GETTING DIAGNOSED

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I was diagnosed last March 18th 2009, ten days before my 48th birthday.

For most of my life I "knew" there was something a little bit different about the way I saw the world, but just assumed that was all it was, "A little bit different"

I married my wife at age 34, and after a couple of years she asked if I might be A.S. (She is a very highly qualified nurse working with the mentaly less able)
I obviously asked what A.S. was , she told me, we had a good laugh and moved on with life.

Over the next 2-3 years she made comment several times about me and A.S. but we just shrugged it off. Then some of her similarly qualified colleagues started to ask her the same questions about me.

In June 2008 I was being treated for severe anxiety and severe depression and made 3 attempts at taking my own life, fortunately I failed miserably.
After several visits to my local health centre and asking my regular Dr for a referal to the hospital (re. A.S.) all to no avail, I was seen by a different Dr. Fortunately she was well aware of what A.S. is and recognised that I displayed a number of traits.

I was then refered to a community psyciatric nurse for 6 one hour sessions. Neither of these "specislist" nurses thought I was A.S. but because I put out for a diagnosis, they rather grudgingly agreed to refer me to my local hospital.

I was seen at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge on 18/03/09, at the C.L.A.S.S. clinic by the great man himself (Prof. S. B-C), and after a 3 hour interview with my wife and parents and was informed that the notes would be in the mail within 7 days. As we were leaving I asked if he had any idea if the diagnosis was positive or negative. He replied "I knew within 3-4 mins. of starting the interview that you are A.S."
I made an appointment to see my Dr and was seen the following day. When I told him that I had been positively diagnosed his only comment was "Well, you know there's no "cure" so why bother with a diagnosis?"

It beggars belief that in the first decade of the 21st century a senior Dr at a local health centre takes this attitude. There must be innumerable conditions, deseases etc that have no cure and no "treatment" but just knowing as half the battle itself.

At the end of the day my diagnosis has answered SO many questions that I had about me. And although I will never be "cured" it at least my lovely wife is aware of why I do and say things in certain ways.

Many thanks for indulging me in my little monologue.

aw. There's plenty of treatments. I mean, tools people can give you to cope. Exercise does wonders, if you know how. I know how, so I do, but if I didn't, I might seek an occupational therapist. There is speech therapy for the less-verbally minded. There is cognitive behavior therapy for whomever.
I am so glad you have a supportive wife!
It is nice knowing what's up, isn't it?

No, there is no 'treatment' but quackery, which is fine by me, as I don't trust laboratory 'mood meds' as far as I can throw the Mad Scientists who make them. There is however, assistance and (supposedly) some legal protection from discrimination, and those are the reasons for getting a diagnosis. I suppose that Doctor doesn't see any point in identifying children with Dyslexia, either? After all, there's no treatment, just let 'em suffer and fail...

I attend a CBT class once a week and it's great, I also get plenty of exercise so thats not a problem. All the "training" in the world won't "cure" me but it's interesting to learn anyway.