Diagnosis: I'm official!

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Went to my diagnostic session earlier today, and my diagnosis is Aspergers and mild GAD.

My psychologist was ill for much of the last week, so he wasn't able to type the finalized copy of his report for today, so I'll have to give more detailed information when he sends his report later this week.

He said that it was 'quite clear' that I have Aspergers to someone trained in looking for it, but that I am high-functioning and will probably have some difficulty 'coming out' with my diagnosis to family and friends, as their perception of AS is likely based on extreme stereotypes.

He also indicated I have many symptoms of ADD, but not enough for a diagnosis, and that the symptoms are those that often seen with AS. He brought this up, though, because he wanted me to be especially aware of those difficulties, as he knows I'm moving away for a very demanding MFA program.

He briefly went over my IQ test. He said I scored very, very high on my Verbal testing, and my vocabulary was the highest (17, 90th percentile). I believe my lowest performance (a 10, average) was on the math word problems that test your short term working memory. All of my other scores were above average. My overall IQ I believe was 120.

If there's anything interesting to share from his report, I'll update you guys once I have it. I'm just relieved to have the diagnosis, as I now feel better equipped to deal with creating solutions for some of my difficulties. I'm just worried about telling family and how to tell them, as I'm afraid they'll brush me off.

For the record, my boyfriend (who was part of my diagnosis process) is very supportive, and has been calling me his 'little aspieragus' for the last couple of weeks, assuming my AS and because I'm a vegetarian.

P.S. I asked my psychologist (who specializes in AS and ASDs) about the DSM-V and the upcoming changes. He said that my diagnosis would not be effected by the changes, and that despite what people think, the changes are not definite. I thought you guys would like to know that, as many of you have been questioning if your diagnosis will change or disappear...it won't!

Well, I'm glad you're happy with the diagnosis, clover. I guess it's a better feeling than walking around with the uncertainty of not being diagnosed.

I must admit this is the first time I've heard of generalized anxiety disorder.

Congratulations! I'm just thinking about making that step too..

Jason

In what way well this help you out? just wondering sense I have some people looking to get me diagnosed, but it would cost a lot of money. Not trying to be mean by asking this.

Congratulations Hopefully seeing the diagnosis report will help convince your family.

Don't you want to know? I am starting to get annoyed by the not knowing. Diagnosis might be pricey where you are, but spread over your lifetime the knowledge and self-understanding you might gain is priceless.

Jason

How would you be more certain by someone else telling you? Sure, you could get a diagnosis, but what if they were wrong? As far as you yourself are concerned your day to day problems remain exactly as they were.

A diagnosis is fine for:

1) Children - who may benefit from some therapy and support
2) People who require "official" recognition for legal purposes (benefits etc)
3) Convince a third party (family or work) that there is a real issue

For an adult needing none of the above I can't see what possible benefit it provides.

Anyway, I'm happy that the OP is happy.

I was satisfied with self diagnosis, but people closest to me had trouble accepting it, because I'm high-functioning and intelligent, which people for some reason don't believe people with AS can be. I sought an official diagnosis so that I could work on my relationships with people through their hopeful acceptance and understanding.

I (and anyone else who suspects aspergers) could for example have:

Dyspraxia
Anxiety
Depression
Bipolar
Schizophrenia
Attachment issues
ADHD
Thyroid problems
Diabetes
(insert other issue here)
Nothing

There are pretty straightforward treatments for some of these conditions, some of these conditions could cause long term health problems if left unchecked or develop into something far uglier. If its nothing, well, wouldn't it be a really good idea to know that also?

Jason.

Knowing that I have Aspergers (even prior to diagnosis) helped me begin to create solutions with my boyfriend for troubles in our relationship, but only after HE accepted that I had AS, which he didn't until I went for diagnosis (he then realized I was serious). Knowing WHY I behave certain ways will help me think of solutions with my family, employer and friends, who currently think I'm just childish, lazy, distant and a 'know it all." I was tired of being misunderstood, and I'm hoping an official diagnosis will help somewhat.

Thanks, that certainly makes sense. I am glad that it worked out well fr you.

To the person saying wouldn't you want to know, I do know.
I have add, I have been misdiagnosed with bipolar at one point, I don't have a thyroid issue. I have very good reason to believe I have aspergers without being officially diagnosed.

You seem confused. Thyroid problems or Type 2 Diabetes would be evident by the physical toll that they exact as they develop as opposed to a lifelong neurological condition. You are forgetting there are people who have always known they were different, way back to their earliest memories and over a span of decades and long before they had even heard of either aspergers or autism. Moreover, if you had been born with thyroid issues or type 1 diabetes you'd know about it long before aspergers ever became a consideration. As for the other mental health issues, please credit peoples intelligence for having researched these enough to know the difference.

As you your question, "what if it is nothing" - how do you know that the person giving you that opinion is correct? There are no certainties in life (bar death and taxes).

Until there is a a standard scientific test (such as a brain scan or DNA test) to give a definitive answer I consider the professional opinion just that, an opinion, which is not necessarily more informed or valid than your own.

I understand completely, but your reasons are your own and you don't need to justify them to anyone. Hope it helps with your relationships

I may have misheard him. I looked up the codes that were listed under diagnosis on my bill, and the codes were for Asperger's and Anxiety Disorder NOS.

I googled the latter and it seems that it's when symptoms of an anxiety disorder are readily apparent, but that the symptoms are difficult to distinguish from another diagnosis (many of my AS issues lead to my anxiety, so that makes sense).

Congrats now new fun or nightmares begin but i can so relate since i got my oficial diagnosis today of being an Aspies and that i had been doing some of the right things to help so far as it seems many of us try to do once we focus on the problem in the way that ends with official diagnosis. Now it will be hard to find out how to deal with it since its now official, i can try to find out how to deal with it at my age.

Sorry I did have a brain fart with diabetes.

There are people who will get a self diagnosis spot on. Then there are those who get it wrong. It does seem a bit daft to risk that, particularly when some of the other possible causes are quite treatable with medication. A long term anxiety problem could look a lot like aspergers, particularly to the anxious mind..

It is a personal choice to diagnose, but putting head in sand when you have real problems seems daft. If you are managing though and have no problems, well you probably could only be diagnosed by yourself anyway, but that's a delusion for another day.

Jason.