aspie diagnosis query

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Went to see a psychologist today about my panic attacks and recent increases in meltdowns and of course I spoke about Aspergers about not bieng formally diagnosed but having the traits etc.

She said, as someone who used to specialise in education of aspergers/adhd children that she could see that i had certain quite obvious autistic traits but that probably not worth me getting diagnosis as I am too successful socially. I kind of get what she means in that I have quite a few friends now but I still get into social mishaps on an almost daily basis so its not like I'm "normal". Also its interesting to think that if my school had done its job better and intervened in respect of my dyslexia earlier (didnt get diagnosed with dyslexia until a few years ago) chances are they would've spotted the autism stuff as well and as I had no friends at school I'm certain I would have been diagnosed.

So then it seems if you develop enough coping strategies, an earlier Aspergers diagnosis could be rescinded as you no longer meet the requirement in terms of impairment.

I know due to confirmed diagnosis of dyslexia I'm not neurotypical anyway but still struggling what to make of these autistic traits of mine. Today I certainly didnt feel normal. I was meant to sit a professional exam but I had a massive panic attack and meltdown instead. Went wandering about in the rain feet all wet ad then sat down in the middle of a car park and started crying. I know when these things finish that it isn't normal. Its like i regress sometimes to a 4 year old child. I dont consider that normal. I wish i could get some help for that.

so now what do we call someone who has the aspie traits but not enough impairment to get the formal diagnosis? Cuspie (on the cusp)?

I would call them aspie, if that is what they are!
Coping strategies is not the same as not having the problems. It seems that older people (especially women) have difficulties getting a diagnosis just because they have learned to cope in NT society.

Now the very important question,

does she want to help you with your anxiety or not?

You'd probably want someone that helps you that is competent to help aspies.

Now if she thinks that it is not worth to get a diagnosis, then she should anyway help you (as an expert for spectral disorders).
If she'd think that you wouldn't need any special aspie related treatment, then I'd not know what to say.

If not getting a proper diagnosis prevents you to get help from a specialist (one that should be supported by the state) then that is totally f****d up.
You're not enough an aspie and now go away, I cannot help you ...

Great. I don't get these freaky "specialist" NTs that don't understand what kind of trouble being on spectrum can cause.

Ok, I'd have to say that I didn't try any normal psychologist yet, however I'd prefer a specialist for aspies.
Somebody that has at least some idea about spectrum disorders.

And maybe she'd agree to help you anyway. But hardly your health insurance would want to pay for it. Sad sad sad.
This is always a worth investment. Not only from a moral perspective, but moreover also that

a) If you don't have a job you might be able to find one or more you could manage to keep a job
b) If you'd be in trouble and she would be able to help you you'd be able to work better and more concentrated
c) and you would feel better

if you would see a normal psychologist the risk that you even feel worse is bigger if he fails to understand anything.

Maybe there are some wrong conclusions I make here. Anybody any remarks, experience or similar?

Yes, that is true. Psychologists do not diagnose you just for being eccentric or unusual. You learn that in the first weeks of your undergrad degree: You put a diagnosis only on things that cause distress and dysfunction and are not experienced by the average person (i.e., you don't diagnose a grieving person despite the distress and dysfunction, because grief is something practically everyone experiences). If you have AS traits but you have no impairment related to them, then a psychologist will not, and should not, give you a diagnosis.

You can still be neurologically and culturally autistic without requiring a diagnosis. In terms of neurology, it's possible to think in an autistic style without having any impairments, and it's possible to share the experiences of diagnosably autistic people to the point of identifying as being on the Spectrum. Those definitions of "autistic" count, too, especially for the purposes of a forum like WP. You just have to be careful to say exactly what you mean by it when you talk to a doctor, or you'll cause confusion. Doctors tend to think of "autism" only in terms of the diagnosis, rather than the cognitive style or the cultural identity.

Or not enough impairments or insufficient degree of impairment as the psychologist was implying was the case with me.

She has agreed to see me for a follow up session this Thursday, so I'll see how it goes and whether it helps with the meltdowns. You see I find that to be unusual and a source of impairment. One minute I'm a grown woman working in a responsible management level corporate job, next minute I can just dissolve into something resembling a screaming toddler. To date i have only had one minor meltdown on the job for which i had a ticking off for but i dread knowing a major one could happen and i could get fired. Thankfully so far my bosses have been helpful in terms of letting me wear earplugs and adjusting the lighting above my cubicle but I've had to say its a dyslexia thing whereas its really more of an aspergers thing - but they dont know much about either condition only that they have to make "reasonable adjustments".

The psychologist did use to specialise in LD children - primarliy aspie and adhd- but not adults. Its probably the best fit i can find given that im not likely to get specialist referral anytime soon. Hopefully some help better than none.



Thank you - thats a very useful observation.



yes, very frustrating when NTs dont understand full stop. I'd love to be able to concentrate better at work.