Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello,I'm a 38 year old female and I think I may have Asperger's. My GP is going to refer me for an assessment.
I've always found socialising difficult, but thought I was just shy or had social anxiety. But recently I noticed something worrying: I keep falling out with friends or offending them without intending to. I don't know if this is a symptom of Asperger's or not? Could someone clarify this? The worrying thing was that I couldn't predict when it was going to happen, and sometimes I didn't even understand why it had happened. That's when I started researching and trying to find out what the problem could be. When I read about Asperger's, and symptoms like 'masking', I realised that I have masked all my life. I realised that maybe the reason I have low self esteem is because I could never understand why I couldn't be social like others could.
Anyway, I am very pleased to have found this community. Thank you! It is great to know that I'm not alone in this experience.
I have some questions about diagnosis. I am somewhat worried because I understand that many high-functioning autistic females are misdiagnosed. I've read that if you do get an Asperger's diagnosis, you can access help and support. Can anyone tell me what kind of help you can access, specifically in terms of therapy: can you get help developing social skills, and help for low self esteem and anxiety, for example? What kind of therapy is it? Can you get to the stage where you can function more easily and get less anxious?
If I get diagnosed as NOT autistic, can I still participate in this forum? I guess I could still read self-help books for Asperger's, and use what is relevant? I am currently on the waiting list for CBT for anxiety (I have had therapy several times in my life, for issues including an eating disorder, low self esteem, anxiety, and insomnia, and I'm currently waiting for more therapy). I suppose I could tell the therapist that I suspect I have Asperger's, but they wouldn't be able to give me specialist help for autism, but perhaps they could help me with social anxiety.
Thank you!
I've just been diagnosed, am in my 30's. I only waited two years and was seen on the NHS at the best place in the country for it (South London & Maudsley) so count myself lucky.
I was diagnosed with EUPD pretty young and was then left to it, so in a way was misdiagnosed too.
I wanted a diagnosis more than anything but bear in mind my consultant told me there is basically nothing else the NHS provide once diagnosed with an ASD. (And I'm in London so dread to think what other areas are like!) So something to think about depending what your goals are I guess!
Hello NAS73695, thanks very much for your message. I'm glad to hear that you had a positive experience.
I would like to find out more about the South London and Maudsley centre. I will look it up on the internet. When I spoke to my GP on the phone last week, she said a name that sounded like 'Maudsley', so I think she meant that I would be referred there (I'm based in London too). I haven't yet asked her about being referred anywhere else, but I will do, unless the Maudsley is the best place.
Do you know if the Maudsley specialise in diagnosing adult women who are 'high functioning', at the lower end of the spectrum, or whatever the correct term is? My fear is that if I am autistic, I could be misdiagnosed because my condition may not be obvious.
Following your diagnosis, are you going to seek any further help? Did the consultant not give you any information on how to cope with ASD, or tell you where to go or where to look if you need more help?
welcome to this forum