For those with undiagnosed Aspergers...

Post Reply New Topic

+1 on the Occam's Razor analogy. I'm not medically diagnosed, nor do I wish to be - I have serious privacy concerns regarding how that could affect my future employment. I did take some online ASD test and scored as a moderate Aspergers candidate. I found that interesting, what really convinced me is this: while doing online research on Aspergers, thinking my son may have it (jury is still out), I began reading stories of folks with Aspergers that would have EXACTLY the same experiences as myself with respect to some aspect of their symptoms as they described them. I don't mean generalities like 'social anxiety' or whatnot, I mean let's say examples of stimming (a term I had to look up to understand that I do it too) that were EXACTLY my own experiences. There were just too many examples I was finding in too much abundance to write it off as coincidence.

Scientific? No.

But I know what I feel, and I have at least a partial understanding of how I behave, and after doing some online due diligence there is little doubt in my mind.

In some ways it was quite a relief -- not as an excuse mind you -- but an explanation as to why my life has travelled the path it has.

The only person I've told, aside from this post (my first on this board), is my mother - I'm 46 years old, came to this revelation just last year (although it explains my behavior from my earliest memories). I'm not sure my wife would understand or care, and I wouldn't ever bring it up in a friendly or professional environment. Everyone has their quirks, and I have mine.

I use the phrase I identify with Aspergers or that I am aware I have a higher then 'normal' level of Aspergers traits.

I am currently in the camp of not trying for a formal DX

Why

I operate at a level where the NHS (UK based) could not offer me any help that I couldn't pay for myself. And the NHS has very limited resources in the area of Adult Aspergers

I have a job that is above national wage and enjoy it. So seen as coping by the medical profession therefore would impact likelihood of getting a referral - so far only got a referral to mental health services which I am not pursuing

I do socialise although sometimes I want to throw up on the way I also enjoy socialising in small groups these days.

I function independently.

I have executive functioning deficits but most of these are hidden from most of the real world (housework non existent) really my house is disgusting - although all of the world sees the one about not knowing how to dress and rarely brushing my hair

I have repetitive speech patterns

I don't think like other people and my reactions to certain things take people by surprise

I am blunt and see the world literally and therefore in my opinion logically

I intensely focus on the job at hand and get very wound up by other people who clearly give more of a s**t about how they look to the management than actually doing their job. I have always been an easy target for politicians to throw knives at

I am female and over 40 and both parents are dead - apparently these all impact on likely DX.

I am paying for CBT with a therapist who has experience with Aspergers we are working through things with acknowledgement that some issues may be purely due to Aspergers traits and some are due to general anxiety which I now know I have suffered from all my life (and apparently is co-morbid with Aspergers in many cases) This therapist has accepted my self diagnosis and is completely open to working on that basis. We are tackling my insomnia at the moment - sleeping properly is the biggest change I can make to my life at the moment.

This will improve my life far faster and more effectively than getting a formal diagnosis and going through the NHS system where in all likelihood I will be prescribed drugs before anything practical is attempted. Drugs are cheaper.

So self diagnosed is where I am going to stay although some executive function issues seem to be getting worse as I get older

Thanks tall-p,

I'm glad you can relate, (glad somebody can).

How long ago did you get a diagnosis, or realize that you may be on the autism spectrum ?
I noticed you are 73yo. That's amazing. I dunno ( ) if I'll even make it that far.
I get infections and illnesses often, and I can't afford to go to any doctors.


The American Healthcare system is basically just going to let me die from easily treatable common illnesses.
Which is why I couldn't give a rat's ass about Americans.
They seriously don't care about down-and-out people. And what's frightening is that people don't realize it until the very time THEY need help ! ! All these stupid kids growing up nowadays, drinking up all that propaganda, going to state schools, and learning to "respect authority" (suck a cop's dick everytime he orders you around, basically, cops have revealed their hierarchy to me and many other americans, they want you to OBEY ORDERS and SHUT THE f**k UP, and if you're sick, they 100% don't care, and you should "keep it moving", go back to your home or street corner and die).

Oh, and when the millions of underpaid mercenary American troops come home from overseas... you think you have a Police State now ? LOL , just wait.

I have been labeled with OCD, ADHD, and ASD tendencies. And I am happy with that. It summarizes my difficulties and provides explanation, self-understanding, and better coping methods.

I would never go to a "helping professional" unless I was really anxious or super depressed... I self-diagnosed in the fall of 2010. I had cancer in 2006, and then in 2009 I had shingles. Then in 2010 I had this meltdown, and I thought maybe I had PTSD... so I Googled it and took some online tests... and they led me to more tests and eventually they led me to You Are Probably an Aspie. I agree.