• Replies 16 replies
  • Subscribers 86 subscribers
  • Views 3064 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

I think I have Autism... Should I get an assessment,

NAS63729

After doing a lot of reading for over a year I would like to get an assessment but would like others opinions incase I waste the dr's time. Here is some of my background.

From the age of 2 plus:
I was a late talker and could not talk to extended family, only my parents.
I would only talk when spoken to and would not start a conversation.
I was unable to do any imaginative play or use my imagination for drawings or making anything.
Loud sirens used to make me panic.
I only ever had one friend at a time.
Used to have a big interest in birds and bird watching, making notes etc.
Struggle to imagine what someone looks like when reading a book for example
Was told by others I was rude and I couldn't say certain things.

As I have got older 20 plus I have noticed:
I still cannot initiate a conversation.
I hide behind my partner a lot and will avoid situations in which I would have to talk to someone.
Change of routine bothers me and if my partner dosn't do things how I would do them stresses me out.
I have meltdowns when over stressed, routine changes and I need a lot of alone time to calm down.
I have listened to the same track of music for the last 6 months plus.
Too much noise stresses me out and I need to leave the room.
I cannot concentrate on a conversation if given too much info at once, I almost just switch off.
I always needs to make notes/lists to manage a lot of info.
I cannot answer the phone when it rings however I have learnt to book appointments.
Any social situation makes me so anxious.
I am the last to understand a joke and most of the time will need it explained.
I can be very blunt and don't always take into consideration how someone else feels.
I struggle to understand if someone is trying to give me helpful advice, being sarcastic or snapping at me.
Depending on my mood I cannot stand being touched and need my space.
A day out has to be planned to the T and weekends when partner is home has to be planned as it is out of my usual routine.
I never talk about my emotions.

Any advice would be welcome!!

  • There are lots of people with autism who are not diagnosed. Its not a cool hip thing to get just so you can say you have it. If its causing serious difficulties for you in your life ( which it did for me) then you should get diagnosed so that you can resolve those difficulties and improve the quality of your life otherwise its not really going to matter.

  • Hi ,

    Thank you for sharing this with the community. You may like to look at our information about autism spectrum disorders:

    https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism

     If you were interested in finding out if you are on the autism spectrum, you would need to have a formal diagnostic assessment. You may find it useful to have a look at the following link for further information about diagnosis and the benefits of getting one:

    https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis

     Furthermore, it is important the professional you see has experience of autism spectrum disorders. You can find details of diagnostic services on our Autism Services Directory in the Assessment and diagnosis section: http://www.autism.org.uk/directory.aspx

     If you have further questions, you may like to contact our Autism Helpline team. They can provide you with information and advice about getting a diagnosis. You can call them on 0808 800 4104 (Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm.Please note that the Helpline is experiencing a high volume of calls and it may take a couple of attempts before you get through to speak to an adviser.

    I hope this helps,

    ChloeMod

  • in reply to .......

    I hate the word 'disabled' and avoided support for ages because I didn't want to be labelled as disabled (it seems to imply that you're weak/vulnerable/dependent). But if I have to tick the box that says 'disabled' on some stupid procedural form in order to get some minor help/recognition/understanding for my 'differences' then I'll do it. It's just a word.

  • in reply to .......

    It sounds like you had a bad experience. I've heard that other people found diagnosis helpful though.

  • in reply to NAS63729

    that would be up to the assessor to decide --- but be warned they dont always say what level of autism you have --- I was told that I was "On the spectrum" / autistic,,,,,    thats it  ! no score levels etc 

  • in reply to Plastic

    I was blessed to be diagnosed almost thirty years ago; whenever I was 12.

    I felt like a Guinea Pig for the next two generations. However, I have no regrets.

  • in reply to Plastic
    Plastic said:
    BTW - an NHS diagnosis can take up to 2 years - just because of their inefficiencies

    ........ aided by austerity and crippling funding cuts since 2010. 

  • A lot depends on your life - if it's low stress and you're doing ok, then take your 'self diagnosis' as a wake-up to change details in your life to create more happiness for yourself - learn about it and work out just how it affects you and make it better.    I think you'll find that you can boil almost everything down to the inability to deal with anxiety and over sensitivity to stimulus - basically, your fight-or-flight response is set permanently to MAX.     

    Finding way to reduce stress will serve you well.

    BUT - if you are employed somewhere that is stressing you or your life is starting to come apart, a diagnosis can help you fight your corner if it comes to the crunch - you can ask for reasonable adjustments at work to help you succeed and you might be able to claim PIP benefits.

    BTW - an NHS diagnosis can take up to 2 years - just because of their inefficiencies - a private diagnosis can be done in weeks - cost might be between £800 - £2000.

    If you are employed, you could have company health insurance that might pay for a private diagnosis.

  • It was the best thing I ever did. I know now what I'm working with and can be kinder to myself.  I wondered how much of it was general anxiety. Now I know my brain is wired a bit differently to most people. So it's a mixture of general anxiety and autism. Goung forward, it's better informing how I deal with my mental health.

  • in reply to NAS63729

    That is all you need - and keep it tp yourself. Trust me when you read my other posts. 

    You'll open up nasty apthwyas you couldnt even imagine at the moment.... One example. I have driven almost 1000000 miles before I got diagnosed then - some ASS at the DVLA suddnely decides that I was not fit to drive as an aspie. There was talk of all of us losing our licenses. 

    So there I am - driving my camper van to far flung places to go surfing when some Cxnt at the DVLA suddenly want to detroy that dream. It never wouldve come into my thoughts ever - if I was not diagnosed. They will be more in the future - it is guarenteed with these Usurpers running the dictatorship that is now the UK. 

  • in reply to BassFace

    Thank you, I have just taken this test and got 41 out of 50, would this be classed as high functioning autism do you know?

  • DON" DO IT.... Not unless your life is already destroyed then you've got nowt to loose. If you are doing reasonably well though, you will not be afterwards - for years maybe even decades. Itr is like throwing a bomb into your whole reality and destroying it - yourself, your sole at the deepest level. Then You will be dropped and dumped by the socalled experts unless you do it Their way - pumped up with BS NT ideas and thier dangerous drugs. YUK

  • If I could go back - I would never get diagnosed. Have a good look at what folk say - after they say it was positive, then the truth will out.

    My biggest regret EVER is willingly making myself Disabled in the eyes of society! :(

  • if you have identified some of the symptoms, you must consult a professional. even if you are wrong with your assessment, it will never hurt to consult.

  • yes get an assessment under the NHS 

    any relatives diagnosed or suspected autistics/adhd/ called weird ?

    any occasions when you have been called "weird" "different" "autistic"  ?

  • You mentioned quite a few autistic traits, especially in the anxiety and social anxiety area. You should do the quiz and see what score you get: https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient . If you score quite highly then you can tell the doctor, to back up your claim.

    Ultimately it's your choice, you're not wasting the doctor's time if you think a diagnosis would be helpful, but it's also perfectly fine to self-identify as autistic if you don't think you want to go down the 'official' route right now.