[phaset]

Sorry to keep obsessing about this...

My evaluation report said I probably have an ASD and recommended that I see a psychiatrist for more testing. He wasn't sure if I had enough restricted interests (which he never asked about) or repetitive movements (which he ignored some of), but when I saw him in person he said he would probably have diagnosed me as having Asperger's a year ago. Apparently my social problems are very clear, which is the part I was wondering about. I never imagined that my leg bouncing and interests would be not enough as they are what made me suspect this 10 years ago.

Today I saw a psychiatrist. She is having a similar difficulty and wants me to write down all my interests over time. This is bothering me because one of the reasons I chose to do this because I wasn't sure myself and now I'm being put in a position of having to prove it. I wanted it to be proven to me one way or another. I don't want to pretend to be something I'm not.

I don't know why I am doing this other than that my therapist want's me to do it so she knows how to treat me. I'm really growing uncomfortable with the whole thing. It seems like I don't fit anywhere now.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by phaset

I wanted it to be proven to me one way or another. I don't want to pretend to be something I'm not.

It's "you" so no one outside you can prove you to you you just tell a doctor/therapist your thoughts, feelings, behaviors, etc. and they have a professional opinion on what treatment may help you manage or fix any troublesome thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.

A bouncing leg can be all sorts of things, a problem to you or not, and isn't really indicative of anything, for example. It is everything you can possibly tell a professional that bothers you (or you have heard bothers others; teachers, parents, etc. complaining) that might look like a pattern. So, listing your interests over time helps them make up their minds whereas picking one thing or another, no matter how extreme the behavior, cannot give as accurate a picture.

It's the principal of: All that glitters is gold, glass glitters, therefore glass is gold. People with schizophrenia sometimes talk to themselves, I sometimes talk to myself, therefore I am schizophrenic It doesn't work that way.

[RTerroni]

You can try to prove it yourself, but you really need a Psychologist to give you an official diagnosis.

[badmouse]

Look at the official diagnotic criteria in the DMS, and just pick some of the things there that feel like you.

Best to you. Hope you get what you are looking for.

[phaset]

Its over and done. She diagnosed me with Asperger's.

Thanks though.

[Numbed]

Bouncing leg can be restless leg syndrome, or simply just nerves. Even ADHD, which is dual-diagnosed with ASD more than isn't apparently.

I went in for ADHD dx, came out with ADHD and... ASD... my response to ASD made it quite clear I disagreed. Whilst I later realised I was working on ignorance of media stereotype of autism after reading up on this "ASD", I couldn't see it, read more, thought about it, maybe, but...
I had enough in the end, am I aren't I, and just said screw it, just agree so get of this merry go round.

Then, I didn't fit in on the wrongplanet forum at all. I just decided that I am one of the more developed ones. (I read a lot of personal growth stuff for years before finding out about the dx), to not lose mind trying to figure it out again. Especially with the Aspie score and the average and equally balanced systemizing and empathising, I did just before.

Well, learning about C-PTSD and such later (recently took more notice), I now think that ASD could be a misdiagnosis for that. Same kinda symptoms, and other reasons for the few parts which they'll say C-PTSD doesn't have.

Accepting a diagnosis or crossing one of the list, especially if you've thought about it for a while, is hard at a later age in life, I didn't get dx til 2 years ago at 26.
A late diagnosis in life isn't the best of things, but it's better than having the wrong one.

I am envious that your Psych, is being so thorough.

If you still feel it's correct, then unfortunately you're gonna have to prove it in a logical, orderly factual way. Or try a different Doc.

I felt guilty saying I had ASD in the first 6 months, felt like it was a lie.
Few months in after ADHD dx, I said to self, "you're not ADHD, just try again" (I failed consistantly over years trying).

The important thing is, that you are looking into it.

ASD/ADHD have a fair few symptoms of other disorders. Hell, I even asked my Psychiatrist, how do you know if you're a Sociopath. Because I had read up on ASD and some traits were similar, lol.

We certainly aren't the first people to feel like this.
Psychology itself though is abstract, and believe me, THEY make mistakes.

Hope you find out soon.