Information On Asperger's

[OnlySunshine]

Because I don't want to be construed as defensive, I just wanted to point out again that I'm not looking for a diagnosis over the internet.  Asking for one would be silly because you can only get a diagnosis in person from a trained professional.  I really only wanted input from people who have it because of curiosity after what my healthcare providers have mentioned over the last year or two.  Given time, I started thinking things over and realized that there might be something to it after all.  That's it.  No diagnosis on the internet wanted, just friendly input.  ;)

[EmilyAnn]

Could we please not derail the thread?  I am seeking professional guidance, so this doesn't pertain to me.  If you want to talk about people self-diagnosing, can you please open another thread?  Thanks.

 

I am sorry you thought I was attempting to derail the thread, that was not my intention. However, there have been hints of self-diagnosis (such as looking up symptom lists, 'I fit X but not Y') by several posters in this thread and many people are unaware of the dangers of such actions and I do feel that my post was relevant. 

 

Anyway, that's all I had to say so I'm bowing out. 

[OnlySunshine]

I am sorry you thought I was attempting to derail the thread, that was not my intention. However, there have been hints of self-diagnosis (such as looking up symptom lists, 'I fit X but not Y') by several posters in this thread and many people are unaware of the dangers of such actions and I do feel that my post was relevant. 

 

Anyway, that's all I had to say so I'm bowing out. 

 

OK, that's understandable.  Like I said, I hope I wasn't appearing defensive as I am really trying to stop doing that.  If I did appear so, please accept my apologies.  ;)

[Gabriela]

I can see where others are coming from about Aspergirls (Simone's book), but that book changed my life and everything I thought about myself. I laughed, I cried, I laughed again, I sobbed, I nearly rolled off the sofa... I actually laughed and cried at the same time, because I saw a perfect mirror image of myself in that book, and it was both hilariously ridiculous and overwhelmingly relieving at the same time. I accepted myself for the first time in my life after reading that book.

 

Attwood is the world's leading expert on Asperger's, and his book on it (the big one) is really great. But I wanted to throw it against the wall every time he talked for 15 pages about boys, then tacked on at the end, "Females with Asperger's also manifest similar tendencies." He has done next to nothing in research for women with ASD, so far as I know. His contribution to the book "Asperger's and Girls" was infuriating. It looked like it was thrown together on one of his transatlantic flights. He's a great researcher, and certainly worthy of respect, but I think he hasn't done enough for women. (Though, to be fair, researchers do have to specialize, so if he made a conscious choice to focus on males, I think that's to be respected. I just wish SOMEONE would do some research on Aspergirls.)

 

MM: If you want to hear about my symptoms and my diagnostic process, please PM me. I'll be happy to tell you all. If you're in the US, I can tell you a lot about the diagnostic process here for an adult woman. I'd be happy to Skype with you about it, as it was a long journey and not exactly an easy or satisfying one.

 

BTW: Depression, anxiety, and ADHD are common preliminary diagnoses in a girl with Asperger's. I had been diagnosed with a whole host of things (including Tourette's, depression, anxiety, etc.) before I realized Asperger's is the only diagnosis that explains everything.

[OnlySunshine]

I can see where others are coming from about Aspergirls (Simone's book), but that book changed my life and everything I thought about myself. I laughed, I cried, I laughed again, I sobbed, I nearly rolled off the sofa... I actually laughed and cried at the same time, because I saw a perfect mirror image of myself in that book, and it was both hilariously ridiculous and overwhelmingly relieving at the same time. I accepted myself for the first time in my life after reading that book.

 

Attwood is the world's leading expert on Asperger's, and his book on it (the big one) is really great. But I wanted to throw it against the wall every time he talked for 15 pages about boys, then tacked on at the end, "Females with Asperger's also manifest similar tendencies." He has done next to nothing in research for women with ASD, so far as I know. His contribution to the book "Asperger's and Girls" was infuriating. It looked like it was thrown together on one of his transatlantic flights. He's a great researcher, and certainly worthy of respect, but I think he hasn't done enough for women. (Though, to be fair, researchers do have to specialize, so if he made a conscious choice to focus on males, I think that's to be respected. I just wish SOMEONE would do some research on Aspergirls.)

 

MM: If you want to hear about my symptoms and my diagnostic process, please PM me. I'll be happy to tell you all. If you're in the US, I can tell you a lot about the diagnostic process here for an adult woman. I'd be happy to Skype with you about it, as it was a long journey and not exactly an easy or satisfying one.

 

BTW: Depression, anxiety, and ADHD are common preliminary diagnoses in a girl with Asperger's. I had been diagnosed with a whole host of things (including Tourette's, depression, anxiety, etc.) before I realized Asperger's is the only diagnosis that explains everything.

 

I'm pretty sure I have depression and anxiety, though, since I've had symptoms for over 14 years.  It was brought on by PTSD and then remained.  I kept trying to take myself off the medication when I would feel better (which is wrong) and I would relapse a year later.  Now, I'm smart and I know not to take myself off the medication without doctor's orders FIRST, not after.  I know now that relapses are highly likely when medication is stopped too soon.  It's like jump starting a low battery in a sense.  If you charge it just a little until the car starts, then it runs for a while, but it likely has to be recharged again.  If you continue charging it until the battery is full, it runs optimally, and won't need a boost for quite some time.  ;)

 

As for the PMs, I might do that when I have more free time.  I have Spring Break next week, so I will consider it then.  Thanks!
 

[maximillion]

Aspergirls said it all for me too.......

 

I went through three or four assesments, three or four diagnoses, and three therapists before it all fell into place.

 

In certain circs I can talk the hind legs off a donkey and I am not usually silent. My problems came with understanding and giving out emotional cues. I was just saying to someone else that I used to say 'I am upset' in exactly the same way I would say 'I bought a loaf of bread'. Not because I didn't feel upset but because I didn't know how to translate the emotion into words, facial expressions or associated body language, and learning to do that has been ridiculous, painful, wearisome and,now, many moons later, somewhat successful.

 

I used to be just upset.

It took years for me to catch on too

Upset - sad.

Upset - naffed off.

Upset - irritated, upset lonely, upset angry, upset sad and depressed. Upset sad, depressed, and irritated all at the same time.

I expressed all of those things with the expression 'I'm upset' without being able to enlarge on that.

I had first to learn to identify my own emotions. Blimey, that took some doing!

 

 

[Tony]

Here's my story about how I found out,  http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/124653-story-time/

[OnlySunshine]

Here's my story about how I found out,  http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/124653-story-time/

 

Thanks for sharing.  I often wonder if my grandmother ever had my dad tested for autism and kept the results a secret.  She tends to keep her medical problems and my grandfather's a secret, so I wouldn't put it past her.  I'm not saying it's wrong to do that because there's a lot of stigma and parents often try to help their kids live normal lives but nowadays, that information could actually help someone understand what's going on.  Disability resource centers at colleges acknowledge a wide range of psychological conditions and offer assistance for ADHD, depression, autism, and learning disorders.  :)

[Tony]

Thanks for sharing.  I often wonder if my grandmother ever had my dad tested for autism and kept the results a secret.  She tends to keep her medical problems and my grandfather's a secret, so I wouldn't put it past her.  I'm not saying it's wrong to do that because there's a lot of stigma and parents often try to help their kids live normal lives but nowadays, that information could actually help someone understand what's going on.  Disability resource centers at colleges acknowledge a wide range of psychological conditions and offer assistance for ADHD, depression, autism, and learning disorders.  :)

 

I don't think they  intentionally kept it a secret but not positive. I think I misheard or didn't understand.  When my mom told me, she thought i knew.

[OnlySunshine]

I don't think they  intentionally kept it a secret but not positive. I think I misheard or didn't understand.  When my mom told me, she thought i knew.

 

I think, from your story, she didn't intentionally keep it a secret, either.  Maybe she thought she told you but forgot. 

[ithinkjesusiscool]

I don't really trust DSM or ICD. I just can't.
I have an AS diagnosis but that doesn't say much about me and my problems. If I go to a good psychologist he/she would not say that my problems and strenghts are only there because AS. Sometimes your behaviour/problem fits a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD but sometimes it doesn't. I would never call myself an aspie. I would say that I'm a human person.