If my psychologist says no because of a ridiculous reason...

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like "you can't have Aspergers because you're intelligent" or "you can express yourself well" (last time I spoke a rehearsed conversation), or just right then and their automatically says yes/no when she's only known me for a session, what should I do?

I'm going in today but I don't know if I'll have a chance to talk about my suspicions (I have to see the results of some tests). But if we do I feel like I'm stuck if she says something like the above.

Should I counter with facts and inform her? Or try to get my parents to take me to a different psychologist? And how, because my parents don't know my suspicions and they're going to want a reason as to why I don't like her. And I hate lying... ugh...

Remember that a textbook case of Asperger's is rare. Not everyone has every single symptom.

Being too intelligent doesn't change anything. In fact, intelligence is what gets Aspies noticed.

I went to 6 different mental health professionals before I got fed up and picked one who has special training in developmental disorders. people who haven't specialized in ASD often are completely clueless about it. I've taken formal psychological tests with my current therapist and the last person I saw said point blank "tests for aspergers don't exist."

just being a mental health professional doesn't mean you're literate about every single diverse way of being that there is. look up someone who specializes in developmental disorders and the autism spectrum. they can tell you yes or no with competence and expertise in a way that a more generalized therapist or doctor may not have in this specific area.

it's very frustrating sometimes because a lot of professionals aren't willing to admit when they should refer someone because they simply don't know enough to realize that things like aspergers can be subtle. if you look them in the eye once and aren't swaying and talking about trains all the time they can say "no, you just have an anxiety disorder" or something like that, and that's the end of the conversation.

if you're concerned, find a specialist, be clear you want a clear diagnosis (or a clear no), and it'll save you so much trouble in the long run.

and yeah...intelligence is like, a characteristic of aspies, not a prohibiting factor. hello people, the original Dr. Asperger went on about "little professors"...that doesn't mean we're stupid. I actually avoided diagnosis as a child because I was so smart and so good at school that severe problems didn't crop up until adolescence/adulthood.

How exactly do I do that My parents have the car, the ability to talk on the phone, but most importantly the money. BUT they can't know my suspicions. They're going through a period where they aren't listening to anything I'm saying and don't believe real facts I just happened to find on the internet (effects of medications, etc). If I say "Hey I suspect I might have a developmental disorder, it might explain everything that's ever been a problem." They'll just ignore me. Say I'm making it all up. If I can get the psych to suggest it's a possibility first, than they'll listen.

Also, I'm in another country, I'm not quite sure how much about autism is known.

I know that, but should I correct the psychologist? Has anybody ever tried?

I had those same fears before my assessment but I'm lucky to live in a very, very open state that seems to have plenty of help for autism spectrum disorders. I can also understand your parental issues and have gone through phases where they were certain every 'illness' I had (anxiety, hypothyroidism, etc.) was an excuse for not having a job or finishing my education. Being that you're in another country, I'm not certain how you would go about finding an expert in the proper field aside from referral from your psychologist so my advice would definitely be to simply run it past your psychologist and if they do blow it off or fail to take you seriously, it's their loss when you seek another psychologist; just tell them it's fine, thanks for their help and you won't be seeing them again.

Well the country has an association for aspergers and stuff so it's not totally unknown. Once I get a maybe I can convince my parents to take me to a specialist.

Any tips on what to say to my parents as to why I want to seek a different psychologist. She's been late twice but with good excuses so I don't feel I can use that, but at the same time I feel she makes too many appointments in one day, doesn't warn us to cancel. One of my parents is a bit irritated about this, but not enough.

You should look for another psychologist, maybe you should look for a more expert one. If a psychiatrist/psychologist judge you from your first session, then he/she is not trustwhorty.

You can matter-of-factly correct the psychologist one time. If she accepts it as part of the conversation (not necessarily agree with you right off the bat) and has some back and forth conversation and treats you as a person worthy of respect---which of course you are! ---that's a positive. If the psychologist grumpily rebuffs you, well, that's information, too. Information that it's time to see someone else.

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As far as what to tell your parents if it comes to that, perhaps the route of measured honesty.

'I don't feel I'm connecting with her.'

And if necessary . . 'She's not a very good listener.'

No, the textbook case is the most common (that's why it's in the textbook). (The original case studies are the textbook cases, and they're what the diagnostic criteria were and are based on.)

I think they just meant to say that a completely textbook case showing ALL the symptoms is not common. That's why you have to have 2 out of the following bla bla bla and not all of them. I'm pretty textbook though. My social issues aren't severe but the anxiety they cause is. And I have 3 of the 4 repetitive behavior things. I also fit the DSM V criteria.

Anyways... I got the courage to bring it up! She knew what it was (I couldn't pronounce the name in our language and she did it for me). We didn't have much time left as we had discussed the test results. But she intently listened while I went through the criteria and my symptoms. We had to cut it off, so I'm not sure what her exact impression is. She seemed interested though in what I had to say, canceled the appointments in front of me to have me stay a bit longer so that's good. And she wants to continue our conversation. And agrees even if I don't have it it's very good that I'm connecting to something and can explain my thoughts.

One thing was really weird though. We looked at my blood tests and my dopamine was high. She said it was associated with thinking TOO much. We were discussing this with my parents so I hadn't brought up AS yet, but I confirmed that yeah, I never stop thinking. Ever. It's not a recent thing. She gave me a low dose of olanzapine to lower it a bit.

I searched online and there seems to be some correlation between high levels of dopamine and aspergers and that olanzapine is often used to help with the repetitive stuff and to calm your thoughts.

I have read that antidepressants are trial and error in a respectful sense, and I figure that this is the case for most medications which affect mood, emotions, thinking. Just that the biochem of the human brain is complicated and tends to be different for different people, meaning it may not be the first medication which gives the effect you want. Now, if it seems promising, sure, roll with it, see how it works.

And also that it's sometimes important to step down from a medication in phases even if it doesn't seem to be working.