Hello! I'm new. I really need to talk about this.

Post Reply New Topic

I joined this page for a very particular reason. Recently at work, I was told that I might be autistic; they have been hinting at it for some time and I have noticed their intentions. The thing is, I’m not, and I’m very sure of myself and my identity. The person who made this comment is skilled at identifying autistics: as a psychologist, that’s their job. However, their criteria do not override mine in this very particular matter about who or how I am. This person began to make a series of observations to strengthen their argument about why I would be autistic, all focused on lack of social skills and theory of mind; I know I have (relatively) many things to improve in that area, and their comments are largely supported because I have let them “advance in their point of view” since I am prudent and keep silent about various situations or in various scenarios related to these concepts, and, in addition, such a person is hierarchically superior to me at work. I didn’t answer that they in turn has some attitudes and behaviors also attributable to lack of social skills and theory of mind, for obvious reasons.

Apart from all this, I believe that a comment like the one I received (that I am supposedly autistic), directed at someone like me, who has lived more than 30 years with an identity forged outside of any diagnosis, is harmful, as I grew up and developed in the regularity (or whatever it should be called) of the NT world, and although I have had challenges of all kinds, including social ones, at the present time I cannot say that, on balance, I have done badly: I have a stable job and I am studying a postgraduate degree, although on the other hand I have only had a partner several years ago and I am currently single and without expectation that this status will change in the short or medium term because, although I want to, flirting is not my strong suit. I maintain, from an ontological perspective, that if a subject is already structured as NT and as such has formed and faced day to day, a diagnosis of autism (regardless of whether it is true or not; I maintain that I am not) would only enclose their possibilities and their life project as they have been building it, and inserts it into a logic of second-class subject who must be reformed: this is demonstrated to me by the person who made that comment, as they consider autistics around them as people with irrelevant or worthless opinions in what pertains to the social sphere. And that is unacceptable to me: I, without being autistic, have a point of view that is just as respectable; and I believe that also the opinions of an autistic person in principle have the same value even if they deal with a social issue.

I share this introduction about myself hoping not to receive criticism about any failure in the reasoning I have exposed; I seek, rather, your understanding. Thank you.

Postdata: By the way, my native language is Spanish.

In many places an adult diagnosis is not useful for obtaining any assistance.
Where I live autism is a childhood disease and services end when adulthood is reached.

But, some people need to know.

I don't need a diagnosis to reduce stressors.
I am bothered by loud noises in theaters. I wear high fidelity earplugs the same as musicians wear.

I shop when the stores are less crowded.

Perhaps just a glance through the diagnostic criteria in the DSM 5 would be a fair idea. I spent years denying my autism until I actually looked at the DSM and after reading it said ok, maybe I should actually look into this further.

All that said, you know yourself best. Autism is usually diagnosed when you have enough traits and also experience impairment because of them.

Welcome here.

(Italy)

I don't understand if it was useful and positive or useless and negative as an observation.

At work...

A medical psychologist should have a different way of thinking.

For a serious diagnosis it takes time and above all the person must ask for it.

There are many syndromes or comorbidities or varied expressions of anything but autism.

Then there: they could ask for consent first, without making people uncomfortable.

Autistic is seen as limiting to work (usually).

So this can be an annoying attitude.


I think that if you have valid reasons for wanting to understand what you are, you can do it on your own.

Usually, well, it happens for two distinct reasons.

1) We don't understand what we are and what we want to function in a world we don't understand

2) In older people, who have done everything in their existence completely on their own, then they find an answer to a strange question...

autism would be the answer.


<>
If you don't feel the need and you don't have any particular problems, including social ones...

why look for explanations?


*I don't like the concept of others at work assuming medical diagnoses about others, who have never even covertly asked for them.

For those interested, there are self-assessment tests, but of course: no one should ever be forced to do things they don't feel like doing.

I find it disrespectful

Thank you all for your feedback.

I wouldn’t want to expose or delve into what my profession is, but I think to give more context I can say, without any intention of boasting, that in my undergraduate years I had to study materials concerning the branches of psychology and philosophy, and from those readings I have formed the points of view that to some extent I tried to reflect in the post.

I stand by my stance about myself, but that comment, coming from a hierarchically superior person, has caused me to be on really very high alert about any possibility that I am not doing something socially appropriate (and equal to that person’s point of view) in my work, in which I regularly deal with people and social skills are required. That is, it was a counterproductive comment that I received; and I came here to share it looking for understanding and people to talk to about it, because I know that, like everyone to some extent, I need to improve some things socially, but I didn’t need an observation like ‘you might be autistic’, even if the one who said it is a clinical psychologist.

There are many people in the medical profession with autism. Some traits of autism are useful for studying and passing exams while others are not.

An issue with autism is that it may prevent you from getting the full message when talking to someone.
Body language and facial expressions may be misinterpreted or ignored by someone with autism.

Welcome to WP! And note that you do not have to be Autistic to be here.

The Autism-Spectrum Quotient Test (AQ) and Aspie Quiz might be easy ways for you to check to what degree you have Autistic traits. If they say you are not Autistic then that might help you reinforce your assertion that you are not Autistic.

Note, however, they might say you are Autistic or that you show some Autistic traits but not enough to merit an Autism diagnosis.

Or, you might have some traits resembling Autism but, in fact, have something else.

Or...they just might be wrong.

These answers are very interesting.
1)My doctor is autistic and he is super
2) Also true about the traits as they write in response
3) Absolutely also in agreement with non-verbal communication, and ***** What ***** do you communicate because I'll add it, we communicate badly, it must be said, we communicate badly with NTs because we don't realize it

You need to understand how much it affects you

4)I'll give you an example.

Even today I always have to decipher what is not said by the NT, I don't understand their intentions unless they are made explicit, I have other difficulties that most of you fortunately don't have.

*I would like to point out that many of you have been struck by the combination of problems that are different from autism and we all have many of them.


<>
His words and spoken by a psychologist perhaps trained in something else, that is, very good at doing other things, but who perhaps doesn't know much about autism...

and saying things like that are not ethical, at least in Italy no one would do it.

You can also be struck off the psychologist register, I'm writing this because it's important.

You are now at a disadvantage at work and perhaps in other places.

Before you were integrated in your own way, without prejudice to the clarifications of the posts above mine, which I stress you to pay attention to.

However, you don't have autism, you were born autistic.

*There are also different discriminants.

Then let's say you are a subclinical case?

A middle ground between ND and well-compensated NT?

If not, you always learn something.

I'm like a human computer: I copy and paste and make my own.

But *Where I can* , in some things it is
impossible.

Ciao

welcome welcome welcome!

If the comment bothers you I think you should ask for a clarification. "Why do you think this?" Tell him/her that you don't think you are autistic and try your arguments against each other. If you don't want to confront this psychologist I think you could instead try to prove him/her wrong by in the future exposing him/her to your neurotypical traits.

Hello,
I am also new here and was diagnosed with Autism, level 1 and PTSD just a couple of days ago. These diagnoses, of course, came after extensive discussions with my family doctor, my [new] psychologist, and several hours of psychological testing & evaluation. I should also add that I am 55 years old and have never had a mental health diagnosis. I should also add (in reference to your post) that I hold two masters' degrees and have long been in the world of academia and mental health as a provider.
There is a lot of meaningful discussion here, which is wonderful and I hope is helpful to you. In the current social climate, we tend to think of autism as divergent rather than a hinderance - in some cases it is even seen as a 'superpower'. Autism (any ASD or ND) is not seen as something that is inherently wrong and in need of being fixed - rather, it is seen as a difference similar to other personal / individual differences. My psychologist stated that it is the idea that the world & society has been designed by and for those without autism - and this is why it is challenging. For me, this journey toward diagnosis began when I was assisting an adult client in taking an assessment for autism and noticed that many of the items were very much like my own identity; I decided to reach out to my doctor, and months later here I am. In many ways it is a relief, helping me to make sense of my life thus far and giving me a framework with which to assist my family in understanding me / my communication / expression / outlook. That being said, not everyone needs or wants a diagnosis.
My suggestion would be this: rather than focusing on what has been said to you and how it should have been handled differently (I agree that it should have not happened as it did and am sorry you experienced that), reflect on your life since childhood, learn more about ASD and take a 'starter' online assessment. The online assessments are not diagnostic by any means, however they are sometimes helpful in giving us some guidance as to whether this is worth further exploration. If it feels like you have no desire to do this, then let go of what was said to you because you cannot control or change what others feel / do/ say.
Regarding my own journey I am happy to have some direction and resources available to help me improve and understand my communication with others and to address the PTSD. I hope this is helpful to you in some way.

At work I'd have great ideas. Rather than bring them up in a meeting where my poor social skills would be evident, I'd email those ideas to someone else and let them run with it! This allowed me to bring up ideas in places where I normally wouldn't attend meetings.

Hello and welcome here ... ... This psychologist does not sound very professional .even if you had interveiwed with him at any point . He is being intrusive and arrogant by offering uninvited opinions .
[[Highly intelligent individuals]] can be often misdiagnosed as other various disorders .Which makes it doubly disrespectful. IMHO . It appears that by how you have used words and concepts you describe in your post . Obviously points out that you could be VERY likely on the high end of the intelligence I.Q. scale . Wish you all the best at resolving this situation .