Can you help a newbie out?

Post Reply New Topic

I decided to join WP after reading the discussion forums over the past couple of months. After reading all the valuable help you guys give to one another, I am wondering if you can help a newbie out?

I figured out last October that I knew I must have Aspergers because a lot of the criteria fit with me. The only problem is that no one believed me at first (and some still do not). I decided that I wanted to verify my conclusion and so I went to see a neurologist who has had over thirty years in the field. For the first fifteen minutes of the appointment, he doubted I was anything but a neurotypical. Then, I was lucky enough to have my mother speak up for me and tell him that I have horrible anxiety, OCD, sudden meltdowns, light and sound sensory issues, etc. I went back to see him over my spring break to get a diagnosis (he wanted to look over my previous medical records and an MRI). He told me that I had "mild" Aspergers but that in the career field that I am going into it shouldn't be "officially" diagnosed because it could hurt me more than it would give me benefits. He wants to put me on OCD medication here in May while continuing to go counseling for help. I have been reading Tony Attwood's book about Aspergers and I can't help but think that I do not have "mild" Aspergers but I do have Aspergers (does that make sense)? I acted very similar to a child with Aspergers when I was younger but my mother told me she knew that I was not normal but did not really connect the dots until I did and told her about Aspergers. I am a 21 year old female and from doing research about this, it sounds like females are better at masking or acting neurotypical.

But my dilemma is how do I get help for the issues that I am having at my university and for next year being in graduate school if my doctor does not want to officially diagnose me? I should say that I agree with him because I can tell he genuinely does not want this to affect my ability to get a job, which I respect very much. He said he will keep the label of ADHD to help me get the accommodations but ADHD does not cover the umbrella of some of my other issues. So I was thinking of asking him in May to add OCD to the list. But is OCD even a disability that I can get accommodations for?

Sorry for the long introduction and rambling, but I am really struggling with this and any input or help at this point would be beneficial. Thanks so much!

Are there some rules I do not know about where you live?! - How would it keep you from getting a job? No wonder the statistics for ADHD is sky-high if thats the go-to diagnosis for everyone who does not want another "label"!

Can you let me know what career field you want to pursue? I am asking it in reference to doctor saying that diagnosis won't be good for your field.

On the other hand, since your doctor says it is better not to be diagnosed he is probably right. I mean suppose you get diagnosed and then regret it later, you won't be able to "undo" it. But if you don't get diagnosed you can always get diagnosed later. So logically its better to stay without diagnosis. As far as help you need, there is nothing magic about label so whatever it is you would do with the label you will do without.

I live in America but my doctor was saying if I get an Aspergers diagnosis, on a job resume or a background search, they could think that I could be more work than I am worth...even though thats false. But some of the research I have done has shown that Aspies get an ADHD or ADD label months to years before they receive a diagnosis for Aspergers. So may there is a sky-high rate of people who are on the autism spectrum and doesn't know it yet?



I will be going to pharmacy school in the fall. I want to go into developing drugs and in pharmaceutical research within the realm of genomics. He told me that the field I chose is perfect for me because this has been one of my interests since I was very little. And he made the whole point about "undo" the diagnosis which is where I knew my doctor was really looking out for my best interest.

It sounds as if you found one of those rare doctors who actually is good at what he does. In that case, I'd ask him your questions when you see him next. He's likely to have good answers, or at least some idea where you could look for them.

Welkome to WP

Mick

Welcome to WP! One of the great things about WP is that you are among people who have had similar experiences and can offer you advice and support.

The issue of diagnosis is one that gets discussed a lot here - you may like to try a search on the word diagnosis so that you can find some threads and see what has been said previously. The General Autism Discussion forum is also a good place to start looking for guidance etc.

Welcome to WP!