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What to do after a diagnosis is NOT confirmed after an assessment?

NAS39237

Hi,

I had my Autism assessment today after 3 years of waiting and the assessor believed my situation did not line up with the Autism Spectrum. His reasoning seemed to be that it is because I felt that it did not affect my life at an early age but certain debilitation have become more problematic in adulthood.  He mentioned the vague term of me having a personality disorder - more likely Anxiety. Yet, despite my obvious disappointment I don't know what to make of it - I've a list of Personality Disorders and common traits within them and nothing seems to jump out at a connection.

The problem is I feel that the debilitation I have are not just apparent when I am anxious. A lot of it is social based but even when I am with a friend I still cannot make eye contact among many other sensory and personality conflicts - I feel as if I simply don't qualify as an adult nor can handle any life skills expected as an adult.

I could go on further but the simple point is I am stuck, do I get another referral which I would have to pay for/cannot afford or look further into this vague term of personality disorder and go from there? I feel the debilitation getting worse, struggling to manage my work by the second. I was hoping to get through this get assistance but now I fee l am left  with nothing... & I don't know what to do...

Parents

  • Lord, this can't be easy for you.

    What do you think the truth is?

    There are four possibilities:

    A) This guy has it wrong - and yes, as others point out below, just because an autistic trait is there it doesn't have to mean it's causing a problem at every or even any point in life. They can all cause problems some times or all the time, but not necessarily. If you are treated with love and understanding, the traits can just a fact about you, which might even be an advantage at times.

    B) This guy is right about personality disorder but has missed the autism as above which in fact may also be present

    C) This guy is right, you miss the diagnostic threshold for autism albeit you might have some traits but there is a personality disorder

    D) This guy is right you don't have autism, but has also missed the mark altogether with personality disorders and the problem is something else.

    None of us can diagnose but in a state of total confusion about what I was going through, I did also walk myself through the possibility of personality disorders. I called up every diagnostic questionnaire on every disorder from every reputable psychology website, examined all of the profiles to see if any of it sat with anything in my emotional landscape, phoned a friend and tested them against her perceptions of me... It didn't match.

    Hence, my question, what do you think the truth is? 

    If you can walk yourself through these possibilities with brutal self honesty, and also possibly the views of someone you trust, and the personality disorders aren't sitting right with you and autism still is, maybe you need a second opinion. You are entitled to one.

Reply

  • Lord, this can't be easy for you.

    What do you think the truth is?

    There are four possibilities:

    A) This guy has it wrong - and yes, as others point out below, just because an autistic trait is there it doesn't have to mean it's causing a problem at every or even any point in life. They can all cause problems some times or all the time, but not necessarily. If you are treated with love and understanding, the traits can just a fact about you, which might even be an advantage at times.

    B) This guy is right about personality disorder but has missed the autism as above which in fact may also be present

    C) This guy is right, you miss the diagnostic threshold for autism albeit you might have some traits but there is a personality disorder

    D) This guy is right you don't have autism, but has also missed the mark altogether with personality disorders and the problem is something else.

    None of us can diagnose but in a state of total confusion about what I was going through, I did also walk myself through the possibility of personality disorders. I called up every diagnostic questionnaire on every disorder from every reputable psychology website, examined all of the profiles to see if any of it sat with anything in my emotional landscape, phoned a friend and tested them against her perceptions of me... It didn't match.

    Hence, my question, what do you think the truth is? 

    If you can walk yourself through these possibilities with brutal self honesty, and also possibly the views of someone you trust, and the personality disorders aren't sitting right with you and autism still is, maybe you need a second opinion. You are entitled to one.

Children
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