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It can be hard to accept help, I know I definitely struggle with it, but I do hope you can find something that works for you to help you feel more organised, or maybe calmer about not always being organised, if that makes sense? I have to constantly challenge myself with little things, and it's realy hard, and I'm not sure how good at it I am really, but I keep trying

Oh, I was reeeeally nervous about mine too, but they were really nice (the main diagnosing man came with this other woman, I'm not really sure what her purpose was, if she was training, or whether they needed another female present as it was in my own home?). They do these assessments all the time, they must appreciate that people feel really anxious about them, so hopefully they'll make it as un-traumatic as possible (I'm sorry, I'm not even sure that's a word, it's been a really long day!). Best of luck

Mine was covered this, but it took about 90mins, then he spoke to my Mum on the phone (not sure how long for). Mine used the DISCO diagnostic tool.

Hi, welcome to the forum. I'm in Liverpool so can't give any local advice, but what sort of problems are you having? If we know a little more of what you're experiencing, hopefully we can help

Aww, I love a bit of No Scrubs!

I hope this doesn't sound really patronising, but well done for phoning them up! That would be a massive deal for me Could you explain to his receptionist that you need something in writing ASAP to help with your benefits application? Or maybe your GP could phone the psychiatrist for you, if he needs "official" confirmation, even verbally, of what you said? If that satisfies your GP enough to sign your sick note, I'm not sure if the DWP will need your diagnosis in writing, or they might start your benefits anyway, and just ask you to send them the written confirmation when you get it? I think when I first went on ESA, I just had to send off my sick note from the doctor, nothing else. I'm not sure, though, just a thought.

My life would be utter chaos if I didn't rely on lists, or people texting me, reminding me to do things. Like you, I too seem to have phases where I'm better organised, then other times when, list or no list, I just can't get things done - I burn food, I fill the washing up bowl and forget to actually do the washing up, I shave one leg and forget the other.... I think my depression doesn't help, as even if I remember that something needs doing, sometimes I don't have the motivation to do it. I made a list ages ago of every bit of possible housework that could possibly need doing, then split it into things that needed doing every day, every few days, every week, every month, less than monthly. Then I can go through and tick off, or mark the date, when I last did something, it just helps me keep track a bit better. Making timetables and routines for myself also helps, though I feel really guilty when I can't stick to them, for whatever reason. You might find you have to try many different strategies before you settle in to something which suits you. I hope you can find something which works for you.

Fresh Prince theme tune - classic

I had the same worry after my assessment: "What if they've changed their minds?" etc. If you are able to manage a phone call (I struggle with them, myself), I would give them a call in the morning. Or is there someone who could phone for you? I hope it gets resolved for you quickly. I know what it's like to worry about something like this.

The guy who diagnosed me wrote me a letter before he had finished his official report, saying "You have a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome" (he actually did put it in bold!). He did this because, after speaking to my Mum on the phone, she mentioned that I was anxious that it wasn't real, that I'd imagined the whole thing, because my support worker who was meant to be present during the assessment, couldn't be there. So he phoned me up and said "Ruth - you have Asperger's!" just so I was sure, and then wrote the letter I mentioned. So hopefully whoever diagnosed you would be willing to do the same, especially as your grounds for wanting one are more official than me just being silly!? On Thursday the guy who diagnosed me brought round the official report too, and discussed a care plan with me. I'm quite excited now!

I couldn't agree more, Merry, I was saying the same thing to someone yesterday

Have you tried freecycle? It's a website where people ask for things they need or offer things for free. There are always beds on my local one. Some people will deliver but mostly you have to collect I think.

Ooh I'll look out for those other books, thanks Special_talent123 It's funny, because I've been in the mental health system for just over a decade, and so many possible diagnoses have been bandied around - it was just such a relief when I read the Female Asperger's Traits on Rudy Simone's website and I felt "I'm home!!!!" Then I had to convince my mum that I wasn't crazy and imagining it all! That was fun :s

Yeah the first chapter was good, but I get side-tracked. Argh the week seems to have gone really quickly and it's almost time for Spanish again! Eek!

Sorry, I thought I replied to this, this morning. I hope you feel better soon.

Hi there, and welcome. You might be feeling quite overwhlemed with the diagnosis and everything, but I recommend "Aspergirls" and "22 Things A Woman With Asperger's Wants Her Partner To Know" both by Rudy Simone. They were both like reading my own life story. Anyway, welcome

Supergrass Syndrome - I like it! Hi and welcome I'm a new diagnos-ee too

Howdy, welcome

When my tutor once said, in the middle of a lecture: "Who made the Classics, classics?" I realised I hadn't really read any! So I set about doing so, though I still don't think I've managed an entire Dickens. I loved Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights etc., I adore Daphne Du Maurier. I also used to collect children's books, well, I guess I still do, I just haven't bought any in a while. I LOVE The Little Prince. The Medieval Women book sounds cool. I've got a book upstairs called "Women's Madness - Myth Or Mysogeny" which I keep meaning to read but again, never finished! Grr Ruthy! In a library I'm like a kid in a sweet shop

Hello. Hugs! Or not hugs, if hugs aren't your thing! General cope-able with levels of support from a safe distance I feel for you. Families are hard work. I also find that writing things down helps me deal with things too, though, I hope you feel a little better today.

I don't know, but I'd be interested to find out!

I buy most of my books off Amazon, they tend to be fairly reasonable, and arrive quickly. I completely know what you mean about wanting to go wake your parents up and say "THAT'S what that was about!!". I think my Mum found it really interesting reading, not just considering me, but beginning to see my Dad's behaviours through an Aspie lens. Ferrets are awesome, always entertaining, terribly cute and endlessly mischievious Mine isn't very sociable as he was a stray (or maybe someone made him a stray because he wasn't very sociable!!) but I love having him around. I'd loooove to have a dog but I just couldn't cope, unfortunately, so a ferret that sleeps 20+ hours a day is perfect! What kind of dog do you have? Good luck with thr GP route, but I think it's good to know that there's a back up plan with the private practitioners

It should be burned, it's cripplingly embarassing! Blatant wish-fulfilment drivel! Oh the shaaaaame! I do love reading too though, I'm reading a biography of Daphne Du Maurier at the moment - I adore her! And I just read Forrest Gump, which is quite different from the film, but very good. What do you like to read?

No, I just used to write and write and write and then write some more in English. I wrote 100 pages of a novel when I was 9 or 10 It was terrible, but my Mum's still got it somewhere (note to self: find it and BURN IT!!!!)

That's a really good question, and one I constantly get wrong in my own life! I think it's someone who accepts you for who you are, and doesn't try to make you into something you are not. I have / had a friend who I really valued (I don't really have a lot of friends) but it's becoming apparant to me that she's only interested in me when I'm not depressed (I suffer from severe depression). I think it's because when she first met me, I was going through a period of wellness, so that's the version of me she was used to seeing. When I got ill, she seemed very uncomfortable with it, and instead of talking to me about it, she just ignored it, I think in the hopes that it would just go away if she refused to acknowledge it. And she's done it a few times, in a few different ways, so I'm starting to think that she's not as interested in being a genuine friend as I thought she was. I haven't even told her about my diagnosis of AS, because I'd hate for her to ignore that too I think true friends keep in touch, or at least tell you if they are too busy etc. I think they don't make you feel bad for the things you can't do, but praise you for the things you can do. They will contact you, so you don't always have to be the one to make first contact if you haven't talked in a while. Essentially, they make you feel good It's more complicated than that, but I'm not an expert and anyway, it's all very well me writing stuff down, but that doesn't mean I'd recognise it in a real life situation!