Been told I *may* have very mild aspergers. Advice please

[Deleted User]

My DH was finally diagnosed with AS last year and your 'symptoms' sound similar. I'd say get the diagnosis it will help you a lot.
Depression IS a symtom of AS, mainly in undiagnosed AS. And adults CAN get a diagnosis as per my 37 yr old Hubby. http://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/services/clinical/learning_disabilities/liv_asperger/resources.asp

unless you are local they wont be able to help you but there will be something similar in your area.

Diagnosis and later an understanding of why things are the way they are, why your behaviours are the way they are etc will help a great deal. Most AS is high functioning / high IQ, unlike most autisim.

With this knowledge and understanding of himself my DH is now a teacher )

As for telling your employer, the disability discrimination act does not allow them to discriminate against anyone. I would speak with someone before disclosing anything that you are unsure about. I have a clause like that in my contract, what it says/means is = if you have a condition/illness which effects the way you do your job. This AS if it is that does not count. Reason being is if you have it you have always had it and done your job to date with it. It is not a new condition that you have never worked with, like a mental breakdown or a broken leg. You can in fact not tell them forever and it is non of their business, so long as it does not effect your ability to do your job.
As I experience AS daily and caried out part of the assessment for my DH i am happy to answer any questions you have privately.

veggyboy

Breast_Cancer_Survivor wrote: »

I suffered from depression & anxiety for 8 yrs, my pyschiatrist even claimed I had a personality disorder before I finally received my diagnosis of Asperger's in 2006.

There is an online test you can do which will give you an indication of whether you may have it.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

I really feel for you, it's awful knowing you are different from everyone else but not understanding why.

It hasn't necessarily made me feel better having my diagnosis but it does help having a name to put to it when you try to claim benefits.

If you want to know anything about my experiences don't hestitate to ask.

I did the test just out of intrest and got 37, I knew I had a few problems like deppression (have done for more than 20 years), but it does kind of open things up a bit. Trouble is being a chap and the way I was brought up I don't feel comfortable discussing this with my gp.

Vicky123

Autism and AS can have lots of co-morbids, bipolar would not be unusual.
I'm wondering if you have a local Aspergers group you could join?
You could do this before discussing anything with a doctor and before any formal diagnosis, they should be able to advise and inform you as well as the opportunity to meet others in a similar situation.
My youngest son is profoundly autistic and older higher functioning they both have co-morbids, oldest is also diagnosed with OCD and receiving CBT for his intrusive thoughts/voices.
Vicky

Zziggi

Breast_Cancer_Survivor wrote: »

I suffered from depression & anxiety for 8 yrs, my pyschiatrist even claimed I had a personality disorder before I finally received my diagnosis of Asperger's in 2006.

There is an online test you can do which will give you an indication of whether you may have it.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

I really feel for you, it's awful knowing you are different from everyone else but not understanding why.

It hasn't necessarily made me feel better having my diagnosis but it does help having a name to put to it when you try to claim benefits.

If you want to know anything about my experiences don't hestitate to ask.

I scored 47 :eek::eek: I have an ASD DS and a suspected ASD DD (undergoing tests.) May i know where they "got" it from

Vicky123

I scored 11, but I am very familiar with autism having 2 sons on the spectrum and grew up with brothers who are undx Aspies so know exactly what answers would give a high or low score, having said that I don't have AS imo, so the score would be right.
Vicky

SUESMITH_2

i scored 7

Burlesque_Babe

Fascinating reading.....I got 22 but guess this means I do not have any tendencies etc. I have suffered on and off with depression for years and have found myself getting more and more 'controlled' over my routine and life so it was interesting to do the quiz.

Mouschka

It is depressing to feel different and excluded. If having a diagnosis would help you do get one and don't feel obliged to tell your employer. You are lucky to have a partner who accepts you - could you get a bit more support from her/him?
Some people in my family are on the spectrum and all differ in so many aspects of their AS symptoms. I have a very good friend who is at the top of a National organisation and he believes he is an undiagnosed Aspie.
I do hope you get the chance to come to terms with some of the issues that worry you. Try to enjoy small pleasures and not dwell too much on what might go badly. Unless you actually act on impulses they are not harmful so don't beat yourself up unduly about what happens in your head.
In many ways that is the difficulty for AS people - their minds aren't often inactive.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

Burlesque_Babe wrote: »

Fascinating reading.....I got 22 but guess this means I do not have any tendencies etc. I have suffered on and off with depression for years and have found myself getting more and more 'controlled' over my routine and life so it was interesting to do the quiz.

Im glad people have found the test interesting, if anyone undiagnosed does the quiz & scores highly id print it off & take it to show your GP who should hopefully be able to refer you to a professional that can officially diagnose you.

I spent years suffering from disabilitating depression & anxiety that wouldn't eliviate how ever much medication I would take & ive tried all of them.

Unfortunately anti depressants & other medications often do very little for people with Asperger's as our brains are actually wired differently to a Nuerotypicals brain.

If you are on the Autistic Spectrum getting a diagnosis in order to receive the correct help & support is imperative.

asperger

i run an asperger syndrome web site that offer help to people with asperger or people affected by aspergers. There is alot of information on there including afew fun things like famous people thought to have Aspergers, but there is alot of imforation on the site to help people deal with the condition and i also use the same link for the asperger test aswell and its a good test i think.