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Asking about possibility of Aspergers

NAS63494

Hi. I am a 18 year old female and I have always had difficulties interacting with and understanding the world but no one has ever supported me and it made me have a nervous breakdown for like 2 years. I experience sensory overload and get very upset at lack of familiar routine. I have always had lots of anxiety and social anxiety which seemed to come from the world being too overwhelming, and now I’m going the therapy for it, being told I have depression and anxiety. However, I have always identified with aspergers syndrome except I thought it was stupid to say to someone ‘i think i have aspergers’ as I thought you had to be diagnosed as a child early on. 

I am wondering if I should mention something to the gp but I don’t know how and I always get kinda nervous around her as I don’t know how to properly explain things and I fear I come across as strange. 

If anyone has any advice that would be helpful. Thanks. 

Parents

  • Hello, although I am in no way any expert, I think you sound as though you definitely have some autistic traits. I have experienced life in the same way as you (I'm now 42) and have always put it down to my mental health issues, depression, anxiety. However, since coming across a documentary on autism in women about 18 months ago and reading up a lot, I now suspect I have some form of autism. I'm going for an assessment on Monday but like you I was too nervous to ask the GP. I also read about some women's negative experiences of getting a diagnosis through their GP, if the GP didn't have enough knowledge of autism and how it presents in females. So I have used my savings to pay for the assessment privately. I know not everyone is lucky enough to have savings though. If you do go to see your GP, I would read up online about your symptoms first and perhaps make a list of everything you experience that ties in, which you can give the GP. I have also discussed the possibility of autism with my psychologist and she has been very supportive. Do you have any mental health professionals you can discuss this with? There are some good books on the subject too. I have just read Sarah Hendickx 'Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder'. The author wasn't diagnosed until she was older. I hope some of that may be helpful to you.

Reply

  • Hello, although I am in no way any expert, I think you sound as though you definitely have some autistic traits. I have experienced life in the same way as you (I'm now 42) and have always put it down to my mental health issues, depression, anxiety. However, since coming across a documentary on autism in women about 18 months ago and reading up a lot, I now suspect I have some form of autism. I'm going for an assessment on Monday but like you I was too nervous to ask the GP. I also read about some women's negative experiences of getting a diagnosis through their GP, if the GP didn't have enough knowledge of autism and how it presents in females. So I have used my savings to pay for the assessment privately. I know not everyone is lucky enough to have savings though. If you do go to see your GP, I would read up online about your symptoms first and perhaps make a list of everything you experience that ties in, which you can give the GP. I have also discussed the possibility of autism with my psychologist and she has been very supportive. Do you have any mental health professionals you can discuss this with? There are some good books on the subject too. I have just read Sarah Hendickx 'Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder'. The author wasn't diagnosed until she was older. I hope some of that may be helpful to you.

Children
  • in reply to Biblio44

    Thank you for such a detailed response. I might try and ask my psychotherapist about it when I finally go see her in a couple weeks, though I still feel nervous about bringing it up. I think researching specific symptoms and writing them down might be a good starting point, thank you. Also thank you for the book reference.