No diagnosis? WTH?

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I think how I'd take that is that they viewed you to have traits of the spectrum, but not be diagnosable, even if that's because of having created coping strategies for yourself. It sounds to me like you have solidly autistic traits, but don't have a disability, and the disability is required to get the diagnosis.


However, I can't imagine getting a diagnosis in only 15 minutes. Mine took about 6 hours between two sessions and included a large amount of testing as well as just talking to me.

The same thing happened to me OP, but don't feel bad. It's even worst that I'm an adult woman, and they say AS women are good at "performing" infront of an audience.

I sat down with the doctor for about ten minutes and he said I do NOT have aspergers because I could make eye contact, which I that was inane. I told him that I kept getting complaints and pulled away at the side at work for LACK of eye contact with customers and because I don't "acknowledge them"; as in, eye-contact or whatever the hell you're supposed to do. I even told him one friend from college (someone told her she was the only person that I willingly talked to) said I won't look people in the eye and my eyes get shifty because it makes me feel uncomfortable.

I've taught myself how to come off as a confident NT women from years of practice, but I cannot keep it up after a period of time. And to top it off, he said I just have social phobia which can be fixed with medication

I've never heard of a 15 minute ASD assessment. Actual assessments take a few hours to give, and sometimes involve interviews with family members.

Concerning eye contact and humor, being able to make eye contact or having a sense of humor does not exclude one from a diagnosis of AS. Lack of eye contact or inability to maintain it is just one potential trait.

The diagnostic criteria for this category states...

I'd say consider it a consult/general doc's appointment where he gave you his opinion rather than any attempt at a diagnosis. You can suspect AS in 15 minutes but there's no way you can diagnose it (or attempt to) in that length of time even if you are a medical professional... my dX was based mainly on a bunch of self-report paperwork but the interview still took about an hour, with two psychologists.

What paperoceans said is very close to my own situation insofar as eye contact and acknowledgement! I got pulled aside at work by the assistant manager; however, it was never documented in a performance evaluation. At the same time, I did develop a rapport with the people we serve...

Co-workers never understood why I was so rigid and inflexible about workplace relationships - including strict boundaries in even platonic relationships at work to the point where I was seen as cold and impersonal. I have had a couple of meltdowns/shutdowns on the job as well from dealing with the stress of people trying to force me into roles I'm not made to fulfill.

Everyone from co-workers to personal friends can pick out those traits that seem to stick out. When you add them all up, AS/ASD/PDD-NOS/BAP become distinct possibilities vis-a-vis the DSM-IV criteria along with one or two things I can add to the mix about myself, such as stimming.

I can trace my issues all the way back from childhood to the present time...same song, different day! Mind you, I've never been diagnosed as there was no diagnosis in the 1970s.

Although I have managed to do somethings with my life (own a car, have a job, pay bills, etc.), I have had significant problems with life issues that would fall under the category of executive dysfunction, perhaps.

The twisted part is that it is likely to be difficult for me to get a proper diagnosis because of the level of apparent progress despite the problems - which I feel is fundamentally irresponsible. I have significant impairments which have had a direct impact on my daily life!

This is for any women here who suspect that they have Aspergers; I was reading Aspergirls and it is said we are often misdiagnosed with mental disorders--usually bipolar disorder because of our meltdowns, etc. I was diagnosed with GAD and Depression when I was 9, but then bipolar when I was 19--and after my "ten minute diagnosis" he said my problem with social phobia. My conclusion?

They don't know what they're talking about and you have to be VERY careful.

Surreal, my story is just about the same. I think I was diagnosed with bipolar through a one hour diagnosis, because I told them when I was in grade school, I would get overwhelmed and start sobbing--I called them meltdowns. I worked at Taco Bell as a teenager and one day there was JUST TOO MUCH. Too many customers, too many people talking, the bathroom was flooding. I see it now as a flashback and all I remember is HOW DAMN BRIGHT the restaurant was. And how many people there was--before I knew about Aspergers I told them I felt like I was overstimulated since I felt even as a child I do not do well when there is too much going on at once. I lost it at the job. Locked myself in the bathroom sobbing and ran out of the store in full freak out mode. When I told them that, they said I'm bipolar and gave me HEAVY drugs that I felt like I did not need!

At this point, I don't think a diagnose is even worth it unless you really need it. If you think you have it, then you probably do.

I've found that if you're female and want a diagnosis, you need to go to a specialist.