what do i have ?

Detour2,

A couple of additional points to those above. Sometimes the doctor may not give a diagnosis unless they see a need to start some sort of treatment. i.e. if it doesn't need treating then it isn't a disease. Lots of people have autistic traits but don't need a diagnosis. I'm not suggesting that this applies to your individual situation though.

Have you tried the free online test aspergerstest.net/.../ my guess is that this may confirm your suspicions. If you post the result here then we may be able to give some additional guidance.

You also have the right to a second opinion - I would wait to see what they say at the next meeting before you go down this track.

Hi detour12,

Autism diagnosis is as they say a postcode lottery. People report widely differing experiences of diagnosis around the country. In some places it is harder to get a diagnosis and people are passed off with a lesser diagnosis with little prospect of support.

I think the key point is you are having another meeting, so they are still considering your difficulties. You need to ensure that your difficulties are taken seriously.

For that to be realised I think you need an advocate to support you and look after your interests. There should be citizen/community advocacy services in your area, but again they vary greatly and some know nothing about autism. They will provide guidance to people with learning difficulties or mental health problems.

Failing that is there a relative or friend who can attend the next meeting with you?

You don't say your age, but things are very different between teens and twenties (move into adult services - still very unsatisfactory) and also very variable for people who are older.

You mention that moving on from a difficult situation takes you longer than others your age. By that I interpret that you cannot step back easily and start again?

Diagnosticians seem to be fixated by certain manifestations of autism and ignorant of others. They would pick up on something similar - not being good at stopping what you are doing (a task or an interest) and moving on to something else.

But people on the spectrum also have difficulty resolving perceived hurts and therefore stepping back from a difficulty and 'walking away'/making a fresh start. Because of lack of social referencing and difficulty understanding people's intentions, they find it hard to disentangle themselves, whereas non autistic people seem very able to just let it go.

But that won't be something a diagnostician would look for - too complex.

Before the next meeting read the 'what is autism', 'what is aspergers' pages on the NAS website. That will give you a better idea of what they are looking for, and you can give some thought to whether you have these traits or not.

Feeling lonely and sad could have other causes, as could having difficulty making friends. But I think you need to familiarise yourself with what autism involves, as it will make it easier to understand their decisions.

You can get these problems with dyspraxia. Dyspraxia affects coordination and balance, but also has impacts on social connections. There is a lot of overlap between the two.

But if you can find someone to support you through this. You need an advocate.

Hi

Sorry I posted in the wrong discussion. The post was about my daughter by the way and not me. She already has a full Autism Spectrum disorder (Aspergers and ADHD) diagnosis. She has many of the other symptons you describe and others beside - I just didn't include them all in my original post. In her case the professionals recognise that Anorexia is a result of the Autism Spectrum disorder and not the other way round. It is just unfortunately her current obsession. Hope that clarifies my original post. Thanks.

i think your probelm is, that while you got some symptoms, those alone in itself is not enough to give a full diagnosis. Autism has alot of symptoms overlapping with lots of other conditions and even perfectly healthy people without any cnditions can develope many of the symptoms in the wrong type of envoironment. (whilist everything you said often comes with aspergers, only one actually having any reference to aspergers of what you listed if difficulties making friends, but that can also be due to something entirely different. being lonely, sad, worrying, struggling to move on from difficut situations could be anything and neither even mean its neccesarily an condition because most people at one point of antoher feel those things and some people jsut have it harder processing stuff, which doesnt mean they need to be diagnsoed with something cuz of it) I too, when first mentioning social difficulties, was pointed to a leaflet of something completely else that had the pretty much all the sympotoms of social difficulties(communicating effectively, making friends dealing with group situations, social awkwardness etc), but as i had the full blown symptoms including all the other aspects of aspergers aswell, including intense obsessions, rigidity to routines, unable to cope with change, sensory difficulties, it couldnt explain the rest by it, thus leading to this diagnosis instead.

My daughter (25) is in a very similar situation. She has had severe Anorexia Nervosa for 3 years now and is getting worse( she has a BMI under 13 I think, she won't let me near her weight). She had a very difficult adolescence with no friends, severe social anxiety, panic attacks, hypochondria and many more obsessions. Even though I took her to the Dr on many occasions she was not diagnosed with an ASD (Aspergers and ADHD) until 18 months ago. Although it explains a lot, it has made little difference to her treatment (which consists of 1 therapy session a week - which she doesn't always make and she will only do with me). The only difference seems to be that they are not threatening giving up treatment anymore because she s not engaging and are also no longer threatening inpatient as some Dr has said it will be ineffective which I agree with as the inpatient facilities just do not cater for ASD patients.

My daughter has regular meltdowns, is virtually house bound, constantly and obsessively cleans the house etc etc. her life is barely worth living and as a result nor is mine or my son's.

If anyone has any advice I would be really grateful as we are completely desperate.

Thanks