Hello. I am new here and would love to hear from others who may be going through a similar process of trying to get a diagnosis for ASD or Asperger's in adulthood. I am in my 40s and believe I am on the spectrum. I have struggled with social anxiety, OCD, and sensory problems since childhood and been very isolated since graduating from college. I have no real meaningful friendships and romantic relationships impossible as I don't like invasion into my personal space and am uncomfortable with displays of affection. I find it hard to talk in social scenes and bright or flashing lights are a real problem for me. So is noise. I am unable to work due to the problems.
I finally plucked up the courage to go to my GP with my suspicion I have ASD, in the hope a diagnosis would help me to get support to live independently (I live with parents), but am struggling to get a referral. I have taken tests online, all of which came back positive for ASD, but I failed one of the two tests given to me at the GP surgery by just a few points, so on that basis am told I may not get a referral but it hasn't been ruled out. I am concerned I will get a diagnosis of general anxiety or social phobia which won't be as helpful to me in the long term, and my lights issue isn't a phobia but genuinely problem as they hurt my eyes and seems to bounce everywhere. .
I am very disappointed as not all the questions were easy to answer and still believe I am on the spectrum. I also didn't test positive for OCD, as not distressed enough by symptoms apparently, so getting no real help for that either. Also I am worried that if I don't get the diagnosis then people won't accept I have mental challenges and I'll be expected to recover with some phobia therapy when I don't think realistically I can do more than manage my condition.
Anyone else finding it hard to be taken seriously? I know NHS is under pressure, and referrals cost money, which makes me feel guilty, but I do believe I have ASD, just perhaps not ticking all the right boxes on the forms. I am not unempathetic. I have too much, if anything, and have to shut things out on tv, for example, as they are too much to process.
Thank you for reading.
