is i autistic?

Hi Michael

First of all, welcome to the group.

My ex-husband was diagnosed with Aspergers in his late 40's after reaching a critical stage in his mental health.  He was diagnosed through the local CAMHS Psychiatrist and received cognitive behavioural therapy and some anger management which was necessary.    He is also on long term anti-depressants for severe depression.   I think this is generally the way it works for those considered adults (16 and over) or at least that's how it works up here in Glasgow.

You might want to pop into the neurodiversity room on the forum which is for those on the spectrum to converse free from neurotypical intervention  :)  

http://www.talkaboutautism.org.uk/forums/autism/neurodiversity-room/1187

Also the Member Q&A thread for this month is with Damian who is also on the spectrum and I am sure he would be happy to chat with you.

Josie - Community Champion

Hi Michael, just wanted to wish you a warm welcome to Talk about Autism.

You might like to speak to Damian...you can find him here:

http://www.talkaboutautism.org.uk/forums/general-discussion/member-qa/2878

Hello,

I am 36 and was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome last year at the Maudesley in London.  It was a difficult process, with my initial GP being very unhelpful.  I had to get a local paediatrician and the Kent Autistic Trust to talk to my GP on my behalf + then a different GP referred me.  The Maudesley were unequivocal and diagnosed me on the day - saying that I had 'indicators in all categories'.  I have been successful academically as an adult - yet school life was a disaster.

Autism is largely stigmatising as a social label and public knowledge is very poor - one can have many strengths as well as weaknesses - I also took the online test and scored 42 (although not the best test).  The diagnostic criteria have never made much sense to my perception of myself (more how others see me!) - the best place to go is autobiographical books:

Claire Sainsbury - 'Martian in the playground'

Temple Grandin - 'Thinking in Pictures'

Donna Williams - 'An inside-out approach'

It is thought that people from Einstein, Wittgenstein and Bill Gates have Asperger's - it is not a bad club to be in.  My son has 'classical autism', yet is intelligent in his own way - he is similar to me in many ways, yet also different - the spectrum can be very complex!  If you want to ask Q's - then go to the montly Q+A strand - if you want to just talk - the neurodiversity room would be good (as others have said above).

Damian

Hello Micheal,

Interesting story - seems that you probably have had an 'interesting' background (don't worry - me too!).  Looking at the link concerning Dr. Jones - I agree, all of his research has been concerned with Schizophrenia - if you want to be seen regarding ASD, this is probably not the right person to see.

Some time before my diagnosis, I went to a G.P. after collapsing from dehydration at work - I told him that I was very stressed and overworked as an FE teacher.  Probably due to my monotone voice, he thought I was depressed, offered me drugs and printed a list of symtoms from the internet to look over.  I went back and told him (as I said the first time) that I was not depressed, yet I had been at a couple of times previously in life + this was not one of them.  He refused to believe that I may have actually been stressed by being overloaded by an $%^& of a manager and offered me drugs again (I refused)!

When I was a child, the psychologists thought I had all soughts - I avoided them as much as possible until recently, because I read autobiographical accounts after my son's diagnosis - read bits on asperger's / savant syndrome / high-functioning autism - and the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place.  I have met many with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia or Depression, who are probably not at all, yet probably have Asperger's.

Who referred you to this Hugh Jones fella + where does he work?  You need to see an ASD specialist surely???

Damian

Hello Micheal,

I would go back to your G.P. + say that KCH does not in your knowledge have an ASD diagnostic team, yet specialises in Psychosis and Neurosis + ask for him to make an appointment at the Maudesley (who are the recommended experts in adult diagnosis).  Or just ask them what the reasoning behind the referral to Mr. Jones was (other than convenience?)?

I got backing from the Kent Autistic Trust - is there a similar body in your area?  Or an NAS centre near by?

Anti-depressants are for people who are depressed.  If you are not depressed, than you probably don't need them - I have always avoided psychopharmacology.  If someone is really struggling with something, it may be needed however.

Perhaps see this Dr. Jones + say 'I think I may have Asperger syndrome - where do I go for help - or do you have diagnostic expertise in this regard?' - if he says he does have expertise, yet you don't think he does - then you may have a problem.

Can anyone else help Micheal with this - getting a diagnosis was very difficult for me - finding the right people to refer me etc. - can anyone else on the forum help here???

Damian