Skip to main content
Close Button
Donate
  • Replies 25 replies
  • Subscribers 103 subscribers
  • Views 6778 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

ASD diagnosis for women

NAS51314
over 5 years ago

Hi everyone! 

I'm new here as of today. I'd like to introduce myself and a bit about why I'm here and I'm interested in speaking to anyone who can offer me any advice or insight into the ASD condition and diagnosis process, especially from the perspective of a woman.

I'm now 28 years old, and a couple of years ago after researching a lot about ASD symptoms in women, I felt a lot of them rang true with me and experiences I have had in my life. By no means do I think I am a severe sufferer, but my life is definitely shaped by the difficulties experienced by members of the ASD community. I am certain of this.

I was so certain I took myself to a local autism group and met some members so I could speak to them about their experiences with autism. There was one guy there I could relate to. He worked as a graphic designer (same as me) and experienced similar difficulties as I had. However all the members of the group were male and were experiencing symptoms which were a lot more noticeable and severe than my own. I didn't feel like this was what I behaved like, and so I wasn't sure if this could be the condition I have.

After a long wait I eventually got to see a psychiatrist whose job it was to screen me for ASD symptoms before referring me to a specialist to take an official test. She was more interested in speaking to my Dad and asking him some questions about my developmental years. My Dad said I acted normal for a child, however I was very shy, which I still am today. From this account, she decided not to refer me to see an ASD specialist. I was so distraught when she told me this I couldn't actually move or say anything. I know I have this condition, but my behaviour is not as noticeable as a males, and I was not being allowed to even be tested for it because of this.

I had just quit my job as I was having real problems working in an open plan office, and the psychiatrist said I was suffering with an anxiety disorder, and so referred me to see an occupational therapist to help me deal with working environments. I saw the occupational therapist for a while but she had nothing helpful to offer me as I am able to work, but not in an open plan office surrounded by people. And that's nothing she could change.

The occupational therapist then referred me to group counselling to help me with expressing my emotions with groups of people, and I am now in the middle of this treatment.

The one thing the group counselling has shown me, is it same difficulties I have with relating with groups of people which are all ASD symptoms. I am back where I started two years ago believing my problems are caused by an autism disorder and I don't know where to go from here. I have considered going back to the GP and asking to see the psychiatrist again, but the experience was so stressful and I had to do it all on my own, that I am not keen to have to state my case all over again.

Have any women on this forum had an experience similar to this in their journey to diagnosis? I don't think I behave in an obviously autistic way at all. I think in fact I am very low down the spectrum if I do have ASD, but I have experienced break downs and had to quit jobs because of my symptoms, so I feel like I need to complete an official assessment in order to find out why I am like this. However I don't know how I can do that if I can't even get past the screening stage to see an ASD specialist.

If anyone has any advice or insight into how I can move forward, I would be really really grateful. Thanks

Parents
  • over 5 years ago

    Hi, I am female just turned 30 now, I gave up work as a teaching late Oct, a few months earlier I suspected autism after going to a workshop for girls on the spectrum to help with teaching, I felt a lot of the stuff rang truth with me and then a mate suggested it aswell, who had personal experience of it, I dismissed it until I had to quite my job due to a total meltdown, burnout mode, I started searching into it, on this forum and other places, I became pretty much convinced I was on the spectrum, I got an appointment with my GP, whom I though had understood me, but late found out she referred  me for depression and anxiety, I didn't have the confidence or mental energy to go back to the GP so I took the private route, I have so far had my initial appointment, and have yet to make a decision to progress forward.which will involve three more appointments one with a family member to talk about development,

  • over 5 years ago in reply to Zakybi

    I wish you all the best with your assessment. 

    I have looked into private assessment services near me in Edinburgh and only found a place that will only offer a brief phone consultation before the assessment itself. As this is such a costly procedure, I would like to go somewhere that offers a initial appointment first before the assessment itself, so I would be interested to know which clinic you went to for yours? 

Reply
  • over 5 years ago in reply to Zakybi

    I wish you all the best with your assessment. 

    I have looked into private assessment services near me in Edinburgh and only found a place that will only offer a brief phone consultation before the assessment itself. As this is such a costly procedure, I would like to go somewhere that offers a initial appointment first before the assessment itself, so I would be interested to know which clinic you went to for yours? 

Children