Mixed-Up New Person

[Wolf31]

im even more mixed up than you! diagnosed 2.5 years ago! dont have answers! dont even know if i have friends or what that is!people waste !their time thinking i will understand!!! if they explain!!!!!!!!!! the meaning !.
a doctor 5 or six years ago didnt help inferring i was a hypochondriac,to me the medical community think it means we are toxic .
i definitely think some! young and not so young! male NDs are toxic not all!!!!!!!!!.

Sounds like you have a really rough go at things.

This may be your saving grace
I wanted to know everything, immediately.
I couldn’t take the information in fast enough.
I wanted to find something that disproved my theory.
Needed to find something that meant I couldn’t be on the spectrum.

By going at the information available like an ‘interest’
I wasn’t understanding and assimilating it.
(I was only looking for something to show me I wasn’t asd)

I like what Fridge wrote in his reply about how you might just ‘take a moment’

Breathe, read, slow down.
Those Aspie traits aren’t going anywhere, you have all the time in the world to learn about yourself.

Good luck and I hope we’ll hear from you soon

Yeah, I did the same thing. Gathered a ton of information on it, but still not quite believing it. Just takes time I guess, like you said.

There is a prevalent Rain Man stereotype of what it is to be Autistic. Sadly, that stereotype is not going away any time soon although people are becoming more educated and open-minded about the matter. I think we all eventually learn ways to pass in the neurotypical society. I know that I no longer outwardly appear as Autistic but the efforts to pass leave me physically, mentally, and emotionally spent. Even though I have developed some social skills, the self-discovery only took me so far as I have significant difficulty deciphering the unwritten rules at work. Thus, I continuously have problems figuring out what the expectations are beyond what is written down in a job description. I still have a lot of sensory issues that aren't going away and may actually be worsening with age.

Hmm, so then it is possible to hide it pretty well from outsiders? So far it has just been close family and my therapist who have noticed it, but I came to think of myself as some sort of monster before this studying on Aspergers and have pretty much locked myself up so that I can't mess up other people and frustrate them. If I could learn, maybe I won't be such a disaster.

 

[Wolf31]

I can relate to the difficulties that you are referring to. I was diagnosed with Asperger's at the age of 42, that is after getting a second opinion because the first therapist said I did not have Asperger's. Yet, I spent most of my life living in isolation and I suffer from all the co-occurring conditions of Asperger's: Anxiety, Depression (my depression is now under control), Agoraphobia, A.D.H.D and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). My advice to you is to seek a diagnosis from a psychologist who specializes in high functioning autism (Asperger's). This the only way that you will know one way or another and only then you will know how to deal with what you have.

Hmm, my therapist suggested the same, but I'm not sure I can afford testing like that at the moment. I've heard it is expensive.

 

[Mattymatt]

Hmm, my therapist suggested the same, but I'm not sure I can afford testing like that at the moment. I've heard it is expensive.

I think the cost depends on a lot of things. I know that it is more expensive to have a psychiatrist than a psychologist do the testing. Mine was expensive at almost a thousand dollars but a noted, respected psychiatrist did mine so the testing even held up to the scrutiny of the Social Security Disability Determination Board. I had to go on disability when I developed severe anxiety, clinical depression, and could not work. If you decide on testing, put aside some money so that you can go to the best possible practitioner because you want the tests to be performed competently and by a known and respected doctor.

 

[Wolf31]

I think the cost depends on a lot of things. I know that it is more expensive to have a psychiatrist than a psychologist do the testing. Mine was expensive at almost a thousand dollars but a noted, respected psychiatrist did mine so the testing even held up to the scrutiny of the Social Security Disability Determination Board. I had to go on disability when I developed severe anxiety, clinical depression, and could not work. If you decide on testing, put aside some money so that you can go to the best possible practitioner because you want the tests to be performed competently and by a known and respected doctor.

Yikes, a thousand dollars is a lot.

 

[clg114]

Yikes, a thousand dollars is a lot.

I think it depends a lot on where you are. Another member from the Chicago area, told me that it costs $2000 there. I live in Idaho and it cost me $350. I went to a clinical psychologist with experience with autism. I had three appointments and was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (DSM IV 299.80). This was ten years ago.

Keep in mind that we are all different and have different situations. I do think that my diagnosis was probably on the low end of the cost scale.

 

[Wolf31]

I think it depends a lot on where you are. Another member from the Chicago area, told me that it costs $2000 there. I live in Idaho and it cost me $350. I went to a clinical psychologist with experience with autism. I had three appointments and was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (DSM IV 299.80). This was ten years ago.

Keep in mind that we are all different and have different situations. I do think that my diagnosis was probably on the low end of the cost scale.

Hm, it sounds like a very wide price margin. Guess I'll just have to hunt down local prices around my area.