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BrixBrix
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Jul 05, 2008
Posts: 37
Location: ChineseSleepChant
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 Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject: Do the Self DX'd REALLY Have AS? |
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Do self-diagnosed Aspies really and truly have Asperger's? Or is it just the only label that they themselves think they fit?
Reason I brought up this topic is because for almost a year, I went around as a self-diagnosed Aspie. There's no other disorder you could have convinced me I had. I was an Aspie, and I knew it. When I finally went to a psychologist, I was diagnosed with a whole sling of disorders ranging from clinical depression to Generalized Anxiety Disorder to Social Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Central Auditory Processing Disorder was also throw into the mix along with some other stuff. I still am going to seek another professional opinion because I do believe my current psychologist does not have enough experience with Asperger's and Autism and was waaay too quick to rule out AS (she ruled it out after barely knowing me for 10 mins). So in one way I do think there's still a high chance that I do have AS and another chance that maybe I do have all these "sub-disorders" (as I call them), and not the complete AS.
Also, I just talked to a guy who is a psychiatrist about AS. He said that he's had many self-diagnosed Aspies walk through his door utterly convinced that Asperger's IS the answer for them, only for him to hand them a diagnosis that they've never heard of which fits them much better. He also said that the AS diagnostic criteria is too vague for people to self-diagnose. He said that since it's like "You must have at least 2 of these 6 traits and 1 of these 5", almost anyone could fit it. He said that lots of people with some anxiety or personality disorders actually fit the diagnostic criteria for AS just as some people with AS fit the diagnostic criteria for some anxiety or personality disorders.
Now, that is not to say that self-diagnosed people can't be true Aspies. Because we are all aware that a lot of us found about AS, lived self-dx'd for a while, then went and got a clinical diagnosis.
I'm just asking what you guys think about the whole self-dx versus TRUE Aspie?
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Orwell
Outer Party Member
Joined: Aug 09, 2007
Age: 18
Posts: 3629
Location: Room 101
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: Do the Self DX'd REALLY Have AS? |
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| BrixBrix wrote: | | Do self-diagnosed Aspies really and truly have Asperger's? |
Some of them yes, some of them no. And some diagnosed Aspies do not have Asperger's.
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BrixBrix
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Jul 05, 2008
Posts: 37
Location: ChineseSleepChant
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: Do the Self DX'd REALLY Have AS? |
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| Orwell wrote: | | BrixBrix wrote: | | Do self-diagnosed Aspies really and truly have Asperger's? |
Some of them yes, some of them no. And some diagnosed Aspies do not have Asperger's. |
That's why I believe it's only "safe" to say "I have AS" only if you've been properly evaluated and professionally diagnosed. |
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Social_Fantom
Unmasked
Joined: Feb 23, 2008
Age: 24
Posts: 11374
Location: In the shadows, waiting for my chance to strike
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a self diagnosed aspie (I once thought I was diagnosed), or at least I am somewhere in the autistic forum. I wonder whether or not I should get an official diagnosis. But then again, I know I have it.
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Reodor_Felgen
Counting down till Castro bites the dust
Joined: Sep 29, 2007
Age: 19
Posts: 1465
Location: Norway
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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I think most "self diagnosed" aspies here on WP know what Asperger's is, and have probably researched this topic a lot before deciding that they were aspies.
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Last edited by Reodor_Felgen on Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:02 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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LadyMacbeth
They made me do it.
Joined: May 28, 2007
Age: 21
Posts: 1410
Location: In the girls toilets at Hogwarts, washing the blood off my hands.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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He's a psychiatrist. Last time I checked, autism was not a psychiatric disorder.
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catspurr
Phoenix
Joined: Jan 16, 2008
Posts: 781
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:10 pm Post subject: Re: Do the Self DX'd REALLY Have AS? |
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| Orwell wrote: | | BrixBrix wrote: | | Do self-diagnosed Aspies really and truly have Asperger's? |
Some of them yes, some of them no. And some diagnosed Aspies do not have Asperger's. |
Do you know some diagnosed aspies that don't have aspergers?
Just curious as to how you gathered your information. Not asking in a baiting manner. |
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BrixBrix
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Jul 05, 2008
Posts: 37
Location: ChineseSleepChant
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| LadyMacbeth wrote: | | He's a psychiatrist. Last time I checked, autism was not a psychiatric disorder. |
My teacher's 14-yr-old son who is autistic (has classical autism) goes to a psychiatrist for his autism. |
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2ukenkerl
Phoenix
Joined: Jul 20, 2007
Posts: 4587
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:13 pm Post subject: Re: Do the Self DX'd REALLY Have AS? |
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| BrixBrix wrote: | ...
He also said that the AS diagnostic criteria is too vague for people to self-diagnose. He said that since it's like "You must have at least 2 of these 6 traits and 1 of these 5", almost anyone could fit it. He said that lots of people with some anxiety or personality disorders actually fit the diagnostic criteria for AS just as some people with AS fit the diagnostic criteria for some anxiety or personality disorders.
... |
You certainly ARE right THERE! Nearly every person I said I thought might have it here, found that MOST felt that way. Almost everyone I said I felt didn't have AS, or wasn't detailed enough to decide, found that others agreed with me. Some of them felt they HAD to have it!
I came here with ODD things that I couldn't explain, that are in the DSM and echoed here. I DID look elsewhere. I guess you COULD say I have NVLD, CAPD, SPD, etc.... but each only specifies a part. I never thought I would be "arguing" for a "disability" like something associated with Autism, but I guess it just gets me a bit closer to closure.
AS can be like NVLD, CAPD, SPD, and some other things all rolled up into one.
SO, "Do the Self DX'd REALLY Have AS?"?
Obviously, SOME DO, SOME DON'T, and SOME may never REALLY know. I would LOVE to see definitive proof that I am, etc.... Before I was tainted with trying to fit in, etc... I guess I DID seem kind of AS/autistic.(Isolated, smart, blunt, demanding things a certain way with a certain routine, ALWAYS involved with interests) I do MANY things today that are very much AGAINST my own desires. I guess if that weren't so, I would be out of work. BTW:
clinical depression --> Common with AS. There was even a thread about it here! BTW I had it too, but following my interests makes it better!
Generalized Anxiety Disorder--> Misunderstood symptom of AS. Read between the lines on most posts here! I certainly ACT like I have it, though I don't!
Social Anxiety Disorder--> Misunderstood symptom of AS. Read between the lines on most posts here! I certainly ACT like I have it, though I don't!
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder--> Misunderstood symptom of AS. There have been threads about obsessions here! I HAVE been accused of this!
Central Auditory Processing Disorder -->Common with AS. There was even a thread about it here! I certainly have this!
Going by the ideas above, you are starting to build a case for AS! SO, do you have SPD and NVLD as well? Did you speak before 3? Did you have an advanced vocabulary? If so, you might as well say you have AS, and I would say GET A SECOND OPINION!! |
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BrixBrix
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Jul 05, 2008
Posts: 37
Location: ChineseSleepChant
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject: Re: Do the Self DX'd REALLY Have AS? |
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| catspurr wrote: | | Orwell wrote: | | BrixBrix wrote: | | Do self-diagnosed Aspies really and truly have Asperger's? |
Some of them yes, some of them no. And some diagnosed Aspies do not have Asperger's. |
Do you know some diagnosed aspies that don't have aspergers?
Just curious as to how you gathered your information. Not asking in a baiting manner. |
I know you're not asking this to me, but the truth is, there probably are plenty of diagnosed Aspies who don't have it once you think about it. lol
Because what one professional sees as Asperger's might be what the next one sees as Social Anxiety Disorder, and the next sees as Avoidant Personality disorder.
I think it all comes down to this: it depends on who is evaluating you and what they think AS is. |
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zen_mistress
Phoenix
Joined: Jun 12, 2007
Age: 31
Posts: 980
Location: aotearoa
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: Do the Self DX'd REALLY Have AS? |
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| BrixBrix wrote: | | Do self-diagnosed Aspies really and truly have Asperger's? |
Do those who are obsessed with self-diagnosed aspies want to accept that there are people from all over the spectrum who dont neccessarily present like themselves?
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BrixBrix
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Jul 05, 2008
Posts: 37
Location: ChineseSleepChant
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:20 pm Post subject: Re: Do the Self DX'd REALLY Have AS? |
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| 2ukenkerl wrote: | | BrixBrix wrote: | ...
He also said that the AS diagnostic criteria is too vague for people to self-diagnose. He said that since it's like "You must have at least 2 of these 6 traits and 1 of these 5", almost anyone could fit it. He said that lots of people with some anxiety or personality disorders actually fit the diagnostic criteria for AS just as some people with AS fit the diagnostic criteria for some anxiety or personality disorders.
... |
You certainly ARE right THERE! Nearly every person I said I thought might have it here, found that MOST felt that way. Almost everyone I said I felt didn't have AS, or wasn't detailed enough to decide, found that others agreed with me. Some of them felt they HAD to have it!
I came here with ODD things that I couldn't explain, that are in the DSM and echoed here. I DID look elsewhere. I guess you COULD say I have NVLD, CAPD, SPD, etc.... but each only specifies a part. I never thought I would be "arguing" for a "disability" like something associated with Autism, but I guess it just gets me a bit closer to closure.
AS can be like NVLD, CAPD, SPD, and some other things all rolled up into one.
SO, "Do the Self DX'd REALLY Have AS?"?
Obviously, SOME DO, SOME DON'T, and SOME may never REALLY know. I would LOVE to see definitive proof that I am, etc.... Before I was tainted with trying to fit in, etc... I guess I DID seem kind of AS/autistic.(Isolated, smart, blunt, demanding things a certain way with a certain routine, ALWAYS involved with interests) I do MANY things today that are very much AGAINST my own desires. I guess if that weren't so, I would be out of work. BTW:
clinical depression --> Common with AS. There was even a thread about it here! BTW I had it too, but following my interests makes it better!
Generalized Anxiety Disorder--> Misunderstood symptom of AS. Read between the lines on most posts here! I certainly ACT like I have it, though I don't!
Social Anxiety Disorder--> Misunderstood symptom of AS. Read between the lines on most posts here! I certainly ACT like I have it, though I don't!
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder--> Misunderstood symptom of AS. There have been threads about obsessions here! I HAVE been accused of this!
Central Auditory Processing Disorder -->Common with AS. There was even a thread about it here! I certainly have this!
Going by the ideas above, you are starting to build a case for AS! SO, do you have SPD and NVLD as well? Did you speak before 3? Did you have an advanced vocabulary? If so, you might as well say you have AS, and I would say GET A SECOND OPINION!! |
WOW!
Very insightful post.
I've never really thought of this as the beginning of building a case for AS... I always thought of it as more of "Oh crap. AS is ruled out, now I have all of these other things wrong with me." |
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seed
Butterfly
Joined: Jul 06, 2008
Age: 41
Posts: 14
Location: California
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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I know some people describe themselves as "self-diagnosed Asperger's..." I think most of those people have probably researched and are smart enough to know. However, I do think there is a labeling craze these days and many people jump to conclusions. I think doctors jump to conclusions too, and hand-out diagnosis and labels. It makes things tangible and puts what may be a rambling list of behaviors, etc. into a nice, neat package. This may be helpful to many because it moves some toward treatments that hopefully are effective for them.
I'm on this site, and enjoying this site, as someone who does not claim any diagnosis of any kind. I'm on here because I relate to so many things that are being written here. I've lived most of my 41 years feeling like there's something wrong with me. I still suffer the consequences of my unique character traits. I wouldn't be surprised if I went to wherever people go to get diagnosed, and was given a paper that told me just exactly what's going on, but I'm really just looking for understanding. Unless you think the diagnosis is going to help in some way, I don't see the point. |
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BrixBrix
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Jul 05, 2008
Posts: 37
Location: ChineseSleepChant
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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| I think part of the reason so many are self-dx'd is because of the fact that it's so dang hard for an adult to get a diagnosis. Doctors oftentimes will say "What's the point unless you're a kid needing an IEP for school?" |
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asperience
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Nov 10, 2006
Posts: 58
Location: San Francisco Bay Area.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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It's hard to tell... I'm self-dx'd and I know I have the DSM-IV characteristics for sure. But as the original poster says, it is true that almost all humans have most of those symptoms at least to a small degree, so it really becomes a question of how severe are the symptoms. Also like many Aspies I have feelings that there are other ways besides AS that my brain doesn't work quite right, so I definitely am open to the idea that I have something else in addition or instead of AS.
By the way please vote in this poll if you've gotten a diagnosis as an adult:
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt71394.html
I've met perhaps a couple dozen self diagnosed Aspies, and my totally subjective opinion was that most were indeed correct, but a few weren't. Someone who has been a long time leader of Aspie groups told me once that it's very rare to see normal neurotypical people self diagnose as Aspie and attend Aspie support groups, but that it does happen with some frequency that people with other neurological or psychological issues get confused and think they have AS. |
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