[LittleButterflyx]

How many of you here were diagnosed in adulthood? I wasn't till I was 26 and I am 28 now and want to know I am not alone.

I am the high-functioning/mild side of the spectrum--Aspergers, but I heard that isn't a term used anymore? But yeah.

[Bookworm257]

Originally Posted by LittleButterflyx

How many of you here were diagnosed in adulthood? I wasn't till I was 26 and I am 28 now and want to know I am not alone.

I am the high-functioning/mild side of the spectrum--Aspergers, but I heard that isn't a term used anymore? But yeah.

Sorry for the long post!
Well, I am almost 16 years old, and my dad and his gf are kind of worried about me. All throughout middle school my parents noticed I didn to people much, and always asked me if I had made any new friends, and I always told them I hadn't. The truth is, I have trouble related to others. I don like social interaction of any kind unless it's my close family or my (one ) friends. I have begun to notice I often shut down when I talk to unfamiliar people, and my brain will not let me get more than a word out; I just won know how. I really don know what to say, and it often takes me a few seconds to reply because a) I need time to think out a reply and b) I need a second to process the question or comment. My parents also noticed I like to tap on things, stomp, spin around (the spinning is probably normal), and twirl my fingers, which I think might count as stimming. They also noticed when I was talking about something to them or my friends, I would pace back and forth or in a circle. I also have trouble maintaining eye contact, and people tell me I speak in a monotone. My parents also tell me often something I've said is rude or impolite, and I might get confused because I can't see how it is rude, although because they remind me so much I have gotten better at telling polite from impolite. I talk to myself a lot (like, a LOT), because it helps me think better (if I'm in public I'll just mouth or mumble). I might just vocalize the thoughts in my head, or I might have a full-on conversation with myself (me on both sides of the conversation). As for sensory issues, I often think something is too loud when others say it is fine, and I cannot stand the feel of bubble baths. Plus I can't eat spicy food, and absolutely cannot stand jelly (to the point I can't get it into my mouth, and if I do, I'll want to pretty much puke). I also seem to have temperature regulating troubles (being too hot or too cold sometimes when it's fine for others). So yeah, I'm basically self-diagnosed. I have done so much research on it, and taken a few tests online (with a high score). So, what do you think about it?

[Bookworm257]

Adding on to my reply, note that I was diagnosed with ADD as a child if that has anything to do with it.

[Bookworm257]

[QUOTE=Bookworm257;5887299]Adding on to my reply, note that I was diagnosed with ADD as a child if that has anything to do with it. Also, I used to blurt out inappropriate things, an example being when I was 11-12 y/o I was asked if I still liked Justin Bieber, I didnt still listen to him, so my reply was "I want his head cut off." (I am not evil or psychopathic in any way, it was just an inappropiate thing to blurt).

[Teddy Bear]

My diagnosis came at 20

[avlady]

i think i may have some autism characteristics , like stuttering, brain freeze when questions, can't concentrate etc.. but i am diagnosed schitzoaffective.

[lildaisy]

I was diagnosed when I was 22; I am now 27.
I also had a different diagnosis first (schizotypy)
However, this diagnosis was incorrect.

[D-a-n]

Originally Posted by LittleButterflyx

How many of you here were diagnosed in adulthood? I wasn't till I was 26 and I am 28 now and want to know I am not alone.

I am the high-functioning/mild side of the spectrum--Aspergers, but I heard that isn't a term used anymore? But yeah.

You're very much not alone. I was diagnosed as "high functioning" when I was 41. I'm 46 now.

[cool09]

53. I had major problems the last 40 years and bipolar, too. I don't see how I'm ever going to get better. I've had everything done to me and been to Johns Hopkins 3x over the last year which helped nada.

[daynrand]

Originally Posted by cool09

53. I had major problems the last 40 years and bipolar, too. I don't see how I'm ever going to get better. I've had everything done to me and been to Johns Hopkins 3x over the last year which helped nada.

Dear cool09 - I just scrolled down far enough to see this thread. Then reading the first responses I find that people consider it to be "later in life" when they've been dxed in their teens or twenties! I'm glad I stuck in until the end. Don't feel too bad. I was in my very-beginning 60s before officially diagnosed, & I'm 63 now. So, you're still very young as far as I'm concerned.


I do know how you feel, though. After so many years - decades! - of feeling weird, uncomfortable, alien... and even being abused not only as a child, but as an adult - it can seem overwhelming to finally find out you are simply a unique person on the spectrum, & it's others who were wrong, not you.


Anyway, if you ever want somebody to write/chat with, I'd be happy to respond. It's even kind of lonely being on this forum where probably 99.9% of the membeers are young enough to be your children. In my case, my grandchildren!


I'm not certain, but it seems when I joined this forum I checked off that other members could contact me privately to my email address. I'll check, & if I'm wrong about that, I'll come back to let you know.

[eskielover]

My exH Is 66 & from all I experienced in the marriage & after I left, researching alk the behavioral details, thete is nithing about him that doesnt fit the dx but sadly he refuses to get dx'ed. It would allow him to get the help he needs if he would as he is really imcapable of handling anything financial for himself & will end up homeless if he continues in the direction he is going. He can't even make his house payment & has allowed the house we own to go into foreclosure twice since I left & totally ignored the IRS because he is not capable of communicating or dealing with problems he gets himself into.

It is so important to get the dx to get the support needed for where ever one lies on the spectrum. Each person's abiluties are so individual on the spectrum that it is important to know each persons strengths & weaknesses to get help with....something that doesnt happen if a dx isn't received. Now he is totally in control of his life, it has become obvious that this is seriously effecting his life in a negative way without having help a dx could provide. I live 2100 miles away but he has effected my credit because my name is still on the house loan so I am well aware of what is going on & can't get him help without him having the DX that proves the need

[Caelix3]

I wasn't diagnosed until I was 18.

I would of been diagnosed with Aspergers but they no longer use that term.

So I am diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

I am now 20.

[catnip123]

I was diagnosed at 49.

[The_little_didgee]

I was diagnosed at 34. Before that I was diagnosed with a variety of disorders, none of which explained my experience.

[Anonymous37919]

I was around 21 when they said I had PDD-NOS. I'm 32 now.

[cool09]

I was diagnosed at 53 but I had a decent childhood. Now I don't know what to think.

[AlanV]

I Just found out in my 30s four years ago. It explains everything I have been feeling and acting most of my life. I find I get lonely and depressed easily. I was 35 at the time I was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. I don't even know where to begin. But I need more help than I am currently getting and to find a way to survive. I also have some psychical conditions as well. Nobody is perfect.

[AlanV]

I don't know if my earlier message posted. But I wasn't diagnosed until my 30s. I need a lot of help to combat this disorder.

[Talthybius]

I don't think getting a diagnosis of AS is helpful. People say it allows one to 'get help'. But as far as I know, there is no 'help'.

Furthermore, it doesn't explain anything as you are what you are, regardless of a label of a diagnosis. I don't see how it explains anything. It just gives you an excuse to accept your AS tendencies, rather than combat them. It doesn't explain your behavior, your feelings, other people's behavior; anything.

Also, I was under the impression that AS doesn't even exist anymore. They now say you are on the 'autistic spectrum'. And this is even worse. As there is no way to say where on the spectrum you are, besides 'high' or 'low'. So a high functioning person with some relational problems now has the same thing as a child with severe autism, just a bit less of it?

AS label used to have some kind of strange debatable charm to it. Autism is a disorder, but more commonly used as an insult. So I don't get this whole diagnosis thing.

Why isn't it better to go to a professional and say: "I need help with this and that." and they try to help you.

The only ever thing I got out of a professional besides b ullshit was 'You may have autism because you were bullied as a child and your teachers thought you were stupid and needed special education' and 'There is this cafe for people with autism' and 'Sometimes you have to accept who you are and be happy with what you have' and 'Try online dating with several woman at the same time'.

So this whole thing about making an appointment with someone else who then has to determine if I either have or don't have their newest version of autistic/Asperger labeling, that all seemed so completely pointless.

The only way I can see it being helpful is that it tries to tell you that you do not have something worse.