Should individuals with Aspergers be diagnosed at all?

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That is a challenge; in part, because there are other conditions that are similar in expression... but moreso as a result of the focus of research being on children with ASD and early diagnosis. As an adult, one makes adaptations that distress and distort things, making diagnosis challenging in that what is considered typical in children has mutated into a different form in adulthood. I've met with a number of psychologists and psychiatrists; their ignorance of the condition was astounding.


M.

I read about AS just a few months ago, trying to get more info about my 3y old tantrums. I was fitting in the picture. I found a lot of explanations of things that were happening to me or things that were anoying the others - as my noise sensitivity.
I am trying to get professional help. I don't really care if I get a diagnosis or not (I am fully functional), I just want someone to help me with my problems because I am in a difficult period and I cannot cope all the times.

I just think that it was funny how my supposed "symptoms" seemed to worsen as the social expectations placed on me increased. They also seemed to increase in direct proportion to the number of people present in the room at any one time. Also when people told me off for "not socialising appropriately" this aggravated my "acting out" and "symptoms". The more crowded and noisy the room was, the less well I coped. The more teamwork and cooperation was a requirement, the less productive I became. This doesn't mean that I don't and can't care about people deeply or help them: I can, just not all at once in a short space of time!

Coping with a lot of noisy people at once, I've found, by painful experience is too much over-stimulation for me. Just because I find chit-chat difficult or keep track of multiple people all at once doesn't mean that I can't have a good sense of humour or be genuinely concerned about other people's welfare.

I was absolutely fine in relaxed, peaceful situations where people weren't constantly demanding that I join in and socialise.

To be quite honest, I don't think that some people have the natural inbuilt temperament for sustained socialising/networking.

Ugh, if there is one thing I hate, it is the word "appropriate". Why dont they just say "Behave how I want you to, whether it is right for you or not."

And teamwork... lol. I am no good at that. I would either be disengaged from the work and gossiping with everyone, and people would complain I wasnt getting anything done, or I was a control freak, not wanting anyone to change my work.

I'm an Aussie working Aspie!

That kind of makes me feel better about myself.............although to tell the truth if I had to stop working due to stress I'd probably commit suicide because I couldn't deal with having failed.

Anyway, on topic, being diagnosed gives you an advantage, because that means you have recognised that you might have issues, you can then find out how to best work yourself into whatever you want to do.

I work too, and the statistic is even worst for my label.

I, farmhand.

IT/Stock managment I guess. Supposed to be IT.

I did warehousing for two years. I have to admire you for being able to stick as a farmhand!

Thanks, that’s really helpful.
That would be exceptionally helpful if you get around to it, although the information that the research is connected to Attwood is already very helpful of course.

Thatnks for that. I’ve managed to get hold of information for the UK previously, but I had no idea what the stats might be for Australia or the US or even if such research was available for Australia. Thanks.

It's difficult question. Once I had read Attwoods complete guide all the way through, I immediately started to feel like I can get a grip on some difficulties I have had all my life. I started taking time out, asking my sisters if we can just two or three of us meet up instead of the huge family rallies that we used to go in for. That helped me enormously, it's given me so much hope for the future, and I so much wish I knew that years ago.

Maybe that will develop as a new form of self-help, for people who have struggled with all the other self-help books.

But I think maybe I got the original question wrong. It's not whether anyone should be diagnosed, as it's clear that formal diagnosis is important for individuals and also to make sure that the support is out there within the community. The next question is what form support should take.

I'm sort of two minds with getting a formal diagnosis.

I'm about 90% of the mind that I don't really need one. When I first encountered the concept of AS a few years ago, there was an instant and obvious click. Yes, yes, yes, all those things fit. I don't know if it actually EXPLAINED anything, but it was nice to know that in a way, some of my strengths and weaknesses came as a package deal, and I didn't need to feel horribly about some things being abnormally difficult for a really sharp guy in most respects.

On the one hand, it would be nice to have it in hand, just to clear up any lingering doubts. My wife expresses occasional doubt that an actual diagnosis would fit me, or that I'd be "very mild" but I don't think that she gets that the diagnostic criteria were designed for kids, and that a lot of Aspies eventually teach themselves how to mainstream to a sufficient amount that we can sublimate a lot of those traits.

FWIW, a psychologist I was seeing for marriage counseling recently told me he immediately pegged me as likely for AS. We never did get around to diagnosis, but I'm ... 90% good with that.

I couldn't do the gossiping my talk was either always on task when "working" and while waiting or during a break, about a current hobby or interest of mine.

I can't gossip. I've tried but I couldn't care less who's seeing who at the weekend.
As long as they have fun, I'm fine with it.
It's up to them isn't it? I'm not exactly going to stop them.
I just didn't see why it had to be discussed at length at the expense of the task.
There's a proper time and place to discuss these things.

My gossiping skills are weak. I have never ever spread a rumour about anyone: I wouldn't know how to even if I'd wanted to. I've never wanted to spread rumours about people: I don't see what it's supposed to achieve.




I'm suspicious of anyone trying to change my work, especially after I do a lot of research and work hard at it.
It's my work, therefore I should be responsible for it.
If I make a mistake, it should my own fault and my own responsibility not other people's.
If I mess up, I can safely know that I can blame myself and that it's my mistake.

Re; gossiping, I am just using that word as I am very talkative. I dont really talk about people lots and lots, unless they did something worth talking about. I often discuss topics but I am a sort of talking machine really, I can talk for hours... strange because in childhood my verbal skills werent good.

I have a policy: dont say anything about anyone that I wouldnt say to their face.

And yes, it makes things complicated when others are involved in my work.

A few months ago, I got asked to help co-write a play, which I did, and at the end we submitted it to a local community theatre company, who just loved it and is producing it as their October show. The tricky bit was that, as we had expected all along, part of the contract gave them essentially carte blanche to let the director modify it as needed. Though they've promised to use us to re-write anything that needs significant changes, just hearing the directors discussing stuff that they wanted to cut or move, made my skin itch.

That may be why I pretty much immediately started and completed a second script, so I could start taking feedback on that that I could accept or reject on whim.

I think diagnosis helps adults in three ways:

Since self-diagnosing, I've been coping better with some situations - like supermarkets - because instead of getting worked up over how all these other people can stand it like this, and trying to conform, I've been accepting that it's my problem and if I need to leave it for now, I can;

There have been situations - interviewing for a passport renewal, and one work situation years ago, are two examples - in which it would have been useful to be able to say, in the one case that I'm going to exhibit behaviours which the interviewer has been trained to recognise as lying ones but which are actually AS symptoms, and in the other that if my employer's unhappy with what I'm doing (this was a personality issue disguised as a conformance one), then I have a recognised disability which obliges them to give me clear direction;

There is this common assertion that adults with AS can't work, which if those of us who are working can't obtain diagnosis is obviously false. If we press for recognition, the information will improve, and this will help those who come after us.

Oh Gnos!! topic

What Willard wrote. Better the AS you know!!

And freedom to be oneself.

I have no shame for having Asperger's---in fact, I am proud of having Asperger's. It is me, and it always has been me. Without Asperger's, I have no idea where I would be---and I don't want to know. But I have Asperger's---officially diagnosed---and I am having fun in life. I know now how to script my feelings and I am using my savant music skills and my scripting to do a music ministry---and I proudly tell the congregations I have autism (Asperger's variety). My co-workers know I have Asperger's. It is no secret in my life. I wanted diagnosed because I wanted to know who I was. So I sought a well-qualified expert in the field, and away I went. When I was told, "you have Asperger's," I felt a huge load lifted from my 44 years of life. I celebrated. I knew who I was after all the years of wondering. I was autistic---so what? Autism is in my family anyway. I enjoy being different. I had to know for sure if I had Asperger's. Autism has given me so many gifts---and I cannot imagine life without them. Even though I have challenging sensory issues, and challenging social issues, etc. I would not want my Asperger's taken away from me---Asperger's has always been a dear friend to me---and I love it.