Therapy and Diagnosis Progress

[Oda a la Tormenta]

Hello all.
So as my therapy has been progressing(we are really still in the starting stages) my diagnosis as a possible aspie(I'm awaiting diagnosis) has only been talked about vaguely. We have been dealing with a myriad of things and until last session hadn't made progress in that area. And everything in Psychology connects to everything else...ect ect. so diagnosis is slow and steady on all fronts, except for what I came in with, which wasn't much.

This past session though, she really started to discuss things more deeply, using language that is consistent with this diagnosis and starting to outline more what this looks like for me. Still no concrete "You have...." diagnosis. has been spoken to me.
More just treating me and speaking to me and breaking things down within the scope of ASD.
I guess I am just confused. Why talk to me as though I have this and start working with me in this area but not put a name to it? I guess there is a method, I'm just not understanding I guess. Please don't misunderstand, it's not about a label. It's just so hard to get people to understand what Im going through WITH the damn label...let alone without. And I'm talking about the ones that matter to me.


If anyone can add any of their experiences to this it would helpful. Also thanks for listening. This is proving vexing...and I wish to stay in my own world most days, with my books and music, even though logically I know this can't be healthy. Again thank you.

 

[Starfire]

I'm guessing, that your psychologist isn't in a position to say anything for certain until you have your assessment. She may however be happy to work with you on the basis that she has seen enough to presume, or suspect, that you are indeed on the spectrum. The psychologist who dealt with my daughter was adamant that it would take quite some time to rule out what she defiantly didn't have, before he could come to a conclusion of what she did have. Actually, at the first meeting when my wife asked, he told her based on what he'd seen and read about her so far, he doubted she had ASD. Nine months later, after many sessions, observations, meetings, reports, contact with her school and a formal assessment with two other colleagues, he was telling us that despite all of her efforts to hide and disguise her condition, he and his colleagues had absolutely no doubt that she fulfilled all the criteria for an ASD diagnosis!

Have you come out and asked something like, 'in your profesional opinion, do you think I might fulfill the criteria for an ASD diagnosis?'

It could be just a case of time to gather evidence, and the fact that females appear to be more proficient in disguising, mimicking, copying etc, making a diagnosis more difficult. I think it's good your psychologist isn't jumping to conclusions and is being thorough.

 

[OkRad]

Autism specialists are getting very protective of the dx. This is necuz of resources. U may have had the dx but not now since the dsm changed. The spectrum is narrowing.

 

[Oda a la Tormenta]

I'm guessing, that your psychologist isn't in a position to say anything for certain until you have your assessment. She may however be happy to work with you on the basis that she has seen enough to presume, or suspect, that you are indeed on the spectrum. The psychologist who dealt with my daughter was adamant that it would take quite some time to rule out what she defiantly didn't have, before he could come to a conclusion of what she did have. Actually, at the first meeting when my wife asked, he told her based on what he'd seen and read about her so far, he doubted she had ASD. Nine months later, after many sessions, observations, meetings, reports, contact with her school and a formal assessment with two other colleagues, he was telling us that despite all of her efforts to hide and disguise her condition, he and his colleagues had absolutely no doubt that she fulfilled all the criteria for an ASD diagnosis!

Have you come out and asked something like, 'in your profesional opinion, do you think I might fulfill the criteria for an ASD diagnosis?'

It could be just a case of time to gather evidence, and the fact that females appear to be more proficient in disguising, mimicking, copying etc, making a diagnosis more difficult. I think it's good your psychologist isn't jumping to conclusions and is being thorough.

Thank you for your input and for sharing your personal experience. It is heartening to see that I'm not alone in this, and for someone to explain to me the possible processes they are going through to diagnose. I knew about the male/female differences. And that it can be more difficult to diagnose women sometimes.

I am finding that people want an immediate answer, like so many things in life. I want to clarify that this isn't me...but people around me. And in turn it is stressing me out. They don't want to hear it can take months.

I was hard enough for me to agree to therapy and this whole process...I wish for them to leave well enough alone. Again thank you.

 

[Oda a la Tormenta]

Autism specialists are getting very protective of the dx. This is necuz of resources. U may have had the dx but not now since the dsm changed. The spectrum is narrowing.

I have never had the diagnosis until now, they have presented me with a possible diagnosis of being Aspergers. I have only just started therapy and seen them a handful of times. I know this can be complicated. The post was more about dealing with those around me who want a quick answer where there isn't one to be had. Thank you for your insight.

 

[Starfire]

I agree that we live in a culture where people want answers NOW! However, as you're now aware getting a diagnosis isn't like that. It takes time to gather the relevant information, make observations of a persons speech patterns, body language, eye contact, stims, special interests, and to observe how someone interacts with others, etc, etc and that's just the beginning! Factor into that someone might be actively trying to disguise or fake some of those things to avoid a diagnosis because of possible stigma attached for example. My daughter asked us if her diagnosis can just stay in the family, as she has a hard enough time as it is in school without the kids finding out, sad I know but it is what it is.

It took 6 months for me to get my diagnosis and my mother was interviewed at length too, as yours probably will.

I know how stressful it can all be and I can empathise with you. What can be even worse though, is when you get a diagnosis and people don't believe it, which is also quite common. Perhaps you could tell those around you something like, 'isn't it important that the psychologist makes the right decision? Well that will take time and there's no rush. A diagnosis will stay with me for life, so a 6 month wait is nothing in the scheme of things!

I'm happy anything I may have said was useful to you, good luck on your journey!

 

[Starfire]

Autism specialists are getting very protective of the dx. This is necuz of resources. U may have had the dx but not now since the dsm changed. The spectrum is narrowing.

That was interesting to read. I understood that the whole point of the DSM change was to make the idea of the spectrum more prominent, and inclusive of people who may have been on the fringes of a diagnosis before. I'm happy to be corrected though. I don't think the issue of resources is as relevant in the UK, because diagnostic services only diagnose then discharge once the process is complete. Even with a diagnosis, there is practically nothing in the way of services offered therefore the cost to the NHS is for a diagnosis only. I understand in other countries with insurance etc the process can be prohibitively expensive for many people.