Visit To The G.P. (horrendous)

[total-recoil]

I called in to see my G.P. to ask about getting confirmation as to whether I have aspergers or not. He was highly skeptical but I've heard other people have encountered the same reaction. However, I stood my ground and the GP agreed to refer to a psychiatrist (why not a psychologist?)
The objective is simple. My strong view is I do have either aspergers or high autism. Friends say no. G.P. says no. Family says no. Yet how can they tell? Do they really understand how it feels to be different. I asked the GP what experience he has had with aspergers and then amazingly he replied none at all with adults, only autism with children. Well, I didn't say so but at the very least I've read up thoroughly on aspergers and now have some idea of what it involves. And really that matters because this is a complex issue, not quite like diagnosing the common cold.
Soooo, now we shall see. The basic plan is I'll outline to the psychiatrist why I believe I have A.S. and will ask a professional opinion. If he (or she agrees) then I plan to live my life to the fullest and simply be aware my views have some sort of foundation elsewhere. If I'm wrong, then that may not be so good as it would leave me in limbo. However, it would be something I'd have to accept and then proceed from there.
It didn't help when the G.P. put his head in his hands in despair as if to say, "I've never heard anything like this before!" Talk about theatrical!
Someone please help! I hope I am on the right track.:S

 

[eon]

Personally I don't think this is the right approach. There is so much information to be learned about the spectrum. What I truly recommend is aspie discovery. We've been thinking about this all wrong. What it leads to is destructive, minimizing, negative.

My reasoning is I guess I've never had great or even adequate experiences with psychological or medical professionals...
I don't trust them.
I feel like I shouldn't waste my time with them. Diagnosis as it has existed for the spectrum is just cold and inhuman. Aspie discovery is humanized and empowering.

 

[smith2267]

I didn't have any trouble, but that may be because I go to a university hospital. My doctor is a resident--I prefer young doctors, they are more open minded. Do you live near a teaching hospital?

 

[total-recoil]

If you refer to aspergers being classed as a kind of illness that uses psychology to "conform" the aspie to a stereotype then I agree. I already decided I've no intention of being patronised by professionals in the name of conformity. I would certainly be open to being helped to make symptoms less obvious to others although really I think I could gradually do this by myself (to a degree).
The reason I went to see a G.P. is this and possibly a few of you will relate well to what I'm going to say:
First and foremost, I'd like some official recognition that I fit into the autism spectrum. Not so much official diagnosis but just recognition at a professional level, hopefully by a sympathetic, open-minded analyst. To me this means that I have some further basis to my own diagnosis.
The next point is fundamental. Lately I've been forced to acknowledge the extent to which aspergers has impacted on my life. There is a very strong positive in as much as I did really well academically (self-taught) but the negative always has been non acceptance in social circles. That is, difificulty making and keeping friendships, problems being classed as "weird" at work, relationships with women eventually breaking up and very definite problems with awareness. The list goes on. Despite all the negatives, I've no desire to change who I am or conform to some accepted norm but I do need to hopefully look at ways whereby I can find alternatives.
One hard lesson I feel I finally learned is how difficult your life can become if you're not understood.
So, I'll be seeing a psychologist in two months or so and will then outline why I feel convinced I have aspergers. If the psychologist agrees, possibly there will be practical suggestions as to how to go on understanding it all. Who knows? However, I have gotten a bit irked by friends dismissing mty aspergers as fantasy which I think acted as a trigger to see someone specialised. At least if a psychologist accepts my diagnosis I'm not out there on my own. If that makes any sense.

Personally I don't think this is the right approach. There is so much information to be learned about the spectrum. What I truly recommend is aspie discovery. We've been thinking about this all wrong. What it leads to is destructive, minimizing, negative.

My reasoning is I guess I've never had great or even adequate experiences with psychological or medical professionals...
I don't trust them.
I feel like I shouldn't waste my time with them. Diagnosis as it has existed for the spectrum is just cold and inhuman. Aspie discovery is humanized and empowering.