't blindness, deafness,permanently non verbal( that is brain damage) or choice (coping mechanism)
I think the problem with ritalin is if you're anxious and autistic it could present as ADHD but the drug would have adverse effects on an autistically neurology.

Ritalin did not much on me, it made me feel sick, that's about it, it was pretty ineffective overall and not really helping my grades. I am very anxious person and always was.

 

[Streetwise]

Ritalin did not much on me, it made me feel sick, that's about it, it was pretty ineffective overall and not really helping my grades. I am very anxious person and always was.

Ask about talk therapy which will naturally change your brain chemistry\thinking ssri's still affect the heart\lungs so you feel !!!!it when they wear off

 

[VictorR]

Ok good to know that it was positive.

I started the investigation with the first clinic I was told about today.. That one should be covered by our "free healthcare" system. (not the same system as in the US, but often the delays are very long.) I was told that it's around 1900CAD to do it with a private clinic and probably much faster.

There is a whole strict procedure to follow with the free clinic, they even need an interview with a person who knew me well when I was a kid of 4 - 5 years old . My parents are still living but... wow, I didn't had in mind to get them involved in this.

I also need to gather any relevant psychological exam available. It turned out that as a kid of maybe 8- 9 years old, I was diagnosed with hyperactivity, not sure but perhaps learning disabilities also. Basically, it was required for me to take Ritalin or they would kick me out of the elementary school for causing too much trouble in the class, they threatened to put me in a special school for children with problems back then.

So I'll try to get a copy of that if the information still exists in the archives after 32 years. It could be a starting point.

Welcome!

For a diagnosis under DSM 5, yes, one of the things they are supposed to have is confirmation that the signs were present at or about age 5, and so that's the reason why they commonly ask for a parent, sibling, or someone else who remembers you at that age to be available for an interview.

Of course, some do without, especially if they are doing the diagnosis under other guides.

Are you in Alberta? It's the only province I'm familiar with that offers adult AS testing in the public system.

 

[ClearQz]

Welcome!

For a diagnosis under DSM 5, yes, one of the things they are supposed to have is confirmation that the signs were present at or about age 5, and so that's the reason why they commonly ask for a parent, sibling, or someone else who remembers you at that age to be available for an interview.

Of course, some do without, especially if they are doing the diagnosis under other guides.

Are you in Alberta? It's the only province I'm familiar with that offers adult AS testing in the public system.

Hello, I am reading a book right now called "The complete guide to Asperger syndrome" And honestly so far, I don't see me there at all as a child.

I see many similarities as I read the book but also many points where it's not me. I already had an evaluation at 8 years old and they gave me a diagnostic of Hyperactive, not autism or Asperger.

Starting to wonder if my social difficulties (which started literally from day one) could originate from elsewhere such as a peculiar social education. And my social education was most certainly that. My education as a child was not standard... both parents were heavy drug addicts for more then 10 years before they had me.

I am very very confused with the results of the 2 tests I did on the internet and 2 colleagues telling me that I share similarities with the syndrome. And Yet, reading the book, I don't see myself there very much.

It's possible that my state was created by me from scratch... since I start programming my mind by myself at 19 years old with stuff from books. Perhaps my colleagues are tricked by that, they don't know how to handle me.

I am not in Alberta but I found a free clinic in my province, they do adults, they are waiting for the various papers now.

 

[ClearQz]

All right, I would like to get honest answers here, no BS or political correctness, If required, the complete, mean, truth.

Why do you think this discussion is dead already?

--> That would help me a lot to understand what happened.