Professionally Dx'ed today

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I was self-diagnosed with AS until today. I was aware of other conditions earlier in my life (OCD and mild depression, depression was also confirmed today) but I was unaware of AS until a few years ago. I heard it mentioned on a tv program and it caught my attention. I then began reading all I could about it (in books and online) and it really hit home. Earlier this year, I discovered WP and it was the first time I ever really connected with a group of people. The people here are definitely eclectic, but still share so many features.

I began my search for a professional Dx about 6 months ago. I called 8 of the ten doctors on the list provided by my insurance. It took 8 attempts to find a doctor willing to diagnose AS in an adult. Many months and many, many tests later, it is official. I am pleased at the confirmation, but it is a bit anti-climatic for me. The doc asked me how I felt about the Dx and all I could say was it was what I expected. I sought her out for that purpose. I simply don't know what to do with the result.

Congratulations! I am not sure what to do with it either.. I guess it is a practical thing for many of us, useful to get services... I think perhaps in the next few weeks you will have more of an idea of what you want to do....

Everyone is different but some reactions are similar.

I kind of went through a grief and what I thought was a regression process. Now I realise it was more that I had more social anxiety around that time. Some people I have met said they feel unable to talk much amongst other things. It takes time to process.

For other people it is a relief to have an answer, and have one label rather than multiple labels.

It really depends on why you got the diagnosis, was it because you need help from the government or for your own knowledge?

For me, five years I've come around in a circle, and think that I just have traits or sit right on the borderline, but that's another story.

Hope it provides some sort of closure for you. I know when I found out about Aspergers I definitely felt that way, and I felt a little bit better after I told my Father about it. It was hard but over all a good thing. I've stopped blaming and hating myself for being so different - but It is still, most definitely a struggle.

It allows you to voice your thoughts on your condition without having to worry about anyone seriously questioning whether you are representative of the group (with AS). It allows you to engage in activism without any nagging doubts. It allows you to testify to political groups without being discredited.