Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi everyone,
Being new here, I'm quite surprised as to how many of you guys are self diagnosed.
It makes me wonder whether I shoud have done the same:
My route to diagnosis was started by the psychologist I see for my arthrits.
He brought it up in conversation one day and suggested I contact a colleague of his who could formally diagnose.
I would add that I suppose I self diagnosed myself as "very "quirky indeed" as a teenager.
Many other non qualified colleagues, acquaintances, and family members offered their own diagnosis over the years.
I'd never say to someone..."I reckon you've got Asperger's, mate"....Is that not a bit forward/rude?
Anyway, I saw specialists for ADHD and ASD.
For ADHD, I scored 9/9 for combined type and, athough my ASD1 report is not in yet, the psychologist told me it was crystal clear I had what was previoulsy referred to as Asperger Syndrome after less than 1 hour.
I think I am one of those people who only listens to, or even trusts, specialists:
The problem with that is you either end up on waiting lists for ages or pay huge private fees, or both.
What do you guys think?
I went ahead with getting a diagnosis (following a therapist's recommendation) and I'm glad I did. I'm the kind of person who needs to have something that I can hold up and say 'Here it is - proof and validation'. Up until then, all I was getting was random diagnoses (dismissals?) of 'anxiety disorder', 'depression', 'SAD', etc. That was from doctors. From other people, it was 'anti-social', 'fussy', 'rude'. I got used to hearing 'Everyone gets down days. Take yourself out for a walk and get some air. Find a hobby.'
Getting the diagnosis has helped me tremendously. I now get taken a bit more seriously by others - though I still get the old 'That's not autism - everyone gets anxious' lines wheeled out to me on occasion. My mental health has improved now that I have something to pin it on. My whole life now makes sense to me. Also, I can ask for reasonable adjustments in the workplace. They know I don't like my routine altered too much, and I don't like overtime, and they're fine with working around that.
From referral to diagnosis, I waited just over 2 years. But it was worth it.
It isn't the key to everything, of course. People can still be funny and narrow-minded about it. Some people struggle to accept that someone in their own family, for instance, has a 'condition'... like it's a stain on the fabric. They're the minority, though. I'm open about it with everyone I meet and work with, and generally they're accepting and understanding. We have some interesting discussions, and I'm able to destroy a few myths. Small things - but that's how these stigmas eventually get broken down, I feel.
Nice reply, thanks.
A 2 year wait is long though - You did well to last that long - Others would have despaired
From approaching my GP to getting the diagnosis letter through in the post it took 14 months for me via the NHS. The wait was sometimes difficult particularly as my mum died during that time! I managed to find a private therapist who has experience in ASD 6 months ago and that helped me get through the wait, but I appreciate not everyone is lucky enough to afford that.
Music For The Mind said:It's great therapy though
Absolutely! A big de-stresser and at its best playing connects me to something bigger... dunno what I'm not religious and the moments are rare and fleeting but occasionally I just get in the zone and everything just flows.I have back problems too, I'm hypermobile and so am always putting my back or right hip out, for the last 2 years I havent been able to gig through it. I have a bass an old Honer P-Bass copy from the 70s great guitar but I can only play it sitting down as its sooo heavy! I'm not great with computers either so I've not got into PC based home recording, I had a porta studio back in the late 80s but thats about it.