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ASD traits or ASD?

Piki86
over 4 years ago

Hi everyone,

I'm 33 (and female, in case this is relevant) and currently waiting for my assessment, which I'm told will be in about 18 months. But I don't want to wait that long to try and move forward and work on myself (both to try and change what I can to have less anxiety, but also to accept some of my traits and not give myself such a hard time about them anymore).

Obviously until I have my assessment I won't know for sure whether or not I have ASD, but I was wondering, is it possible to have ASD traits without actually having ASD? I feel like despite not recognising myself in absolutely all the traits I've seen listed, I do recognise myself in a lot of them, and in a way that affects my life, my emotions, my anxiety and how I interact with people. So in a way I hope they'll say I have ASD as it would explain a lot, and I hope that it would help me feel better about myself, knowing that there is a reason why I am the way I am.

If they say I do not have ASD on the other hand, what does that mean in terms of the various traits that I do have? Is anyone else in the same situation, or was, until they had their assessment?

Thanks a lot for any advice.

Parents
  • over 4 years ago

    I still find it difficult to explain to people what Aspergers is but there are common themes.. Complex thoughts as you put, are a way of ensuring your social encounters are correctly handled. This causes anxiety, stimming and more thinking which becomes tiring (shut down) or you blow your top (melt down). There are a lot of other "traits.. , sensitivity to noise, light, pain and or smell. Picky eaters. Obsessive in thoughts, passtimes and behaviour. Like routines and structure. Cant multi-task or easily modify thinking. Hate small talk and think its pointless. Tend to stare or look away all the time. Finally, Social Masking which is more perfected in woman, where you can appear normal to everyone but in your mind you are thnking of trying to fit in, copy behaviour and sometimes thinking if something else.. 18months is a long time to wait and your only option for a quicker diagnosis  would be private but this will cost about £2000!

Reply
  • over 4 years ago

    I still find it difficult to explain to people what Aspergers is but there are common themes.. Complex thoughts as you put, are a way of ensuring your social encounters are correctly handled. This causes anxiety, stimming and more thinking which becomes tiring (shut down) or you blow your top (melt down). There are a lot of other "traits.. , sensitivity to noise, light, pain and or smell. Picky eaters. Obsessive in thoughts, passtimes and behaviour. Like routines and structure. Cant multi-task or easily modify thinking. Hate small talk and think its pointless. Tend to stare or look away all the time. Finally, Social Masking which is more perfected in woman, where you can appear normal to everyone but in your mind you are thnking of trying to fit in, copy behaviour and sometimes thinking if something else.. 18months is a long time to wait and your only option for a quicker diagnosis  would be private but this will cost about £2000!

Children
  • over 4 years ago in reply to JohnS

    Yeah I think most of what you said applies to me. The wait is going to be stressful but I can't really spend £2000, especially since I do get on fairly well day to day. I am still confused by what "having traits" as opposed to having ASD would mean. Not expecting an answer here, just saying :)