New to Forum~Considering Getting Tested~Anyone in Ontario?

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Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the forum. I've been researching this for about 4 months and I am certain I have AS. But I do want to see someone about an official dx and about getting some support because while I have a full time job, pay my bills, etc I feel COMPLETELY overwhelmed by life and really feel I am not coping well with stress. My job is going fine but the stress is all coming out at home and my partner is having a really hard time with my level of stress/anxiety/meltdowns, etc.

I'm in Ontario. Anyone have suggestions? The lists I can find from our Autism Society is very vague and only includes psychologists (no psychiatrists). My understanding from the forum is that only a psychiatrist can provide a formal dx? I'm considering going to see my doctor but really he won't have any information and he's going to see this as a bit crazy as he's been my doctor (and someone my family interacts with socially) my entire life so if he'd suspected this by this point he would have said something.

Anyway, suggestions? Organizations to call? Should I call one of the psychologists or should I see my doctor and request a referfal to a psychiatrist?

I appreciate any ideas.

Country_Girl

Getting an official Dx is a double edged sword. If the Dx of AS becomes public, then it CAN be used against you. In the US, it is grounds for exclusion of health care services as its considered a pre-existing condition. That's not a problem in Canada. However, in some countries, children of AS parents have been taken away from them by social workers who don't think aspies can make good parents. In the US, some aspies have been denied their gun ownership rights.

So basically, for anyone, I strongly recommend getting a private diagnosis. That is, you pay cash and leave he insurance out of it.

I want to get a formal dx. In Canada, with the Charter of Rights, the issues listed are not issues. Our health care is covered, the law prohibits discrimination in hiring based on a disability and with a formal dx I could request accommodations at work that would still allow me to do my job well but could decrease the personal issues coming from sensory overload, etc at work. I understand that being "out" is a double edged sword but I've been thinking about this for a long time. I am certain that the pros outweight the cons ~ but I need to find someone to do the testing.

Can anyone in Ontario recommend anyone or any organization to start with?

Hey Welcome to WrongPlanet, I'm TaupeyAna. I wish I was living in Ontario, I love it up there. I'm in Virginia at the moment.

What I want to say to you is that I was extremely overwhelmed with life and the responsibilities I had in order to take care of my family as well.

I did far too much and was so busy I didn't take the time to stop and recover from anything. I ended up becoming very ill from all the stress. So please remember to stop and take care of yourself, take time out for yourself to process everything, do something fun and enjoyable every chance you get, even if it's just taking your dog (if you have one) for a good walk or going for a walk by yourself for 10 minutes.

Exercising helps me and doing something nice for someone, a random act of kindness helps me too.

What are you hobbies or special interests? What do you enjoy doing?

In time, I'm certain there are others on the forum who can tell you how to go about getting a dx in Canada.

Anyway, it's nice to know you're with us and I wish you all the best.

I'm in Hamilton, and just got my referral to a psychiatrist at a clinic that deals with diagnosing adults. I am meeting him on the 11th of this month. Whereabouts in Ontario? I've been communicating with a few different people, and maybe I could find out what is available in your area. You can pm me if u don't feel comfortable disclosing in a public forum what city you are in.

Hi Country Girl,

I live in Toronto and I got my DX at the age of 25 from the Redpath Centre for Social Development, located at Mount Pleasant and Eglinton in downtown Toronto. If you want more details, feel free to message me