Published on 12, July, 2020
*deep breath*
Female, 40s, currently self-diagnosed but have submitted the AQ-10 with assistance of a counsellor. First counsellor I spoke to refused to refer me for assessment insisted that I couldn't be autistic as I 'demonstrate empathy and autistic people don't have empathy' - but this baffles me, especially as all I've seen on this forum is empathy! I've been told by an acquaintance that I don't seem to be empathetic but I think that's because of the issues I have with social interaction in general, as I find it easier to express myself in writing as I have more time and liberty to engage my thoughts and responses.
Ways in which I've been described since childhood -
awkward, introverted, weird, fussy, pedantic, highly strung, reserved, disengaged, detached, blunt, abrupt, cold, stress, set in my ways...
My school reports all state 'has intelligence / ability but lacks concentration and application.... daydreams... easily distracted..'
Have always been in employment (more or less same job with same company) but haven't moved up the ladder as, however good my productivity is rated, i'm told that my 'behaviours' aren't acceptable (though I am only given vague, if any, feedback on what these 'behaviours' are). Have been refused even a conversation wrt reasonable adjustments.
Can't maintain friendships or relationships; can't bear to be around people beyond the point where I'm 'done'.
There's more but my defective keyboard is driving me into a murderous rage!
Lou13 said:First counsellor I spoke to refused to refer me for assessment insisted that I couldn't be autistic as I 'demonstrate empathy and autistic people don't have empathy'
Well - according to the Autism Research Centre (Simon Baron-Cohen leading light in the field) empathy is present in some form in an autistic person.
Empathy in autism spectrum conditions
It is there and can be detected through physical measurements of reactions within the body.
And I also know that I have empathy with other autistic people as I can directly relate to many of their experiences and challenges. A lot of people in this forum demonstrate this on a regular basis - as we are best placed to be the ones providing advice and/or feedback.
Like you, I tick most of the boxes from your list.
Welcome to the forum.
Thanks Andy! I'll have a read of that now.
My short-term memory is garbage but I recall my response to the counsellor as being "I'm potentially HFA, not a bloody sociopath"