Ames
Active Member
Hello, everyone! Not really sure how this works, whether I belong here, or where to begin.
I am 41 and have never been diagnosed with Asperger's/ASD. I have had "something wrong with me" for as long as I can remember, but Asperger's/ASD was never mentioned by any of the scores of doctors, psychologists, and counselors I have seen over the years. I have run into some articles about ASD when trying to figure out the nature of my disorder, but any traits I have that are common in ASD were quickly dismissed, as other traits I have are considered exclusionary for an ASD diagnosis. [E.g., I make eye contact, I don't appear to struggle socially, I am very empathetic, I tend to "go along" with whomever I am around, I am not smart enough to "read" as being a stereotypical (male) person with Asperger's (I have a terrible memory, bad at math), and I sometimes struggle with depression, so docs/counselors assume anything "wrong" just means I am depressed.]
A week or two ago, I came across a "checklist for females with Asperger's" of some sort. I had almost every symptom. At first I laughed out loud, because obviously the list's author had been misdiagnosed; she doesn't have Asperger's -- she has whatever I have! Hahaha... Then came the tears, as I slowly realized maybe *I* have been misdiagnosed for my entire life.
Is that even possible? I have had enough neuro-psych testing that ASD would have shown up, right? I'm 41...I would have known, wouldn't I?
I feel lost. I don't know what to do or where to begin. I just moved to a new state. I am trying to find a counselor to help me navigate this, but there appear to be zero resources for adults with ASD, and no counselors who are familiar with Asperger's, let alone in females. (Even if my symptoms were subclinical, I feel having someone familiar with how ASD manifests in adult women would better be able to help me.)
Any (kind) advice would be welcome. Thanks in advance.
I am 41 and have never been diagnosed with Asperger's/ASD. I have had "something wrong with me" for as long as I can remember, but Asperger's/ASD was never mentioned by any of the scores of doctors, psychologists, and counselors I have seen over the years. I have run into some articles about ASD when trying to figure out the nature of my disorder, but any traits I have that are common in ASD were quickly dismissed, as other traits I have are considered exclusionary for an ASD diagnosis. [E.g., I make eye contact, I don't appear to struggle socially, I am very empathetic, I tend to "go along" with whomever I am around, I am not smart enough to "read" as being a stereotypical (male) person with Asperger's (I have a terrible memory, bad at math), and I sometimes struggle with depression, so docs/counselors assume anything "wrong" just means I am depressed.]
A week or two ago, I came across a "checklist for females with Asperger's" of some sort. I had almost every symptom. At first I laughed out loud, because obviously the list's author had been misdiagnosed; she doesn't have Asperger's -- she has whatever I have! Hahaha... Then came the tears, as I slowly realized maybe *I* have been misdiagnosed for my entire life.
Is that even possible? I have had enough neuro-psych testing that ASD would have shown up, right? I'm 41...I would have known, wouldn't I?
I feel lost. I don't know what to do or where to begin. I just moved to a new state. I am trying to find a counselor to help me navigate this, but there appear to be zero resources for adults with ASD, and no counselors who are familiar with Asperger's, let alone in females. (Even if my symptoms were subclinical, I feel having someone familiar with how ASD manifests in adult women would better be able to help me.)
Any (kind) advice would be welcome. Thanks in advance.
