Clinical Diagnosis of Aspergers

[JJUK]

Hello,

 

I am a new member in this forum and I joined with the primary intention of obtaining some advice regarding my own potential clinical position with regard to Aspergers.

 

I have sought counselling through the National Health Service for various psychological and personality defects. The style of counselling practiced by my cousellor is Transactional Analysis. By the analysis of my transactions he has identified the possibility that I may have Aspergers. He stated that, in his professional capacity, he was not at liberty nor was he motivated to offer a clinical diagnosis of the condition.

 

Certainly, the possibility that I may have Aspergers would explain many of the ongoing difficulties that I have experienced since childhood. These are summarised in the main below:

 

(1) I have always tended to take things that people say at face-value. Sustained conscious effort on my part is requried for me to appreciate the meaning behind many of the phrases that people use colloquially.

 

(2) I often find it difficult or even impossible to read facial expressions and body language. I do not intend to anger people or to make them feel nervous or disconcerted, but I inevitably do. I don't know why I anger people or make them feel nervous or disconcerted.

 

(3) I often don't know how to express my emotions. Furthermore, I often don't know how to identify my emotions. This makes me feel angry and it causes me to lash out at people, verbally. It would seem as if they don't understand why I do this.

 

(4) I enjoy higher mathematics, number theory and algorithmic analysis. I find these subject areas very natural, comforting and easy to explore. I feel angry and rejected when other people don't understand what I'm telling them about these subject areas when I chose to tell them about my exploits in these subject areas.

 

I have never considered the possibility that I may have Aspergers and, to be frank, I don't want to. I don't want to be different and eternally trapped inside my own head. I want to emerge and I cannot do so. Furthermore, were I to consult my GP and request a clinical diagnostic test for Aspergers, I fear that, should the test yield a positive result, the positive result would be recorded on my medical record and that such a positive result would legally preclude me from pursuing certain professional objectives. In addition, I feel that such a positive result would dehumanise me in the regard that I would simply become a clinical statistic.

 

Any advice with regard to this general problem will be cordially received.

 

JJ.

Edited August 31, 2006 by JJUK

[Stephanie]

Hi, I guess your post threw up a few questions:-

 

What are you trying to achieve by getting a diagnosis??? Are you looking for help or just confirmation of whether you are AS or not? Do you feel a NEED to know? Are you able to accept yourself for who you are?

Do you think you have AS in your heart of hearts?? I knew nothing about it until I looked it up on the internet, and then everything just clicked into place, so many traits fitted and so many questions were suddenly answered.

 

I am sure there are some adults on here who can relate and help you. My son is only five, but I did stop and ask myself a few of the questions you are posing before his diagnosis - especially the one about it going on his medical record and the consequences that could have on his future. In the end I decided to have him assessed in order to help him through his school years. I could have quite happily remained in denial otherwise and just regarded him as a bit kooky, a little quirky and "different". Diagnosis or not, he is still the same child, I just understand him better now and adapt.

 

I hope you get the help you need, you have come to the right place!!!

[mossgrove]

Hello JJUK and a very warm welcome to the forum, I'm glad you found us.

 

This topic has come up in one form or another a few times over the years I have been on various forums.I have thoughts about myself on many occasions, bit have been content to recognise that I have recognisable traits and leave it at that, but everyones experiences will vary.

 

There is a tendency sometimes to see the 'diagnosis or not' question in terms of 'Do I want me/my child to have Aspergers or not'. If you do have Aspergers you have Aspergers whether or not you choose to go down the professional diagnosis route. If you don't you do not. We are talking about whether ot not to label.

 

My advice would be to spend some time here reading the postings, and maybe read some good books on the subject. (I would particularly recommend Tony Atwood's Guide to Aspergers Syndrome as a good place to start.) When you have a clearer idea whether or not you may have Aspergers and what you may want or fear from a diagnostic process then you can make a fully-informed decsion whether to proceed or not.

 

You may also learn some stregies that will be useful.

 

A final point, I prefer to talk in terms of 'Differences' rather than 'Defects'.

 

Simon

[bramblebrae]

Hi, welcome to the forum

 

I want to emerge and I cannot do so.

 

I'm having to assume here, sorry if I get it wrong, that the above quote is the main problem. Did the councellor have any suggestions on how to help you feel better about yourself?

 

I agree with mossgrove on the labelling issue -he said it all already.

 

 

take care

Lorraine

[Tally]

Whether or not you meet the criteria to be labelled with Asperger's does not change who and what you are, or make you a worse (or better) person.

 

I've found that diagnosis has helped me a great deal. Whilst it has not helped me to become a social butterfly, it has helped me to understand why I have so much difficulty communicating with people, to forgive myself when I get things wrong, and to understand that actually, socialising isn't essential to being a good person.

 

Unless you are going into the secret service or anything like that, your employer is unlikely to insist on seeing your medical records anyway.