Should I be doing research?

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I've known about WrongPlanet for a while now, haven't really lurked at all, but decided to jump into the fray. So firstly...well, hi. I don't know if I'll be sticking around, but if anyone can give me a little help now, that would be quite awesome.

I've noticed over the recent years that I've had increasing difficulty with certain areas of my personal life, with my professional life, with my relationships. Most of those issues stemmed from a lack of emotional connection with those around me, a need for everything to be logical. Furthermore, they were extensions of issues I had always had as a child, causing the common complaint of "I thought I was over this already, why do I still struggle here?" I had heard of Asperger Syndrome, knew some minor information about it, and decided to start doing some more reading...and it's like I'm reading about my life everywhere I turn for more info. If I started considering some of these various issues through the lens of AS, things suddenly started falling into place, making sense. The intense focus, the issues with eye contact/physical contact/space, the need for routine/"rules", the intense discomfort with change, the problems with empathy,, the brutal honesty...the list goes on. Even the issues that weren't there, when I read about how AS individuals learn how to "act normal", I couldn't help but chuckle and think, "like I've done my entire life, eh?" I'm an intelligent individual who is also very self-aware, and I could see all these different places in my life where I've changed my behavior for no other reason than to be "normal" or "because that's what people are supposed to do".

After doing some more research, I've come to the conclusion that I need to talk to someone about this. I don't know for sure that it's AS, but I've spent too many nights crying about why I feel like I'm different from everyone else to not seek professional help any longer. I was recently chastised for my research efforts, however, and told that I shouldn't do anything but speak to a pro about this. According to this individual, my doing research would cause me to unconsciously distrust any professional opinion (that's nonsense, but I'm just telling you what he told me). I don't know how anyone could logically distrust someone with LOADS more experience if their professional opinion is explained well, but that's besides the point. My question is thus: I do not know if I have AS. According to books and articles that I have read, a lot of my behavior is readily explained through the lens of AS, and I've seen drastic improvement in some of it by using techniques used by AS individuals. Is it wrong of me to be doing research on my own or asking those close to me to do some research and ask them what they think? What do I say when I call a psychiatrist/psychologist (is one better than the other for this?)? What's my next step? I have a list of psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical therapists, and professional counselors that are covered by my insurance, but I've had no luck so far (nobody's taking new patients). What say you?

patients who research their problems and can advocate for themselves fair better than less assertive patients. not my opinion. showed in a study. so kudos to you.

what do you mean by "fair better"?

have better health outcomes.

cool, that's good to know. Thank you!

[ What do I say when I call a psychiatrist/psychologist (is one better than the other for this?)? What's my next step? I have a list of psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical therapists, and professional counselors that are covered by my insurance, but I've had no luck so far (nobody's taking new patients). What say you?]

It sounds like you have already done some research. I know before I was assessed, all these things that I was reading about was matching up with everything I've struggled with in my life. Once I knew about it, it was if I needed it to be true, to be official to me anyway. If you think official reaffirmation will help you come to terms as the "Answer" of why things in your life have been the way they have, an official diagnosis might be the way to go.

I really wasn't sure where to go either. I went online to the largest healthcare provider in my area that had mental health clinics. I called them up and just asked them straight up what a person would have to do to be assessed to see whether that's what you have. In my instance, it involved me going in for an initial interview the same day I called and inquired about it, and they ask you a bunch of general mental health questions, most of which really don't relate to AS, but the eventual diagnosis is made by "ruling out" other things, so they have to look at everything. Once they have made an initial evaluation with me, they sent me to 2 different people. A Psychiatrist mainly just prescribes you medication to help you deal with the problems associated with AS such as sleeping problems and volatility (which will vary from person to person). Note that there is no cure or medicine that will cure you. They also sent me to a therapist, who is the specialist who will make further evaluations and testing to rule out everything they can until they feel they have a set of proven symptoms that may be attributed to AS. This will involve several sessions.

A mental health clinic should take you seriously and should be willing to schedule an appointment quickly. I hate the term "mental health clinic", it scared me, made me wonder if they were going to lock me up in a rubber room with a straight jacket, but I was put at ease when the clinic appeared to look quite similar to a regular practice clinic.

Dont know if this helps, but hope you can take something useful away from it.