ASD / Aspergers Support Thread Part II

Indie_Kid

A GP can't diagnose. I was referred to CMHT. (Community mental health team) I was seen by a psychiatrist who diagnosed me.

I was informed by the GP that nhs are sometimes reluctant to refer adults due to the cost or something.

Woolwich_Kim

Indie_Kid wrote: »

A GP can't diagnose. I was referred to CMHT. (Community mental health team) I was seen by a psychiatrist who diagnosed me.

I was informed by the GP that nhs are sometimes reluctant to refer adults due to the cost or something.

Thanks.

I'm not sure what there is to gain or lose by getting a disgnosis?

Own_My_Own

Woolwich_Kim wrote: »

Thanks.

I'm not sure what there is to gain or lose by getting a disgnosis?

An understanding and reason of why you feel the way you do.

My son became a lot calmer after he was diagnosed. I believe that was to do with his mindset and how we acted with him.

When he tried to smash his head in he kept repeating the words ' You don't know what it's like in my head! '
I will never know fully, but at least now I can try to understand.

dandelionclock30

The thing is a diagnosis is just a label and you wont get loads of help and extra support from services. No way.
At the end of the day everyone is different anyway and you feel the way you feel.I'm not sure it will do any good really getting a label.
One of my friends has autism and has just got a good job with the council and he is very different but people just accept him. Like we should all do with one and other anyway.

Own_My_Own

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

The thing is a diagnosis is just a label and you wont get loads of help and extra support from services. No way.
At the end of the day everyone is different anyway and you feel the way you feel.I'm not sure it will do any good really getting a label.
One of my friends has autism and has just got a good job with the council and he is very different but people just accept him. Like we should all do with one and other anyway.

Since when has getting a diagnosis of a medical condition getting a label ?

I have never understood this !

Indie_Kid

Me neither. For most, it helps to have an explanation of why they have certain issues. It also forces companies to make reasonable adjustments, which many of us need.

Woolwich_Kim

What was it that made you feel 'different'?

For me, due to being raised an only child and being neglected, it was lack of socialising and therefore my social skills never really developing. Also, it has meant I'm a very quiet person, often not contributing to group discussions and not feeling comfortable in groups.

I am extremely orderly, everything I do has a system and place and I can get very irritated & stressed if things are out of place. But surely this just means I am very organised but some have said I can be a bit uptight/anal about things.

Own_My_Own

Woolwich_Kim wrote: »

What was it that made you feel 'different'?

For me, due to being raised an only child and being neglected, it was lack of socialising and therefore my social skills never really developing. Also, it has meant I'm a very quiet person, often not contributing to group discussions and not feeling comfortable in groups.

I am extremely orderly, everything I do has a system and place and I can get very irritated & stressed if things are out of place. But surely this just means I am very organised but some have said I can be a bit uptight/anal about things.

With my ds, he takes things literary. Money burning a hole in your pocket etc.
He also doesn't like being asked too many questions. He has to have time to answer them.
He doesn't have empathy. If I told him I'm really unwell, he would just say ' Oh ok ' and go out.

I often think he is upset, because of his tone of voice and facial expression, when he is actually fine. I should know by now when he is upset or cross as he repeats himself a lot. I put this down to not being able to express his feelings.

Not everyone with Aspergers is the same, but this my help.

Woolwich_Kim

Own_My_Own wrote: »

With my ds, he takes things literary. Money burning a hole in your pocket etc.
He also doesn't like being asked too many questions. He has to have time to answer them.
He doesn't have empathy. If I told him I'm really unwell, he would just say ' Oh ok ' and go out.

I often think he is upset, because of his tone of voice and facial expression, when he is actually fine. I should know by now when he is upset or cross as he repeats himself a lot. I put this down to not being able to express his feelings.

Not everyone with Aspergers is the same, but this my help.

Thanks.

The bold part really strikes a chord with me as that's exactly what I'm likely to say/do, even when someone tells me their loved one has passed away. But, this is only with those I don't know. If I don't know (or like) them then frankly, I'm not bothered. I would say 'I'm sorry to hear that' but refuse to show any false interest or allow their sob story to drag my mood down.

With those I know and care about I'm able to tolerate it a little bit more but even then there is still a limit.

Perhaps my upbrining means I'm unable (or more like not had the opportunity) to form deep meaningful attachments or that my upbrining has made me a bit 'cold'.

This has jogged my memory, a 3rd person has called me autistic this week. I've recently taken up a new hobby of trying to juggle and a friend who is into circus shows has got me a set of juggling sticks that you set on fire for my xmas present. The way I reacted and have been with my practise made him call me autistic as I was so excited and am happy to go play with my new toy in the corner on my own, totally ignoring everyone else.

[Deleted User]

I always knew I was "different" but thought nothing of it.

I showed no compassion, sympathy or emotion.

I have always struggled to socialise and don't have any life long friends to be honest

For me, due to being raised an only child [STRIKE]and being neglected[/STRIKE], it was lack of socialising and therefore my social skills never really developing. Also, it has meant I'm a very quiet person, often not contributing to group discussions and not feeling comfortable in groups.

I am extremely orderly, everything I do has a system and place and I can get very irritated & stressed if things are out of place. But surely this just means I am very organised but some have said I can be a bit uptight/anal about things.

He also doesn't like being asked too many questions. He has to have time to answer them.
He doesn't have empathy. If I told him I'm really unwell, he would just say ' Oh ok ' and go out.

I often think he is upset, because of his tone of voice and facial expression, when he is actually fine. I should know by now when he is upset or cross as he repeats himself a lot.

Me too.

Here's one for you, see if you recognise this:

When I'm being introduced to strangers, I'm so preoccupied with trying to act normal that their names just go in one ear and out the other. Ten seconds later I've no idea who they are. I have to grit my teeth when I say 'Nice to meet you', apart from the fact that meeting people is an ordeal, I don't know whether they're nice or not if they're strangers.

As I mentioned on another thread, anyone fishing for a complement from me is playing a dangerous game!
"Does my bum look big in this?"
"What do you mean, look big?"

I can't make a complement sound sincere even when I do mean it either.

Does anyone else have difficulty in making eye contact?

Attwood says that a dislike of being interrupted is characteristic, does that ring any bells with anyone? It makes me furious, even when I hear people on the radio doing it. I'm not sure whether Aspies dislike it more than NTs, or whether they're just less likely to be listened to. I think that interrupting is what bigots do when they've already decided that you haven't got anything to say worth listening to.