To all who have been, or are in the process of, being diagnosed as an adult.

Hello Brian, I was recently diagnosed in January of this year, (2012), with Aspergers. Although I am not young, I am now sixty-four I have always known that I wasdifferent to other people but I had no real idea why? I have also, for as long as I can remember, suffered on and off with anxiety and depression. I had a reasonably well-paid, albeit extremely stressful job up until 1984 which, I lost because of being unable to cope with various aspects of it – almost certainly associated with the effects of high-end Autism.

I was medically retired and, sadly, have not worked since. Although I did seek help from the medical profession in the early days nothing was forthcoming and like many people in similar circumstances I was left to fend for myself. GPs I encountered back then paid little more than scant regard to my difficulties and, apart from a few unproductive visits to self-funded religious-based (all I could afford) counselling sessions and trips to the local Samaritans, I muddled through somehow. I currently exist on a meagre ex works pension which doesn't allow for luxuries but I get by. 

To get back to your original post, I took advantage when registering at my new medical centre soon after I moved to the area where I am now and, approaching one of the practice GPs asked if he would refer me for assessment with a view to diagnosis for high end autism. In common with some of your other contributors, my new GP knew very little about Aspergers or Autism but agreed, once I had explained my reasons for seeking his help, to make the necessary inquiries on my behalf.

Soon after, about two-three weeks later I was asked to return to the surgery and was subject to a preliminary assessment by an outreach worker, a member of the local mental health team. This was by no means a pleasant experience for me and I found her manner patronising and superior. She turned every answer I gave to her questions back on me and suggested that my problems were not autism related at all but were nothing more than most people would expect to encounter from childhood through adulthood. I told her that with the help of the internet I had sought to find answers as to why I was like I was and, my research had led me to discover that my experiences and feelings were similar to those encountered by people on the autism spectrum, Aspergers in particular. She tied me up in knots, I felt awful. She seemed to have little understanding or awareness of what I was trying to tell her and I found her unsympathetic, uncaring and unfeeling. Admittedly I am a very poor verbal communicator which is why where possible I prefer to express myself in writing. 

I was called a few weeks later to attend a second assessment at a different place but this time it was altogether a more friendly and professional affair and I felt able to talk to that mental health worker who seemed to have a good understanding of Autism and Aspergers and, he was of the opinion that it was highly likely that I was on the Autism spectrum. 

In the space of a another few weeks his report had been sent to my GP who told me of his intention to contact the Autism Centre in Cambridge that I might be more thoroughly assessed.

After I had received a reply from Cambridge and had completed the many forms sent, I attended for my assessment and spent a good three hours or so with the clinician who seemed very nice and put me at my ease. It was a very comprehensive and thorough probing into my background and life from early childhood to present day and, at the end of it I felt physically and emotionally drained. I was formerly diagnosed as having Aspergers Syndrome and I felt a great weight had been lifted from me. At last I had the answers to at least some of my very many questions as to why I was like I was and why I felt the way I did. Each of us is different of course and perhaps a diagnosis is not for everyone but, it was what I wanted and I feel it has helped me enormously. I'm learning to adjust gradually and beginning for once in my life to gain a little self esteem where there was none before. And I now realise that my self imposed feelings of stupidness and hopelessness encouraged by some in the past are, unfounded. Iamdifferent, but I am not stupid. And there is a clinical reason for that difference.

Hello Brian, I was recently diagnosed in January of this year, (2012), with Aspergers. Although I am not young, I am now sixty-four I have always known that I wasdifferent to other people but I had no real idea why? I have also, for as long as I can remember, suffered on and off with anxiety and depression. I had a reasonably well-paid, albeit extremely stressful job up until 1984 which, I lost because of being unable to cope with various aspects of it – almost certainly associated with the effects of high-end Autism.

I was medically retired and, sadly, have not worked since. Although I did seek help from the medical profession in the early days nothing was forthcoming and like many people in similar circumstances I was left to fend for myself. GPs I encountered back then paid little more than scant regard to my difficulties and, apart from a few unproductive visits to self-funded religious-based (all I could afford) counselling sessions and trips to the local Samaritans, I muddled through somehow. I currently exist on a meagre ex works pension which doesn't allow for luxuries but I get by. 

To get back to your original post, I took advantage when registering at my new medical centre soon after I moved to the area where I am now and, approaching one of the practice GPs asked if he would refer me for assessment with a view to diagnosis for high end autism. In common with some of your other contributors, my new GP knew very little about Aspergers or Autism but agreed, once I had explained my reasons for seeking his help, to make the necessary inquiries on my behalf.

Soon after, about two-three weeks later I was asked to return to the surgery and was subject to a preliminary assessment by an outreach worker, a member of the local mental health team. This was by no means a pleasant experience for me and I found her manner patronising and superior. She turned every answer I gave to her questions back on me and suggested that my problems were not autism related at all but were nothing more than most people would expect to encounter from childhood through adulthood. I told her that with the help of the internet I had sought to find answers as to why I was like I was and, my research had led me to discover that my experiences and feelings were similar to those encountered by people on the autism spectrum, Aspergers in particular. She tied me up in knots, I felt awful. She seemed to have little understanding or awareness of what I was trying to tell her and I found her unsympathetic, uncaring and unfeeling. Admittedly I am a very poor verbal communicator which is why where possible I prefer to express myself in writing. 

I was called a few weeks later to attend a second assessment at a different place but this time it was altogether a more friendly and professional affair and I felt able to talk to that mental health worker who seemed to have a good understanding of Autism and Aspergers and, he was of the opinion that it was highly likely that I was on the Autism spectrum. 

In the space of a another few weeks his report had been sent to my GP who told me of his intention to contact the Autism Centre in Cambridge that I might be more thoroughly assessed.

After I had received a reply from Cambridge and had completed the many forms sent, I attended for my assessment and spent a good three hours or so with the clinician who seemed very nice and put me at my ease. It was a very comprehensive and thorough probing into my background and life from early childhood to present day and, at the end of it I felt physically and emotionally drained. I was formerly diagnosed as having Aspergers Syndrome and I felt a great weight had been lifted from me. At last I had the answers to at least some of my very many questions as to why I was like I was and why I felt the way I did. Each of us is different of course and perhaps a diagnosis is not for everyone but, it was what I wanted and I feel it has helped me enormously. I'm learning to adjust gradually and beginning for once in my life to gain a little self esteem where there was none before. And I now realise that my self imposed feelings of stupidness and hopelessness encouraged by some in the past are, unfounded. Iamdifferent, but I am not stupid. And there is a clinical reason for that difference.