Anxiety and OCD?

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I had an appointment with my GP and suggested to him I think I have Aspergers, and I showed him my list of traits. He laughed at me and said I don't have it and diagnosed me having Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He's referred me to a psychologist.

Is it normal to get laughed at by your GP?

I find it hard enough to speak to people about stuff like that and then to get laughed at is really hard. I had post-natal depression when my son was a baby (I only wanted to self-harm, not harm any one else), and another doctor laughed that off as well.

I just find it so hard to get my thoughts out of my head and into something that another person can understand. I'm afraid I'll always be struggling with this due to it.

Any suggestions?

It's possible to have both Asperger's and Anxiety/OCD, given that I have all three. I've officially been diagnosed with Asperger's and Anxiety, but I've never been diagnosed as having OCD, but I'm pretty sure I have it.

Did your GP explain to you why he doesn't think you have Asperger's? I mean, Asperger's and Anxiety both go hand in hand.

Well, he's a d*ck, but at least he referred you to a psychologist, who is more qualified to diagnose you anyway, so don't worry about it. If the psychologist tests you and decides you do have AS, you can take your DX with you next time you need to see the GP and wave it in his face. Every schmuck's an expert on Mental Health issues, except the person living inside the head that's suffering. We can't possibly have any idea what might be the problem.

I think adult Aspies are probably more qualified than anyone else with any kind of Mental Health issue (other than depression) to diagnose themselves. It's not rocket science to look at the DSM and go: "Holy Crap! That's ME!"

I think doctors sometimes laugh at things like that because of the whole self-DX issue. You're better off just going straight to a psychiatrist.

The level of ignorance about ASD's in adults by doctors and other professionals is generally pretty high. If you really need to be properly assessed I think you have to call around and basically interview the professionals. This board is filled with examples of 'experts' declaring they aren't on the spectrum for reasons such as: "you made eye contact once," or "you're not mentally ret*d," or "you can talk," or "if you were it would've been diagnosed in childhood." And other eye-rollers. Be careful about the psych he referred you to -- it's not a given that they know what they're doing, either.

Thank you for your replies.

@ Descartes, No, he didn't give me a reason why he doesn't think I have Asperger's. It was just a definite statement. He took my list and attached it to the paperwork for the psychologist. He gave me a script for Anafranil, I don't like taking drugs. I had a drug addiction in my teens and now I don't like putting drugs in my body.

I'm not sure about the psychologist. I googled her name and couldn't find anything apart from a postal address and where she works.

As for ringing around for a psych, I am of the understanding that you need to have a referral from a doctor to see one. I'll find out. I will phone AutismSA and see if they can help me.

My original diagnosis was GAD and OCD. Then it was changed later to AS. I don't consider it misdiagnosed becuase I do struggle with anxiety regularly and OCD from time to time. It was more of an incomplete diagnosis then a misdiagnosis. (then again I am in my 40s, I couldn't have been diagnosed AS way back then. It wasn't in the DSM yet.)

No. A doctor shouldn't laugh at you. Thats just plain unprofessional.

i dont know what it is, but something about me prevents doctors from taking me seriously. When I was seriously depressed my GP said something like "just keep yourself busy! Do something nice for yourself! reduce stress!" I am a single mother with horrible social anxiety and all sorts of insecurity, exhaustion, a dozen things going on with me. I wanted to die and this is what this stupid woman comes up with. I just stared at her.

Don't worry- your psychologist should be more equipped to handle your questions and shouldn't laugh at you. The only time a shrink ever laughed at me was when I was actually making a joke, so I think they are trained to be careful how they react to people.

"just keep yourself busy! Do something nice for yourself! reduce stress!"

That's almost like when I told a doctor I was feeling suicidal when I was a teen, he told me to "cheer up". And also around the same time when i tried to get help for my lack of social skills, different doctor, gave me a phone number for a group to go to. Not helpful. I'd be physically sick before going to something like that.

I didn't think he should have laughed at me because what I said wasn't funny, but maybe I come across the wrong way
It's common for people to not understand what I mean when I say something.

I've also noticed, while searching on the internet, a lot of people are diagnosed first with Anxiety and OCD before being diagnosed with Asperger's (or instead of being diagnosed with Asperger's). So I'm looking forward to the psych visit, hopefully I can get my thoughts out in a way that makes sense