The ASD thread (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

[Indigo_]

Originally Posted by mutedsoul

I went another time and actually saw a psychiatrist for an assessment and the psychiatrist said how I have too much eye contact to be autistic and how I would have been diagnosed at a younger age if I really was autistic.

I think this is rubbish. Lots of people are diagnosed later in life.

[firemonkey]

It's taken me years to get someone to accept there might be more going on than just a mental illness. When it was accepted the time between a referral being made and my first assessment was just under 4 months .

[firemonkey]

Originally Posted by Melangell

That was one of the reasons for my diagnosis, that I am constantly trying to figure out how to interact, instead of instinctively knowing how to.

It's never come easily to me. The whole body language/non-verbal cues thing is something that I struggle to grasp.

[firemonkey]

Originally Posted by mutedsoul

I may not have autism but definitely some kind of neurological disorders or difference.

That strikes a chord with me. Unfortunately if you have a severe mental illness many mental health professionals very much tend to see things through the lens of that diagnosis. They're not good at looking beyond that.

[Percy]

Originally Posted by mutedsoul

I'm thinking of going to my GP's to ask about being referred for a diagnosis. I've been there a few times, once an old man refused to refer me. I went another time and actually saw a psychiatrist for an assessment and the psychiatrist said how I have too much eye contact to be autistic and how I would have been diagnosed at a younger age if I really was autistic. The other time I went was a year ago or something. The GP said that they would refer me but I haven't heard anything at all about being referred since then.

I don't feel satisfied with the assessments so far and feel like going to ask about being referred again and not feeling guilty again about asking for a diagnosis.

Mainly cause I've noticed I've never fitted in social places and am increasingly seen as weird. People treat me as if I'm dumb just cause I'm really shy. Although I give eye contact it seems like it's usually the wrong amount as it seems like others think that I stare at them. I am clueless with small talk and responding to most jokes. At my current job I find it hard and exhausting when I'm expected to multi task.

I also feel like I've been told I interact wrong throughout my life. My interactions mainly lead to misunderstandings. And yes I probably can do with learning to interact better but it's not my fault. I feel a diagnosis would somehow make me feel more understood and make me more accepting of myself.

I may not be autistic but I feel if I am not I probably have something else. I'm not satisfied with the depression diagnosis that the assessor gave me before as that feels like a symptom of being misunderstood throughout life, not having friends, being seen as odd etc. Who wouldn't feel depressed or at least frustrated about that.

I also feel that social anxiety is widely a symptom of whatever problem I have. If I knew how to respond to small talk and jokes and felt like I could understand people more I wouldn't be as anxious.

I'm tired of pretending this isn't a big deal. I feel like acting as if my life has been typical and ignoring problems has also limited me in my career to do a kitchen porter, a job I dislike and sometimes find depressing.

Have you considered contacting The National Autistic Society? They can help point you in the right direction and give you advise on how to go about getting a proper diagnosis.

Originally Posted by Melangell

I was diagnosed in my 30s and can make eye contact. I have worked with lots of autistic people who have a huge range of traits, not making eye contact can be one, but lots of people who have autism do make eye contact. It is irritating that some people think they know what autism is by knowing a few traits, usually things like lining things up, or liking trains!

I am in absolutely no way qualified to have an opinion on any conditions you might have, muted soul, but I know from your posts that the sheer effort it takes you to socialise daily and the confusion you often feel strike a chord. That was one of the reasons for my diagnosis, that I am constantly trying to figure out how to interact, instead of instinctively knowing how to.

Exactly. I'd hazard a guess that the psychiatrist MutedSoul saw probably wasn't an autism specialist. Being a psychiatrist doesn't automatically qualify someone to know for certain if that person has autism. That's why the mental health team psychiatrist sent me for a proper assessment rather than try to diagnose me himself.

As for eye contact. Actually some of the time my eye contact can be very good. Other times it waxes and wanes. I think over the years I've learnt better eye contact skills.

Originally Posted by firemonkey

It's never come easily to me. The whole body language/non-verbal cues thing is something that I struggle to grasp.

It took me a while to get the hang of it.

Originally Posted by mutedsoul

Exactly, I think maybe my local NHS have outdated views on autism. I think autism used to be seen as an easily noticeable condition and high functioning autism wasn't recognised. Idk, but it's like how they are finding that girls present autism differently to the stereotypical autism.

I may not have autism but definitely some kind of neurological disorders or difference.

Fortunately that's gradually changing. Mental health services are learning lessons. They're also learning that autism can be displayed in different ways by different people, it doesn't present itself in an exacting manner.

[gregarious_introvert]

^Mine was pretty painless and took about four or five hours - I was told it would last the whole day. I didn't have anyone who could provide evidence, as there is nobody in my life who knew me in childhood, but I had pretty good recollection myself.

[Percy]

Originally Posted by In_infamy

Hi all,

I got a referral from my GP for an assessment. Any advice or insight into how assessment went would be appreciated. In particular, I'm keen to know if you always must bring someone to provide evidence? I don't like the idea of telling anyone about it and certainly not getting them to come along and provide evidence.

You don't have to but it does help if someone who knew you from childhood comes along to clarify any old childhood habits that might be autistic traits.

[firemonkey]

Finally, during the study a new diagnostic interview will be developed and piloted for use to identify ASCs in adults in situations when there is little or no early developmental history available.

https://research.ncl.ac.uk/neurodisa...orascinadults/


I wonder how things are progressing with this.

[firemonkey]

Just got the assessment report.

The conclusion- I do fit the criteria for Asperger syndrome in terms of the criteria set out in the ICD 10.

[firemonkey]

Just got the assessment report.

The conclusion- I do fit the criteria for Asperger syndrome in terms of the criteria set out in the ICD 10.

[firemonkey]

I'm feeling good about it. It confirms what I've long suspected ie that there's more going on than just mental illness.

They've offered a one off post diagnosis session in which helpful approaches will be discussed and signposting to supportive services

[Dougella]

^^ I'm not sure if congratulations is the right word to use, but I'm glad you got some answers from your assessment I hope that the diagnosis will be some help for you to get support in the future, or just for you to understand yourself better.

[firemonkey]

https://www.spectrumnews.org/opinion...rious-concern/

I was the opposite with signs of severe mental illness since I was 18 ,with it not being established I was on the spectrum till I was 62. Either way there needs to be a more intelligent approach to the issue.

[firemonkey]

For me it was about fitting together the pieces to a puzzle, and validating what I'd known for years(ie that there was more going on than severe mental illness) . At 62 , and with the scant help and support for adults on the spectrum , I'm not expecting any earth shattering difference.

It will however strengthen the need to maintain the current level of social care I get .

[firemonkey]

From referral letter to confirmation of diagnosis was just under 7 months for me .

[Mr. Nobody]

Anyone feel that being on the autism spectrum has robbed you of your humanity?

Dealing with, or relating with, people seems like living in a foreign country where you don't know the language and you've resorted to filing behaviour, etiquette and social interaction under a kind of binary code system or a database.
She has done this, therefore I should ask that,
He has said this, so now I must respond with that,
The whole thing becomes a guessing game of trying to find the correct responses that should work in the situation,
But it's all so remote and feels like I'm in the dark, desperately trying not to do wrong, but invariably getting it wrong and appearing insincere

[firemonkey]

I make little attempt of my own bat to interact with people. From as far back as I can remember I've been the same. If I have to socialise I'll be as polite/sociable as I can, there's no intent to deliberately upset anyone, but as my stepdaughter said I do things that people might see as inappropriate and talk across people(whatever that means).

Every now and then I'll make an attempt to socialise . Last time was several months ago . I went to a mental health group at my local library. I didn't initiate any conversation, but offered the occasional response to other people's comments. It fell on deaf ears . I felt like an outsider. The situation was made worse when I gave some money for the coffee and tea fund , and the person running the group made a sarky comment about my having my money on a piece of string. Needless to say I never went back.

That's been par for the course with other attempts to socialise, ie a total failure to integrate.

[Jane Doe]

Originally Posted by Mr. Nobody

Anyone feel that being on the autism spectrum has robbed you of your humanity?

I'm not sure I'd put it that way but I understand what you mean. I think that being on the autism spectrum can make other people (neuro typicals) behave less humanely towards us. This gives us a distorted perception of ourselves as "other" and therefore, less authentically human. That's not true of course, our brains are just wired differently.

I consider myself to be quite astute; I definitely understand neuro typicals more than they understand me, which should put me in an advantageous position socially however, because it takes me longer to process information and adapt to social situations, my mind is taken up with too many other things. I then struggle to know what to say to people.

Throughout my life I've noticed that people have tried to control my thoughts and opinions by asking me too many leading questions. They'll also try to prompt me or fill in conversational gaps because they need recognition and reassurance. People have done this a lot and will often say "I bet you felt like this when that happened" or " You must have been relieved when they said that". I quickly learned to just say "Yes" or "Mmm" to shut them up. I know that's because I'm not forthcoming with my feelings and can often appear 'flat' which really annoys people who don't know me. Pointing out the obvious and small talk is something else I don't understand. People just seem to talk for the sake of talking.

[firemonkey]

It's been said there may be a link between aphantasia and ASD. This questionnaire asks questions re aphantasia and some re ASD .

It's via the university of Sussex. It takes about 30 min to do. I have aphantasia and Asperger's syndrome.

https://www.syntoolkit.org/studies/p...BO1TGKtFnPCCW0

[Mr. Nobody]

^^^
Interesting article there mutedsoul,
I do wonder about the unforseen results of masking or forcing yourself to stop certain things,
I often used to physically rock back and forth and often repeated the same word over and over,
But forcing those things to end creates a certain discomfort and uneasiness,
Those acts have now become an inner thing,
I'm always repeating things over and over endlessly in my head,
I'm also often keeping a repetitive beat in my head by grinding and clicking my teeth together,

I have wondered if the trade-off for 'normality has been worth it?

[limey123]

Originally Posted by Mr. Nobody

^^^
I'm also often keeping a repetitive beat in my head by grinding and clicking my teeth together,

I do the teeth-clicking thing too. Not sure why.

[Percy]

Originally Posted by biscuits

thanks for sharing this, mutedsoul

I really need to talk to someone about this, but I don't really know who.

Yes, talk to someone about this Biscuits, absolutely do. My life could have been so much better if i'd been diagnosed sooner or had someone who listened and had recognized the symptoms. Even if it turns out you aren't on the spectrum at least you'll have that reassurance.

https://www.autism.org.uk/

Hopefully they'll be able to point you in the right direction. Run it by your local GP as well, they might be amenable to having you tested, depending on the attitudes of the GP. Failing that many local based charities are excellent for local area autism support and diagnosis.

[firemonkey]

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to experience bullying than children without ASD and this bullying gets worse with age, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0612110129.htm

That would explain my situation . I was teased at prep school , but the real, nasty, verbal bullying started when I went to public school at 13. There were undoubtedly back then signs of what we now call either ASD or Asperger's .

[firemonkey]

'High functioning' is a term commonly used to describe people diagnosed with autism without an intellectual disability.

However, despite the term's prevalence in medical journals and everyday use, new research shows the term can be misleading and advocates have called for its use to be dropped.

Post-doctoral researcher Dr Gail Alvares said while 'high functioning' is used to describe people diagnosed with autism who have IQs in the normal range, it does not indicate their functional status.
A new study has found labelling children with autism 'high functioning' can be misleading.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/hea...ource=rss_feed


http://sci-hub.tw/https://www.ncbi.n...?dopt=Abstract Full article

The gap between expected adaptive functioning due to IQ and actual level of adaptive functioning can be quite large.

[firemonkey]

My problem is that in short interactions with people where verbal skills are to the fore I come across as very intelligent. That would get me a label of 'high functioning' in many people's eyes. However in situations requiring more non-verbal/spatial/practical intelligence I do far less well.

The thing is most people don't see me in the latter situation , and if they do can think I'm being lazy,passive aggressive etc.
That includes many mental health professionals .

[firemonkey]

Treatment-resistant depression: consider autism.


https://bjgp.org/content/69/678/14.3.long

[Percy]

It's a well know fact that depression is a key symptom of Autism.

[Percy]

If you haven't yet seen this you need to watch it.

No word of a lie, I sobbed through some of it.

[Dougella]

^^ That's great Tubbs



^^^ I watched the documentary about Chris Peckham when it was on TV, it was so good.

[Percy]

Originally Posted by Tubbs

Well I finally told my parents that I'm on the waiting list for an Autism assessment. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it felt difficult to do (I guess because their past reactions to me telling them about MH stuff haven't always been ideal). Anyway they were alright about it

Of course if you do come back with a diagnosis it might be an opportunity for them to think back to when you were younger and the signs that you may have displayed.

Originally Posted by Tubbs

^^ I've been meaning to watch that for ages, cheers for the link Percy. I met Chris Packham once at an event on Southampton Common in the eighties, still have his autograph somewhere!

After watching it I'd be very keen to meet him, although I'd have to be mindful he doesn't like social interaction.

Originally Posted by Dougella

^^ That's great Tubbs



^^^ I watched the documentary about Chris Peckham when it was on TV, it was so good.

Should be required watching for people on the spectrum and their families IMV.