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Hey there!

hojita

hojita

Well-Known Member
Hi! My name is Kelsey, I'm 22 and I live in RI. I've always recognized myself in the description of Aspergers; my mom works with a lot of kids all over the spectrum and I grew up knowing about autism and such....I even asked my mom if she thought I was on the spectrum way back in elementary school, I guess I was hoping she'd see what I have always seen. Alas, she told me that was ridiculous and I never brought it up until recently.
I started seeing a new therapist and after a couple months, she suggested I get tested to rule out Aspergers, though both she and I are fairly certain that that will end up being the diagnosis. I'm not really sure how the process works....I have to check with insurance and all that (ugh!!!) but I'm not sure how it works after that. I also took that online quiz created by researchers at Cambridge(I think?) and my score was high/likely to have AS.

Either way....after 22 years of hating myself for being "weird" and not knowing why I am the way I am, it's more of a relief than anything to finally know what it is. I know it's not on paper yet, but I just know, if that makes sense. For the first time in my life I don't feel weird or broken....I know that I'm just different and there's nothing wrong with that!

So yes. Hello!
 
Hi, welcome to AC. Getting an actual diagnosis is difficult especially for adult women. Alot of people just work on learning about it on their own, finding support online and through books. In some areas there may be meetup groups depending on your area. The more you read about it, and talk to people who also have it, the more you will be able to know if you have it or not. There will come a point where you will know for sure, even if someone tells you different. After that, the official diagnosis may or may not be so important to you. The benefits of a diagnosis is the resources that may be available to you in regards to finding a job, education, disability, transportation. Also it can help others with understanding you better, some if they actually do the research and really look at you, they will know, others won't bother because they don't want to deal with it, and those are generally the people who don't want to believe it. Some parents I think don't want to admit it, because they think that means there is something wrong with them, or that they did something wrong.
 
Welcome to the jungle Kelsey! Here's hoping you fit in wonderfully (which I'm sure you will) :)
 
Hi!!!! Welcome to AC! it is not uncommon for parents even those that are around autsim not to see it in their own children sometimes. But Hugs you found us. Welcome!!!!
 
Thank you all for the warm welcome! :-)

I have started reading a lot about AS, especially the differences between girls and boys and there is no doubt in my mind that this is what has been going on. I have seen four psychiatrists who have bounced back and forth between ADHD, OCD, depression, and bipolar. I definitely have a touch if OCD and depression but no other diagnosis really fit. I thought t was ADHD forever, as did my family (my parents sat me down in second grade to tell me they saw it in me and explain it all to me, since it runs in my family). But any ADHD medication has never worked. The only thing that really makes sense, without a doubt in my mind, is Aspergers.

I guess I never realized that so many people never get a formal diagnosis, t least as adults. For me, it's important for a few reasons. For one thing, it would help me be assured that I have it(I doubt myself constantly). It would also help to have evidence for my parents, who mostly treat this as me bein dramatic and a hypochondriac. And lastly, I'm still in school and seriously struggling. I jut withdrew from classes for the semester and plan on taking he spring off to figure things out. This would also help explain why I'm struggling so much and I hope that with proper documentation I will be able to get some sort if accommodation at school if I need it.

Sorry for rambling, but yes. Thank you again for the warm welcome!! I'm so glad to have found this site, I'm still so overwhelmed and a bi lost!!
 
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