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help advice needed

simondalby07

Hi.. I am new to this forum.. I recently met a new friend who suffers with aspergas.. he took me to the side a few days ago and explained he has seen alot of things I do are very similar to what he does and asked when I was diagnosed with autism. .

I have struggled with life for as long as I can remember but just got on with it as I have to pay the bills.. but my question is.. as you all probably can agree with.. I cannot talk to another I. E. A doctor about this ..it terrifies me to even think that they think I am weak and what they would say.. 

Is there a place you can talk to others about diagnosis without having. G to go to someone 

Thanks 

  • I've not been formally diagnosed myself, but I have found that writing my experiences/symptoms/feelings down has really helped me get a better understanding of what I am going through.

    I feel like I am ready to start talking about it and if I was going to see a doctor I would definitely take what I had written with me. My fear if I was to go unprepared would be that I would forget half of the things that I wanted to say and probably just look like I was attention seeking.

    Try to remember that doctors are professionals. I have always feared going to a doctor for anything because I'm concerned that they will think I am a time-waster. However, my experiences have always contradicted that fear.They will treat you with compassion and help you in any way that they can.

  • Thanks.. I will try and see what I can do  

    I help myself by making the while day planned   as I work for myself it makes control easy. So I can cary on fine.. it just comes bad when I get a last minute booking..or something goes wrong.. 

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    It is not a clinically acceptable diagnostic tool on its own, but autism professionals take serious note of scores like that. The test comes from a very well respected source.

    The Catch 22 of autism is that we have difficulty in communicating so it is intrinsically hard for us to explain to someone like a doctor that we have a problem.

    Going to the Dr can be made easier by writing a brief (less that one sheet of A4) description of 

    1) What signs, habits, traits, behaviours etc that you have that match the autistic characteristics.

    2) What problems you believe that this has caused you. e.g. mental health problems, work problems, home and family problems etc.

    you can include the AQ Test score in part 1. The two sections are different and I think it helps to separate the signs from the problems that you think it causes you.

    Doctors will accept a written submission or you can use it to remind you of the points to make. You can do both, hand over a copy and then talk it through.

    Diagnosis can't be done by a GP so the GP should refer you to a specialist for that. Be prepared for a long wait unless you can show that you are experiencing significant issues.

  • Hi. Thanks . I have done one and scored 46.. but I heard  it's only a guide.. hoe did you guys get the strength to go ahead to the doctor's? 

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Hi Simon,

    A lot of autistic people struggle with that first trip to the Dr to discuss it. Discussing things with strangers is not something we are good at but there are things to do to get over that. :-)

    Did you know that there is a free online test at aspergerstest.net/.../ ?

    Is that your real name in your user id? Maybe best to get it changed if it is.

  • It's nt really the weak point I am bothered about. It's the actual walking g into a room to a person I don't know and telling him/ her.. 

  • Sorry.. it's my phone taking control  it's I. E. 

    Then doctor as an example

  • Hi

    I'm not sure what an IEA doctor is, could you explain?

    But being autistic is not being weak, its just a difference that isn't well tolerated in society and thus takes great strength to  deal with..