Should I get a second opinion?

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I was diagnosed with Aspergers in 2005. As I've explained in other topics, this diagnosis has had a bad impact on my life and was used just to cause harassment and distress. I can't stop thinking about whether I should get a second opinion.

After the amount of upset my Mother's meddling caused me, there is nothing that would satisfy me more than to have a consultant psychiatrist tell her I don't have AS.

In the event that I have something else, perhaps I have some disease which is actually curable? If it turns out I do have AS, then fair enough.

Unfortunately though, if the AS diagnosis is removed or changed, I'm not going to get the last 17 years of my life back.

You've not explained why you think the diagnosis might be wrong just that you don't like it.

Do you have any reasons to believe you are not Autistic?

It is difficult to say.

The diagnosis was done mostly for political reasons.

It is possible that the social anxiety could be a diagnosis in its own right and not part of AS.

I have also suffered from depression since 2006 which doesn't help matters.

So its really difficult to say whether any symptoms I have are related to AS or not.

Doing anything to get back at your mother is NOT going to make you feel any better, unfortunately.

Everybody has a right to a second opinion.

If you do that you need to do that for the purpose of getting the right diagnosis not the diagnosis you want. If the diagnosis is not ASD great, if not while disappointing it can still help you learn about yourself if you are open to it.

As others have said this has to be about you not her. You are an adult.

It does indeed need to be about me. I just don't know what to do. Nothing will get me the last 17 years of my life back, and I think enough damage has been done that I don't have much of a future.

Just thought I'd revisit this thread I started a few years ago.

I finally plucked up the courage to ask for a second opinion. The GP I saw was discreetly laughing at me, but did refer me to the mental health nurse. The mental health nurse seemed very bemused at why I would question such a diagnosis (I got the impression she is probably used to seeing patients who WANT a diagnosis; not the other way round). But she did say she would write to the relevant clinic to find out who/where I need to be referred to.

She also offered to refer me to the local social prescribing service who can help me make a benefit claim, as well as the NHS's employment service. No idea how useful either of those will be but I'll happily go along and see.

Good luck

I am a little confused.

Is the reason you want the diagnosis removed or changed:
(a) You think it is wrong
(b) Your Mother thinks it is right