Am i being stupid?

[juno20]

My Boyfriend has been telling me i have aspergers for almost the entire year we have been together. He means it in a jokey way but as i don't find sarcasm even slightly funny I decided to look into what aspergers really means. (my previous partner also used to joke about this)

I did the aspie quiz twice and both times it came up with "you are more than likely an aspie" and the second time i asked my mum to go throught the questions i wasn't sure about to make sure i was getting an acurate picture. on this quiz the result was even higher in the autistic spectrum and lower in the non.

When i told my mum and boyfriend what the quiz said they both said don't be silly you don't really have it you just have lots of things in common.

Now i feel like i'm being really stupid and i shouldn't bother the doctor with something that isn't likely to be true, but i also feel that it might explaine why i feel the way i do.

Does anyone have any advice on how accurate the quiz is?

[juno20]

Wen't to the GP yesterday.

They were 43 mins late seeing me, and as i arrived 10 mins before my appointment I was in a total state by the time i actually got to the see the doctor.

He invited me in, shook hand (not pleasant) and I disolved into floods of tears as I was so anxty about waiting all day for the appontment and then having to sit in the waiting room all that time. I hate waiting rooms anyway and it was very crowded and there were some strange welsh people (sorry if you're welsh) talking very loudly in welsh and standing right infront of me.

it took me a few minutes to stop crying and to explain why i was there, and needless to say i wasn't very coherant and just kept appologising for being so very stupid.

Anyway to cut a long story short he asked me lots of quite personal questions about myself, which were actually things i'd never told anyone beofore and in some ways were quite a relief to get off my chest.

He seemed to think it was possible i was on the "spectrum" and has reffered me to somewhere.......

Now i'm wondering if i really want to be labled and my BF has said he has alot to think about as this affects his whole life!!!

If there's anyone out there? i was wondering if you think it would really help getting a diagnosis at this stage in life (28) or weather i should carry on as usual as i seem to be doing ok after all?

[juno20]

Yes my family just tell me that its just my personality and why would a diagnosis make a difference to me?... My sister went as far to say that she didn't believe in aspergers and it was just peoples personalities..... I'd like to see her say that to someone who is on the high end of the spectrum!

[Stephen]

juno20 - "If there's anyone out there? i was wondering if you think it would really help getting a diagnosis at this stage in life (28) or weather i should carry on as usual as i seem to be doing ok after all? "

I am 44 and was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in the UK just under 3 years ago. Since my initial diagnoses, I have been assessed as having Asperger's on two further occassions, once in another country then again in June this year in the UK.

1). All 3 times I was assessed by a single assessor. Both the times in the UK by a paediatrician Asperger Assessor as there is virtually nothing for adults in the UK. What ever you do not be assessed by a team of so called specialised, such as a Speech Pathologist etc. Make sure it is by a single Assessor who only deals in assessing Asperger's Syndrome and who uses their clinical experience in making their assessment.

2). My GP hasn't a clue so personally I wouldn't bother with them and he too upset me and asked me what I consider as did the assessor to be irrelevant questions. Even my local mental health service haven't a clue, I will go as far as to say they actually made my situation worse as they are trained in Mental Health issues whereas Asperger's Syndrome is a Social Communication issue.

3). Over the past 3 months I have been having Therapy with a paediatrician who specialises in helping Asperger's. And most importantly - YES it is helping.

Do not be worried by a paediatrician as Social Communicationwise a child Asperger has similar problems to those of an Adult Asperger.

[juno20]

Thanks Stephen, thats actually quite helpfull as i had the feeling the GP was trying to refer me to a mental health specialist, which made me a little worried as i'm not mental.

[Jiheishou Daigakusha]

@ juno20: Tell your sister that if Autism didn't exist, then the world would never have heard of Sherlock Holmes or the Special Theory of Relativity.