MarknotGeorge

I'm two weeks away from a formal assessment, and in my younger days drank heavily from time to time. Depending on what I drank, I could be even more withdrawn, or (usually with lager) I would become louder and sometimes obnoxious. Some of the inhibitions went, but because the social and verbal skills weren't there, I did tend to put my foot in it. Once I got past a certain drunkness, however, I really didn't enjoy it. But since moving away from my parents (and away from staggering distance of town) I've drunk less and less, and I've not drunk since starting on citalopram about a year ago. A car with fuel already bough and paid for beats saving money for a taxi and waiting in the cold with a bunch of p***heads.

With me, the reason why I'm seeking a diagnosis is to find out why I'm 'broken', for want of a better word. Whether it's AS or something else is fairly irrelevant, to be honest. Once I've found out, then I can use the information, especially at work, where I've been having a few problems. If there's a reason I've been making the mistakes, hopefully things will be easier. Luckily, my work OHC and the healthcare plan I have through work are helping me, and I'm seeing a specialist (xxxxxxx) this Friday. (Edited to remove name of professional in line with forum rules - Nellie)

The Cherry kind, for preference. Would propranolol help with the jitters? I'm not exactly fussed about losing out on alcohol, to be honest. I don't go out much, and when I do, I kinda prefer the idea of driving home in my shiny new car, rather than queue with the ###### at the taxi rank. And drinking at home makes me sleepy.

I've been off my computer for a week or so, just didn't fancy going on it. I've been reading about AS, and reading my Underground books. Anyway, in the three weeks since I started the tablets, things have improved a bit, in that I don't feel more chilled at work. I still get the jitters, though, and I'm more dozy than usual, which is something that Coke sorts out.

I think I would. I've often wondered about how life would be if I'd got a proper job after Uni, rather than McDonalds. Not being able to do interviews sucked, and to be honest, so does not being able to read people and deal with so-called banter. I know that K keeps telling me she wouldn't change me at all. Maybe she's worried that a NT me wouldn't look twice at her, but all my daydreams about alternate futures since meeting her have been twisted to include her.

It's been a twisty one so far. I wondered about having AS quite a while ago, when I knew someone who had been diagnosed, and decided to find out about it. Back then I was 'just' extremely shy and awkward, prone to stressy behaviour. I was working at McDonalds after getting a cr*p degree (I was unable to focus), living with mum and dad and no girlfriend till I was 26. I met my wife, Karen, about 5 years ago, and she had some books on AS, (I think because she had just dropped out of a nursing degree at the time) and this rekindled my interest. After she moved 180 miles from Kent with her 3 children to live with me, we decided to go to my GP. I was referred to the Community Mental Health team, who had dealt with me when I slashed open my wrist after an argument with a girl I was seeing a few years ago. According to the Clinical Psychologist, some of the team didn't believe in AS, and that as I had a girlfriend (now my wife), a job and children (by this time number 4 had been born), I was fairly well sorted and they could do no more for me. New house, another baby, new job, new GP. He referred me to the CMH team again, who asked him for further details and when he'd replied (without telling me), wrote back to him and told him that 'as there was no change in my presentation' that they'd do nothing again. I didn't know all this until I went back to see one of the other GPs at the surgery (the one I saw Monday) a few days before the car hit the garage. I went armed with Karen, information on AS and the address of Elliot House. She tended to agree with the CMH team, and said that she would look into a diagnosis but coudn't promise anything. After the crash, I spoke to my group leader at work, who got me an appointment with the OcuupationalHealth nurse, with a view to looking at getting some counselling. I've got private healthcare through work, which unfortunately doesn't cover this sort of thing. I found out from a fellow AS sufferer on the forum at DigitalSpy, where there's a 14 page ASD appreciation thread which K and I post in and find supportive, that he got help with his diagnosis from work. Unfortunately the nurse told me there wasn't much they could do till I had a diagnosis. Since then things had been stressful. I've been snappier than usual, and Karen has admitted that she hasn't been as supportive as before as she has had problems herself. Luckily, my car insurance is covering the damage to the garage door and the contents (all the kids bikes were in there ), so Christmas with the in-laws wasn't too bad. K was worried that I was getting a bit obsessed with AS, which she felt was turning the GPs off, so suggested the feelings-based approach. I think she was worried about what would happen if I saw someone who told me it wasn't. Hopefully now someone will work out what is wrong with me. Anyway time for a donut and a citalopram.

... for the first time since the driving my car through my father-in-law's garage door and trying to walk to Elliot House via the Trent & Mersey canal last month. Anyway, changed tack from the last visit and left Karen at home (she provides too much moral support) but we sat up the night before and carefully noted down how I felt. Not being on a bit of an upswing like the last couple of times helped too, I reckon. So, she's referring me (she knows not where yet, but it won't be directly to someone who deals in adult ASDs as there no such person in my area), and she's given me 10mg of citalopram a day - both to help me deal with the wanting to lash out, and to lend weight to whoever she refers me to. Let's see where this path leads...

I've got all the Discworld novels - since Soul Music I've bought them in hardback as soon as they come out, and generally read them twice in a row at least. It's fun working out the references.

I'd describe myself as left handed, as in I write with my left hand, and it's the hand I'm most comfortable using. But at work I have to use tools in my right hand, which as it's repetitive work is ok. I'm pretty clumsy with either hand, though

I don't like phones either. Maybe it's because people assume I'm female on it. I once had to hang up and redial as the woman at Orange would not believe she was talking to Mr MnG. We have two phone number chez moi. One of which is the business line, which I never answer, leaving it to go to the answer phone. This is the number my wife uses for business, and the number I give out to the bank, etc. I'll call them back if it's for me and I want to. The other number is strictly for family and friends (and sales calls from Indian telecoms companies)

Hello, I've made an introduction on the Intro thread, but this is more relevant to what I want to say. I've been trying to get a diagnosis on and off for a few years now. My wife and I strongly suspect I have AS to some degree. So far, my GP (and I've tried 3 different ones) has kept referring me to the community mental health team, who when I went to see them the first time seemed to think that because I have a wife, family and a job, labelling me would serve no purpose. The last time I went, about 6 weeks or so ago now, I took details of Elliot house along, and my GP said she'd try to get a referral. Since then, I've had what I think was a major meltdown (to cut a long story short, had an arguement with my wife, drove my car through my father-in-law's garage door, tried to walk to Elliot House via the Trent & Mersey canal), and home life is not what it should be. I just want to speak to someone who knows about ASDs, so I can find out why I am how I am.

Hello, I'm Mark, 33 from Derby. I'm married to Karen and we have 5 children (3 from K's previous marriage) ranging from nearly 16 to nearly 1. I work at Toyota as a car assembly worker, and K works 28 hours a day looking after me and the kids, as well as making clocks and promotional goodies. I strongly suspect I have AS, although it's undiagnosed and masked by my age. I've tried to get a diagnosis from my GP, so far without success as I keep getting referred to the community mental health team, who seem to think that as I have a wife, family and a job, labeling me would be of no use. This is frustrating as it leaves me in limbo, not knowing why I am how I am. I just want to be able to speak to someone experienced in ASDs, who can say yes or no and so put my mind at rest to some extent. I'm not a social person, although I do have a few close friends I like to go out with. I tend to have a lot of problems reading people, and relating to them. This can and does cause problems at home, in as much as I find it very difficult to take in and understand K's problems (having 5 kids, and working hard). Discussions tend to end up revolving around me and my problems, meaning that K seems to think she has no-one to turn to. How I wish I could be that person