First Reaction when you were diagnosed with AS

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Probably it would have no effect any time. I plan to investigate the subject of PDD-NOS and its relation to the forthcoming changes in the diagnostic system. It seems that even in the states (where presumably AS is overdx'd) this is an issue of interest.

"Well duh."

I didn't like it, my whole world view shattered. I was classified for the first time in my life. Stupid society.

I am not officially diagnosed, but when I concluded I had AS, my reaction was not too strong. "Interesting. Now I know why i am so different. Does it make any difference?"

No, it does not really make any difference. But still, it is good to know I am not unique. When I get an official diagnosis, my reaction will be more enthusiastic. Either my suspicions will be confirmed, which will give me a feeling of pride for figuring it out alone, or they will be proven wrong, which will be a real surprise.

I hadn't heard of it until several months before when a friend of the kids who is an aspie simply assumed that I knew I was. I talked to him about it, looked it up, and went to a doctor. When I found out I had it for sure, I was like "Huh! Well, that DOES explain some things. And I don't have to take anything for this? No? OK then, thank you! Buh-bye now"

Didn't bother me at all, because I've lived this long and done ok, why should knowing change anything? Knowing just keeps me from beating up on myself emotionally when certain behaviors happen. I suppose it's like being a dog groomer all your life and not knowing that you are mildly allergic to dogs, then finding out.

I think that gets said a lot but I have yet to see concrete evidence of such systemic over-diagnosis.

PDD-NOS is a matter of interest with regards to DSM-V as despite research indicating most people diagnosed with PDD-NOS should meet the new criteria, a lot of people diagnosed with PDD-NOS do not. This could mean that PDD-NOS is itself over-diagnosed, or it could mean the DSM-V criteria are missing something important.

It might as well mean AS is overdx'd at the expense of PDD-NOS. I get this impression at the moment. There are several subgroups in PDD-NOS, some of which seem to overlap with AS in practice. I haven't looked into the details of my evaluation yet, and there's much to look up, so the ideas in my mind about it are still rather vague. One fascinating aspect of this question is philosophic in nature: How could we re-define autism in the DSM-V, that is, if we want to do it anyway:

http://crackingtheenigma.blogspot.com/2 ... d-nos.html
(look under "What is autism?")

When I first heard it might be me:
"Okay..."

When I was diagnosed:
Relieved. I was just autistic not a broken NT. I was right in thinking this was a label that matched me.

I was seven years old at the time and basicaly in my own world to understand what it was all about. If something said to me didn't protain to my obsessions or special intrests, I never paid attention.

I don't seem to remember actually being diagnosed (I was only 8 at the time). But I remember first knowing, and I didn't respond too kindly to it. I kept on asking my mum questions like, ''am I adopted?'', ''why me?'', ''do you still love me?'', and so on. I was the only person in my family with the diagnosis, which also made me feel miserable, and I also became very observant of the other kids in my class. I used to try to copy every social behaviour they did, and I used to keep imagining what one of them would be like if they were the Aspie in the class and I wasn't. I also used to think that I was the only one in the world with this AS, and it made me feel very disabled.

Then when I got older (11 onwards) I used to hit myself and scream, ''WHY MEEEEEEE?! !! !! !! !! !! !'' and I even turned angrily jealous towards my cousins because my attitude was always ''they don't have to suffer being like this, so why should I?! !!''

I still feel like that now. I've come to terms with it a bit more, but I still resent being The One with The Disability and everyone else gets to be socially average.

And the parents?

My family wont accept that I'm autistic / (ex) born brain injured thank god I'm not now ( and I'm not even religious ) yet go on to expalin how "difficult " I was growing up and than go on to describe all the behaviours which you'd expect from said conditions.



You'd think they'd be descent enough to admit they ()*&T up but alas no that would admit failure on their part, far better to kick the boot in I suppose ?

I was like "How do I fix it so I do not have it?"

Yes unlike some I "DO" hate having Autism.
Autism has destroyed my life.
And I will find a way to destroy it.

Autism didn't destroy your life, you never had a non-autistic one to begin with. Also, believe it or not there is a way to destroy your Autism; bones are not autistic. Go ahead, hate it all you want, hating it isn't going to do anything. I say I'll probably find a way to destroy the world before you find a way to destroy our Autism. I'll crush your dreams if it means stopping you from crushing mine, I'm a horrible person like that.

A combination of "That explains a lot" and "We thought all the symptoms were just you being you."

My father seems more accepting of it than my mother, but he still keeps calling me lazy and "being difficult on purpose".

Well you can add stupid and good for nothing, not that it bothers me you see I've tapped into my inner "meh" though I can afford to do that I guess I got lucky and bought my home unit when prices where sensibly at 3 times average earnings (early 90' recessions aren't all bad you see ) I'd hate to be on a #%&t kickers wage in this current market actually on almost any wage when you think about it it , though with your certificate I'm sure it shouldn't be to hard

Actually I'm feeling kind of superior myself at the moment I met a couple of high school |"chums" rescently and they where certificated as well went to England where superior certificated Aussies go circa mid 90's ( Britannia cool thing you see ) I'm not cool so obviously did not go pop lots of 5 pound E's (If your in to that sort of thing I guess it make more sense than 5 pound pints ) come back broke with a hecs bill of 50 K + and than realise houses have more than 3 X , not that I gloat (or a am I)

I hope for your sake (if your looking for a house) a recession will come and it will mark my word , you can't seriously tell me and some people do think house prices go up forever) that 8 x times average earnings for housing is sustainable in the long run ?

I don't think for many of us it was a matter of fact moment many of us where at our worst when we got the DX if you know what I mean