Nobody believes I may have AS

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I am a 14 year old girl who has had reoccurring anxiety issues so if insole decided to look into my problems. After finding out about AS I was 99.9% sure I had it. My parents were skeptical and told me that I don't act autistic and that my social issues are just because I'm way more mature than everyone else my age. I convinced them to set up an appointment with a GP and I asked him about me getting evaluated for AS. He told me that I probably didn't have it because I maintain good eye contact and don't act like his other autistic patients. He asked me " would you feel bad if you saw someone getting beat up?" After I answered yes, he told me that if I had AS, I wouldn't be able to feel empathy in those situations. He then proceeded to prescribe me anxiety and depression meds:/ I'm just really confused because I thought all people with AS were different? That the symptoms vary for people? I'm just really confused and angry now because I really do think I have it and I don't know what to do

The average Joe Blow doctor doesn't understand anything about the autism spectrum except for the low functioning end. Higher functioning autistics( Asperger's) can maintain eye contact. His claim that someone on the spectrum can't feel empathy just goes to show he is full of baloney and doesn't understand what the hell he is talking about. You are better off learning everything you can about ASD/Asperger's, build a better case and convince your parents to have a private assessment with a psychologist who specializes in diagnosing female adolescents on the autism spectrum that won't need a referal from a doctor to see.


Don't give up. Good luck.

Yep....this doctor believes that Rain Man is the epitome of the high-functioning autistic person.

Where are you located? It seems like you might be in the UK, because you said "GP" for your doctor.

People in the US also use the term "GP" for "General Practitioner".

Only an appropriately-trained and licensed mental-health professional can make an accurate diagnosis of an ASD. Until you are able to consult one in person, you will be unable to receive such a diagnosis, and no one will believe your self-diagnosis.

When discussing these issues people really should put their location in their profile, or at least mention it in their post. It makes a huge difference when it comes to replies and help. If this person were in the UK I could offer some advice as I had the same thing with my GP, however if they are in Canada then my advice is worthless so there isn't much point in me elaborating.

That's true. GP is used in the US. But not in the same way as it's used in the UK.

In my experience, people use "primary physician" more than they use GP in the US.

If you go to a specialist, they'll ask you who your "primary physician" is.

In the UK, they'll ask you who your "GP" is.

I've always found it funny how in the UK, they refer to the operating room as the "operating theatre."

And that a "surgery" is merely a doctor's office in the UK.

Yes, symptoms do vary.

You may have it, you may not.

I would present your parents with documents about girls with autism and encourage them to talk to parents of autistic children (instead of online checklists where it can seem like all traits are needed and that people with ASD don't have personalities outside of symptoms). I found this helped my mum who went from being convinced I didn't have it to being convinced I did.

The truth is it will be difficult (though not impossible) to be diagnosed without your parents' support. The more mildy affected you are, the more difficult it is to get diagnosed without parental support.

Since you're of school age, are there school reports you have or an adult at school who can provide input.

I would fill out a screening test and any reports you have that support your thoughts, plus any symptoms you have and take it to your doctors. It's likely your parents will need to consent to the referral.

It might also be wise to take the NICE guidelines, if you're in the UK. If you can demonstrate that you have some traits of autism, then you are entitled to a diagnostic assessment regardless of whether your GP agrees with it or not.

It's also worth looking into where near you has a good ASD assessment service. Your GP may grumble about it but you have the right to choose where you are referred to, within reason. Much better to go to a place that's experience with mild ASD (especially in women) than the stress of going through assessment and wanting a second opinion.

Why do you think you may have AS? What are your symptoms you believe you have? Are you having any academic issues or learning in the classroom environment? Are you having any other troubles in school such as sensory or problems in PE?

Lot of people think they may have it when they actually don't. You may have it or maybe not since symptoms are different in girls than in boys. Those mildly affected by it may only come off as socially awkward and their stims may only come off as habits and their autism will be harder to see in offices and from their pediatrician. Plus ASD girls tend to be more social and have more of a imagination when they play with their toys. Plus their interests tend to be more socially acceptable. So yeah your mom or dad may say "lot of girls are like that."

If you keep obsessing about it, tell your parents to have you tested to prove you do not have it. Then maybe they will give you what you want and everyone wins. But make sure it's someone who specializes in autism. You can look online for your own area to see where to go for a diagnoses and then show it to your parents and tell them to prove you don't have it so they will take you and go with the testing.

A label can be stigmatizing and can limit your career choices and class choice because teachers would be looking at the label and be telling you you can't take this class or that class or you can't do this job or that job or that work so make the choice wisely about being diagnosed at a young age. I had to deal with this in high school so if you need no accommodations, a diagnoses might be out of the question. I wonder if it's possible to still get tested and get the results and not make it official so that way your diagnoses won't show up and I wonder if it's possible to hide it from your school if it does become official. But this is something else to discuss with another person and maybe someone else wil have answers about this because I don't know.

What would having a formal diagnosis accomplish for you? Are you looking for counseling? Support services? Insight as to why you have difficulty making/keeping friends? Or just some insight into what makes you behave in certain ways?