on the autistic spectrum
 

hey,

I was wondering if there where more people here who are (self)diagnosed on the autistic spectrum. autism isn't exactly a mental illness but can give mental and emotional problems, and this seemed the best place on the forum to ask this.

I personally wouldn't recommend anyone self diagnose themself with anything. If you are concerned about symptoms you have, the best bet is to speak to a specialist. Only they can tell if you are on a spectrum, for this or anything else.

Although I know there are some people on the boards here who are diagnosed as on the autistic spectrum, as far as I know they are not (I would hope) self-diagnosed.

Roiben x

as has been said self diagnosis is never good...


people have been telling me for years that I have aspergers (ex-teachers, an ex-lecturer who had been a psychiatrist prior to teaching, my mum - who is a teacher specialising in SEN and functional skills, etc) and finally resepntly my DEA and GP ganged up on me to talk me into an assesment... so I am currently awaiting assesment, I'm not convinsed that I truely have aspergers though just gotten sick of people telling me that I do with no proof


THere are defantly others on the autistic spectrum on this site though, I have seena few posts on the topic in the past

Agree with Roiben + Shadowlight Do you want to talk about the kind of emotional difficulties you are having? If you want to start a thread about that you're likely to get some help and support.

sorry about the confusion, I myself am not self-diagnosed I was diagnosed by a specialist when i was 10. I put self diagnosed with it because I know a lot of people who self think they are on the spectrum (or at least have the same problems) but don't have the (financial) means to get a diagnoses.

Oh okay, I see now it can read either way. We don't tend to think about the financial aspect in the UK because it would be free here.

or up to £300 if you are not in education or if your college/school/uni refuses to pay it.... my dyslexia assesment was £250 I think as my college told me I had to be assesed but refused to pay it theirselves... and now I am studying with the OU but as I cannot find my old assesment they want me to have a new one and pay myself :/
and I'm going to have to probably pay something towards the aspergers assesmet too - or so I am told

Can you not get aid relief on the costs of assessment - I know Medicaid and other such systems are available, but many places also offer reduced rates owing to circumstance.

Roiben x

I have Asperger's Syndrome. My assessment cost £400 but my dad paid for it.

^^^^

Same as Steel Maiden, i have Aspberger's (high functioning autism) But im not self diagnosed.

If you feel you do have some form of autism your best bet is to see your doctor and get it assessed. Not only will you get your diagnosis, if they confirm it they can also then lead you on to help with dealing with it or improving social skills etc, in my experience they like you to do CBT. But yeh start saving your pennies =)

I was professionally diagnosed with it at aged 13, just because I'd been having problems at school & was highly intelligent at that age (I'm not any more). What they failed to realize is that other stuff was happening - terrible problems at home & my Grandma dying & then my Grandad dying of a broken heart not long afterwards. My work in school started suffering because of all these problems & I became socially isolated... that's why they diagnosed me with it.

Years later I got a re-assessment (which didn't cost anything) & it turns out I didn't have it at all. Got forced through years of hell at school, more so than if I hadn't had the diagnosis (I could've managed on my own, but this way it was so intrusive - ISP's, lesson plans, in-class assistants - the in-class assistant was mortifying because the teacher told the class why she was there, & then told them about my diagnosis, which I never lived down).

My mum self-diagnosed me in the first place though, before she took me to the doctors. Stupid bitch (sorry, I just feel really strongly about how much it's messed up my teenage years).