Hello, new member

[Oolong]

Hi,

 

I am a 26 year old woman with Aspergers and OCD/chronic anxiety. I was diagnosed on the NHS when I was 21, after a long struggle.

 

My problems were picked up by the school and my parents when I was a small child, but my mum was told to meet more parents to socialise me better, and to get Early Learning books to teach me basic numeracy and other skills. The school did very little to help, and I was only assessed when I was 10, by an Educational Psychologist and Occupational Therapist. The Occupational Therapist wrote that my eye contact was poor, and that I had some problems with motor skills. The Ed Psych, who assessed me after the initial report, wrote that my eye contact was quite good, and that although I could physically perform the motor tasks, I took a very long time to process instructions. She also wrote that I was physically and emotionally immature, and had only recently made a friend. My verbal IQ was 112, but my performance IQ was only 68. I had a reading age 0f 15, but a comprehension age of 9. The school were advised to get me statemented for SEN, but this did not happen.

 

I then developed OCD and phobias. I also had an extreme interest in the actress Kate Winslet and child development, after Winslet had a child. I became more isolated.

 

My parents suspected I had aspergers since my Dad, a teacher, first heard about it in 1998, but they were worried that a label would affect my future employment opportunities.

 

I only got help from the CMHT when my OCD rendered me virtually housebound, but I had to fight for an Asperger assessment, once I knew that having Aspergers was likely.

 

I now receive support from a local Autism charity, have a part time job, and can travel further distances. I still have OCD and anxiety, but I am more confident about overcoming my difficulties.

 

My Aspergers is pretty high functioning, and I do not come across as obviously different. But I struggle with relationships, am quite solitary and self-absorbed. I am also very pedantic and obsessive!

[oxgirl]

Hi Oolong, and welcome.

 

~ Mel ~

[trekster]

Hello and welcome

 

Well done for managing to get support and a part time job you enjoy. I've also had really bad experiences at school. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 16 and im still blamed for my autism especially when things go wrong. I've got a hoarding obsession but have stopped my spending obsession and im really careful with money. Anxiety in autistics is very common as is OCD.

 

Have you read any literature about autism that you found useful? A few books ive read are 'Aspergirls', 'Aspergers and girls' and ive also read books that are aimed at young people but are generic about OCD, 'breaking free from OCD'. I've found meds don't work for me and cause me to feel worse so books and trying to avoid foods that make things worse are strategies ive used instead.

[Tanya52]

Hello Oolong, welcome aboard! I wish you find friendship, understanding and a piece of advice here.

Love

t:)

[Shnoing]

Welcome, Oolong. Please post some more ...