Female in my 30s, but never been diagnosed?

[Anna121]

I know I have Asperger's although I've never been diagnosed. I have many symptoms such as remembering every detail and then going into overload where I just have to shut down. I get obsessed about subjects where I spend hours reading about them. I'm very clumsy and my handwriting is awful, although I have normal intelligence so could never understand why I had such awful motor skills. I also find social situations scary and I have to try to do the eye contact so I look normal. The only things I don't have is that I have a sense of humour in that I'm obsessed about comedy, and I do have empathy towards others. Can those two things stop me from being diagnosed with the condition?

 

The thing is, I'm not sure if to just stumble through life despite what some people might not call normal, or if to get diagnosed so I can have help?

 

I don't know how to get diagnosed as I'm worried about looking stupid when going to my GP and them dismissing me without giving me a proper referral and they might wonder why I suddenly decided I might have it as a female in my 30s and think I'm a hypochondriac, as the only thing I have diagnosed so far is panic attacks and anxiety.

 

Is there another way to get diagnosed apart from going to my GP?

[Mumble]

I know I have Asperger's although I've never been diagnosed.

With all due respect, you can't know you have a condition unless you are formally diagnosed.

 

Diagnosis of ASDs in adults is a long process particularly if you take the NHS route, so you have to be sure that it's right for you and you need to show how it will benefit you.

 

Is there another way to get diagnosed apart from going to my GP?

If you want an NHS diagnosis, then no. You will also need a reliable informant (usually a parent) who can talk about your development. You may initially be referred to mental health services before getting a tertiary referral to a specialised diagnostic centre. Your health authority will want to be convinced that this is the right course of action for you as it is a very expensive process.

 

I also think it's a good thing to see your GP first (and even a psychiatrist / mental health services) as they can rule out other conditions you may not have considered. For instance, your symptoms would also fit a diagnosis of dyspraxia (which would account for not having difficulties with empathy). Given your dx of anxiety, a holistic assessment would be useful to ensure your difficulties cannot be better explained otherwise, for instance social anxiety disorder.

 

[Tally]

Hi Anna, and welcome to the forum.

 

It is a myth that people with Asperger's don't have a sense of humour. That should not stop you getting a diagnosis of Asperger's. The empathy though, is pretty much the crux of Asperger's and is part of the diagnostic criteria.

 

Really, the only way you can get a diagnosis of Asperger's is via your GP. Even many private diagnosticians require a referral from your GP anyway.

 

If someone who knows you well can accompany you to a Dr's appointment and help get across the seriousness of your symptoms, then your doctor may be more likely to take you seriously and accept that there is something worth investigating.

[trekster]

I know I have Asperger's although I've never been diagnosed. I have many symptoms such as remembering every detail and then going into overload where I just have to shut down. I get obsessed about subjects where I spend hours reading about them. I'm very clumsy and my handwriting is awful, although I have normal intelligence so could never understand why I had such awful motor skills. I also find social situations scary and I have to try to do the eye contact so I look normal. The only things I don't have is that I have a sense of humour in that I'm obsessed about comedy, and I do have empathy towards others. Can those two things stop me from being diagnosed with the condition?

 

The thing is, I'm not sure if to just stumble through life despite what some people might not call normal, or if to get diagnosed so I can have help?

 

I don't know how to get diagnosed as I'm worried about looking stupid when going to my GP and them dismissing me without giving me a proper referral and they might wonder why I suddenly decided I might have it as a female in my 30s and think I'm a hypochondriac, as the only thing I have diagnosed so far is panic attacks and anxiety.

 

Is there another way to get diagnosed apart from going to my GP?

 

i have a sense of humour and can appear to have empathy with others. One newspaper article suggested that "asperger feel others emotions too intensely to cope" instead of being without empathy.

 

You can email the autism helpline to ask them what their advice would be but i get the feeling a GP would be the option. If your GP doesnt take you seriously try and contact your regional team or local autism support group as they could have some ideas of where to go next.

[barefoot wend]

I would agree that the ability to empathise does not preclude you from having Asperger's.

 

My son (18 with AS) has a highly developed sense of empathy. It can be very extreme for him and can manifest itself slightly differently to others around him.

 

Barefoot

[MelowMeldrew]

If I did suspect I was autistic, why would I bother with a diagnosis unless I felt it lessened my quality of life or affected others ? That's the only grounds for a diagnosis isn't it ? They say there are 3-4 times as many autistic as are officially diagnosed, it doesn't affect day to day life or they manage it... is there then a point ?

[ridvan]

Hi

 

Why don't you the 'aspie test' at the link that follows - it might give you a better idea as to whether your have AS or not.

 

 

Best wishes

[ridvan]

Sorry, the link is:

 

www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

[Mumble]

it doesn't affect day to day life or they manage it... is there then a point ?

Part of the diagnostic criteria is that the symptoms have a pervasive effect across all areas of functioning. It would therefore follow that if the symptoms didn't affect day to day life, you shouldn't get a diagnosis anyway.

 

When diagnoses are given out without reference to this criteria, it has a negative impact for everyone - it becomes a negative for the newly labelled person who may or may not be autistic but who risks becoming their label and their positives being forgotten. It is also a negative for those who do fulfil the full criteria and have been diagnosed as autism becomes so diluted that the real issues some individuals face are ignored.

 

[trekster]

If I did suspect I was autistic, why would I bother with a diagnosis unless I felt it lessened my quality of life or affected others ? That's the only grounds for a diagnosis isn't it ? They say there are 3-4 times as many autistic as are officially diagnosed, it doesn't affect day to day life or they manage it... is there then a point ?

 

There is if others are having problems understanding them, if they are unable to get or keep a job (although as many of us will agree doesn't mean we automatically get dla/esa/is. Some folk "just want to know for sure" as the uncertainty unsettles them (which IME is more evidence of ASD).