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Wondering where to go from here?

seppuku

I'm looking for a little advice. I'm a 37 year old male with a history of anxiety and depression. I have always felt different for as long as I can remember and have suspected I may have Asperger syndrome since my early twenties but have always, for one reason or another, convinced myself otherwise and put it to the back of my mind. Lately I've been thinking about the issue again and decided to look into it properly once and for all. I have taken the Baron-Cohen AQ/EQ tests and scored 34/19 respectively.

 

I've spent a lot of time on the NAS website and forums and a lot of what I've read coincides with my own life experiences. I have to confess I even broke into tears at one point as, after reading something in particular, it just felt like it explained so much from my past about who I am and why I do the things I do. Since looking into the condition of Asperger syndrome it's felt like I've come home.

 

Anyway, to the point. My wife and I have been going to counselling for communication problems in our marriage. Last session the counsellor asked, as usual, how the last week has been and it came up about the AQ test. He said he has a significant amount of knowledge in this field and asked why I felt the need to take the test so I started to explain why. He stopped me after about the third reason and said I don't have autism. He said the reasons I’d listed were coping strategies I’d developed for the difficulties I’d faced in life. I told him I don't think I have autism, but I think I may have Asperger syndrome. He said you can't take internet tests seriously but asked if there was an author of the test, which I thought was odd. He said that after working with us for so long he would have spotted it. After that he said if you still have any concerns see your GP. He seemed convinced though that, no matter what my reasons, he would have spotted the condition and it seemed was telling me to see my GP out of duty.

 

So now I'm really confused. I believe I have a lot of valid reasons for thinking I have Asperger syndrome. I haven't come to this conclusion lightly. However, someone who I respect, who says he has considerable experience in the area, says I do not.

 

Any thoughts would be very much appreciated.

Parents

  • Hi Seppuka,

    If you are 37 and undiagnosed then you will certainly have developed certain coping strategies.......otherwise your difficulties would have been taken notice of. You may or may not be Asperger but the fact remains that when a doctor or other proffessional tells you you are OK it is you who are left to deal with it....

    My advice is to read up on Aspergers as much as possible. Get to know all about it. try to remeber what you were like as a child (as it is a developmental condition) as there may be signs there. Dig up old phots and speak to your family (you don't have to tell them anything other than you are reminising). There is alot of info on the internet and in books.

    Nobody is going to do this for you and as you have experienced people can be quite dismisive. If you think you might be then you need to investigate that, if only to eliminate it. I totally understand your need for an explanation for your troubles.

    Even taking a diagnostic assesment can be flawed. If you are seen to be coping and not casuing anyone trouble then that may mean you do not reach the threshold for a clinical diagnosis.

    ....one more thing. Consider putting what you want to say to the GP in writing if you think that would be of help. That way you are giving yourself the best chance of getting across what you want to say.......I often feel frustrated that a conversation somehow did not go as I would have liked and afterwards feel like I have failed to get myself accross.

    A bit about myself....I have been for an Asperger Diagnostic and was told that I was not.......sixth months on I have the same problems and I am waiting for a re-referal...... in the meantime I am  doing as much as I can to gain a fuller understanding of myself............

    Good luck and go for it. Its YOUR life Wink

Reply

  • Hi Seppuka,

    If you are 37 and undiagnosed then you will certainly have developed certain coping strategies.......otherwise your difficulties would have been taken notice of. You may or may not be Asperger but the fact remains that when a doctor or other proffessional tells you you are OK it is you who are left to deal with it....

    My advice is to read up on Aspergers as much as possible. Get to know all about it. try to remeber what you were like as a child (as it is a developmental condition) as there may be signs there. Dig up old phots and speak to your family (you don't have to tell them anything other than you are reminising). There is alot of info on the internet and in books.

    Nobody is going to do this for you and as you have experienced people can be quite dismisive. If you think you might be then you need to investigate that, if only to eliminate it. I totally understand your need for an explanation for your troubles.

    Even taking a diagnostic assesment can be flawed. If you are seen to be coping and not casuing anyone trouble then that may mean you do not reach the threshold for a clinical diagnosis.

    ....one more thing. Consider putting what you want to say to the GP in writing if you think that would be of help. That way you are giving yourself the best chance of getting across what you want to say.......I often feel frustrated that a conversation somehow did not go as I would have liked and afterwards feel like I have failed to get myself accross.

    A bit about myself....I have been for an Asperger Diagnostic and was told that I was not.......sixth months on I have the same problems and I am waiting for a re-referal...... in the meantime I am  doing as much as I can to gain a fuller understanding of myself............

    Good luck and go for it. Its YOUR life Wink

Children
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