Published on 12, July, 2020
I was diagnosed with Asperger's a few years ago. I had been pretty sure for a long time before getting a formal diagnosis that this was what I had.I manage to cope with some aspects of life: I have a career and am quite independent. In fact the psychiatrist who made the diagnosis said that I had done very well. I have many of the common problems, especially to do with sensory sensitivity, but the thing that causes the most difficulty is communication with other people. I am very shy and inhibited in verbal interactions, which leads to a great sense of isolation. I feel that if I could improve my ability to make conversation it would make a great difference to my life.
Don
Don49 said:When I was younger I had quite a bit of individual and group therapy of various kinds, but no one really knew what the problem was in those days. Since getting a diagnosis I have had a course of CBT, which was not really very helpful, but it is hard to find anything else.
When I was younger I had quite a bit of individual and group therapy of various kinds, but no one really knew what the problem was in those days. Since getting a diagnosis I have had a course of CBT, which was not really very helpful, but it is hard to find anything else.
I didn't find CBT very helpful, either. Learning to understand why I feel the way I feel doesn't stop me from feeling the way I feel.
I've had individual and group therapy, both of which have helped in terms of getting informed responses to my thoughts and feelings, and through giving me a sense of 'community' and identification.
I find forums like this very helpful, too, for those reasons. Plus... I have the distance from others, and the time to think about what I want to say.
On the spot and face to face, it's always a struggle. Practice does improve things, but it also depends on the type of environment you're working in. I work in care, so it's quite congenial. In other environments, I'd feel much less confident.