gina-ghettoprincess
Veteran
Joined: 8 Nov 2008
Age: 31
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,669
Location: The Town That Time Forgot (UK)
09 Sep 2009, 2:32 pm
Congratulations! 
I might be getting diagnosed soon as well!
09 Sep 2009, 2:33 pm
09 Sep 2009, 2:35 pm
09 Sep 2009, 2:47 pm
I remember when I was new to WP, I couldn't understand all the congrats and fuss when someone got a dx. Now, oh boy, do I understand why all the congrats and fuss! So if anyone new to the AS thing is reading: the congrats and the fuss are because:
1. The older ones among us have been labelled with so much more horrible things that an AS dx feels like a new birth, a purification from all "sins" (Aspie traits, in fact) we've been punished for all our lives, absolution, baptism, release from the prison we were born in.
2. Many of us live in places/countries where most professionals are so ignorant and biased that they'll attribute your AS traits to things like the previous shrink diagnosed me with: "You were just born with a sh***y character, that's all. Nothing to do about it. Some people are born with a sh***y character and that's it. Tough luck."
3. We feel terror of not getting an AS dx because it'd confirm our first fears: that we're evil / crazy / alien / selfish / stupid / you name it.
4. Erm...is there a 4? 
Oh yes! A dx means those of us who can't work because we're always fired for being "weird" / "different" can still survive, by getting social security money each month.
09 Sep 2009, 2:55 pm
Congrats, better late than later as I always say. 
09 Sep 2009, 2:56 pm
09 Sep 2009, 3:01 pm
1. The older ones among us have been labelled with so much more horrible things that an AS dx feels like a new birth, a purification from all "sins" (Aspie traits, in fact) we've been punished for all our lives, absolution, baptism, release from the prison we were born in.
2. Many of us live in places/countries where most professionals are so ignorant and biased that they'll attribute your AS traits to things like the previous shrink diagnosed me with: "You were just born with a sh***y character, that's all. Nothing to do about it. Some people are born with a sh***y character and that's it. Tough luck."
3. We feel terror of not getting an AS dx because it'd confirm our first fears: that we're evil / crazy / alien / selfish / stupid / you name it.
4. Erm...is there a 4?
Oh yes! A dx means those of us who can't work because we're always fired for being "weird" / "different" can still survive, by getting social security money each month.I'm new here, but I totally get this. I just know I'm going to have to wade through reeking piles of #1 and #2 before I get a diagnosis. Especially since I'm self diagnosed. I don't think the head shrinkers like it when their subjects know more about what is going on with their own minds than the head shrinkers do. It's not going to help that most of the ones I run across are likely to have IQs lower than mine. That's just going to make them even pissier and eager to find faults with my character and state of sanity. I swear, I dread this process I'm starting so much I think it's making me a little crazy. But you got through it, and others have as well, so I can get through it, too.
09 Sep 2009, 3:03 pm
09 Sep 2009, 3:23 pm
09 Sep 2009, 3:24 pm
09 Sep 2009, 3:53 pm
Ralou, that's exactly how I felt before I started and during the process. I'd never appease them enough for them to give me the AS dx. So the first day, as I came in, and knowing that for NTs the first impression is what counts, I told her: "I'm probably going to talk as if I know better than you who has AS and who doesn't, what AS is, etc. I do know a lot better than you, from the point of view of the patient. But I know nothing professionally. I'm coming for a professional diagnosis, so the only opinion that counts here is YOURS." I think that neutralized her ego for the 2 sessions...
I think (maybe I'm wrong) that one thing that helped was that I told her that I'm very active on WP, and that I've been entrusted with the AWA (Asperger Women Association) Director for Israel role. Maybe it's logical that if you can contribute so much to the Aspie community, then you do know what it's like to be an Aspie...
She told me that all her doubts were removed when she asked me to describe how I live my Jerusalem obsession. She said it's so tremendously Aspie she just knew right then. Indeed, after I'd described how I catalog and organize the information about J'lem, my hour by hour itineraries, my excel trip plans for the next years, etc., I myself was shocked at how obsessive and systematic I am in my special interest. 
Just sharing these things as they might help someone seeking a dx...
09 Sep 2009, 4:00 pm
09 Sep 2009, 4:20 pm
09 Sep 2009, 4:21 pm
Congratulations GreenTea. I am very happy for you.
09 Sep 2009, 4:26 pm
I'll still visit sometimes.
I just can't spend near as much time as I have. Like Glider-18 said, spending too much time gets in the way of other things. I am glad I saw this diagnosis post. What a great weight off your shoulders.
Thanks for the vote of confidence. But if I really knew the ins and outs, I'd be a therapist myself and I'm not. I just like spending time with people here and the debates are fun too. And so many people had childhood experiences like my daughter that I feel I can relax some and not get so stressed out about her future. People here seem to be muddling through even though there are rough patches- lots of rough patches.
09 Sep 2009, 4:27 pm
Congrats, Greentea!!
