I think I have aspergers - what if the doctor says I don't?

I've just self-diagnosed (score of 42 on the AS test). I'm a 55 year old female. Preferred sitting in a corner reading as a child to interacting with others. Underachieved at school and was bullied. Thought at one point that I was the only human being and all the other kids were robots. Since leaving school have achieved some vocational & professional qualifications, where a course lasted no longer than 1 year.  I get exhausted by social situations, or if I have too many demands at work. I pursue special interests to the point of obsession and can talk about them endlessly  often forgetting to ask others about themselves or their ideas. I avoid conflict, tend to try to please others and feel hurt by real or imagined criticism. I've always been told that I look younger than I am and have also been told that I sound young on the phone. Due to not coping well recently, I saw a GP at my surgery who specialises in mental health, who has referred me for counselling. I asked him about assessment for aspergers and he said that as it takes some time to see a specialist, he will get a more detailed questionnaire than the standard AS test for me to complete and then go through the results with me.  My concern is - what if he says I don't have AS? 

  • Thanks RC! 

    The inadequacy of the "one size fits all" therapies that are so often offered to autistic people has become something I'm very passionate about.  It makes me sad to think that many people do not get to experience the difference as I have.  I think the caring professions have as much to learn from us as we do from them very often!

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    I think Trogluddites contribution based on his actual experience of CBT with different people is very timely. I read your comment about what the GP said and wasn't sure how true it was but T has clarified excellently. CBT is the recommended treatment for people who are struggling with autism, it can only help the therapist and the success of the sessions, if the therapist is aware of the patient's underlying condition. Therapists vary (they are only human) and you may not hit it off with the first therapist that you see.

  • Hi PixieFox,

    At this stage, you should only need to concentrate on showing that autism is a logically consistent explanation for how you are.  The Baron-Cohen self-report tests are a fairly widely accepted indication that there's something worth looking into further - in fact, the very same test was a critical part of my formal diagnosis when I finally had my evaluation.

    I think that one thing that your doctor said certainly needs challenging.  Having CBT with a therapist who understands autism does make a big difference, in my experience.

    I have had three different courses of CBT over the years.  Two were long before my diagnosis, and I felt had some benefit, but at times were also very frustrating when it was implied that my innate autistic traits might be caused by trauma or just "negative thinking".

    I am now working with a counsellor who is very knowledgeable about autism and its particular challenges.  It feels much more effective, comfortable and satisfying than previously, and I can see marked progress in my mood that never happened before.

    It may be that this cannot happen until after diagnosis.  Sometimes, such counsellors are only available through autism specific services - but this is not always the case.  Be honest with the counsellor you end up seeing about your suspicions, and about the traits that make life tricky.  In my case, doing this reminded my original counsellor of a colleague who was more autism aware, and she helped me to transfer my case to the counsellor I have now.  Also, feedback from my CBT counselling helped my GP to see my traits more clearly, resulting in my referral to the autism unit.

    Best wishes.

  • Hi recombinantsocks, thank you for your kind reply.

    The doctor did say that an assessment as an adult is only done if it would be useful. I knew this, so I told him that I felt it would be helpful for me to understand myself better and maybe to plan how to cope better in stressful situations. 

    I have pretty good written communication skills, and over the years have learned to improve my verbal communication skills, although I still sometimes struggle with expressing what I mean, finding the exact word(s) or forgetting important points. For example, the doctor explained that the results of the Baron-cohen test that I completed the day before I saw him could have been affected by the anxiety I was currently suffering from due to stressful incidents I have recently experienced. I replied that I have always been anxious, and told him about a few other traits I have which typify aspergers, however I forgot to tell him that I originally did this test months ago after seeing a documentary about AS, when my stress levels were lower, and got similar results.

    I also told the doctor that I thought it might be useful to have a diagnosis to enable counselling to be tailored to my needs, however he said the CBT would be the same whether I have aspergers or not.  

    Thanks also for the information about getting a second opinion. However I am interested as to whether anyone who believed they had aspergers has been told they don't even after getting a second opinion? I'm worried about feeling that there's something wrong with me but not having any explanation why. Do I actually just want to feel "different" or 'special"?  Would a neuro typical person want to feel they are different?  I wouldn't think so myself, as I worked hard to fit in when I was younger and I don't think I could have dealt with feeling "not normal"  then, when the opinions of others meant a lot more to me than they do now.

    Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I'll let you know how I get on.

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Hi Pixiefox, welcome to the forum,

    Your post is very classic Aspergers/autism and it sounds as though the doctor is not giving you the brush off so I think you are likely to get the assistance that the doctor is able to give you - the doctor should be able to prescribe tailored CBT therapy to help you and, in the fullness of time, you may well get the definitive diagnosis that can lead to other assistance.

    You do have the right to a second opinion and it is a common problem and fear that people have so it has been discussed lots of times bbefore - have a look at the discussions from this search http://community.autism.org.uk/search/node/%22second%20opinion%22

    There is a Catch 22 with the condition - how does someone who is bad at communicating manage to persuade a doctor that they have a problem? But it sounds as though you have done the difficult part, it is often the first consultation that is the first stumbling block in the process.

    There is also increasing recognition that autism is a much more common root cause of issues and it sounds as though your GP is up to speed on the possibility and its implications.

    It is increasingly common to be diagnosed at this age - I was diagnosed at 56 so welcome to the club!