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professional specialist vs. posting here?

A

AwkwardSilence

Well-Known Member
If you've found professional help for Asperger's and it's been helpful, what are its benefits compared to getting support here.
I've only been on these forums for a week or two, but it's been SO helpful to communicate with people who really understand the problems and can offer suggestions. There's been no sarcasm, no criticism, just honest attempts to help. It's great!
Since I can't find an adult Asp's therapist or organization in my area, I'm wondering if I'm really missing much. (I do have a general psychologist who has offered some insights, but he's the first to say that Asp/Autism isn't his specialty.)
 
I see a clinical psychologist who admits having no experience in autism. But see, having autism is not my presenting problem, having a husband with dementia is. So I tell her what's going on, and if I think autism affects it, I tell her how. Therefore, I bring my ample experience and knowledge from reading forum posts, to bear on my stress issues ... she becomes educated ... everybody benefits.

This is not an either/or.
 
If all you're looking for is someone who understands and people to relate to, then the forum might be enough.

But, whatever the reason, if you think it's enough then it is.
 
Not many people are able to find a specialist who can understand their autistic thought processes as well as other autistic people can. It's good to talk, but you need to talk to the right people ;)
 
Not all forums are alike. There are some really smart, highly educated people here, so if you have a technical question about autism, you might get a good answer here. There are also a few ignorant numbnuts around, but you can tell immediately by their tone who they are and just pass on by.
 
AwkwardSilence said:
If you've found professional help for Asperger's and it's been helpful, what are its benefits compared to getting support here.
I've only been on these forums for a week or two, but it's been SO helpful to communicate with people who really understand the problems and can offer suggestions. There's been no sarcasm, no criticism, just honest attempts to help. It's great!
Since I can't find an adult Asp's therapist or organization in my area, I'm wondering if I'm really missing much. (I do have a general psychologist who has offered some insights, but he's the first to say that Asp/Autism isn't his specialty.)
Click to expand...
I was diagnosed at age 60, at the suggestion of a job counselor who recognized my autism. Prior to that, at least a dozen mental health professionals failed to recognize it, despite the obvious signs. If the professionals who are supposed to be trained to recognize these sorts of things fail to do so, how are they supposed to help treat or deal with it? To date, I have received no help, and I am not optimistic for finding help in the future, despite wanting (and needing) it. For me, the best help was learning about it, how it affects me, and discussing it with others who have autism, and thus understand it better than those who don't, despite professional training.
 
Wolf Prince, my ADD was first diagnosed by a Realtor! She'd come to give us renovation ideas, in case we ever wanted to sell the house. She walked in, looked around at the piles of books, papers, etc., and said, "One of you has ADD." This is after years of therapy.
 
I go to a guy that is trained for people on the spectrum. I like him, he seems to really have done his research or have a lot of experience. I’ve been going to him a couple years. He is helpful
 
disconnected said:
I go to a guy that is trained for people on the spectrum. I like him, he seems to really have done his research or have a lot of experience. I’ve been going to him a couple years. He is helpful
Click to expand...
You hit the ASM jackpot!!
 
I go to a clinical psychologist with a specialty in autism for talk therapy.
It's just like CBT with a psych, but she has more knowledge of autism.
Same one who tested and diagnosed me at age 58.
It is helpful to have a live person to talk with, but, she has more children and teen clients
so I'm not sure how well she understands adults.
Still, with insurance covering it, the talk helps.

She knows about this forum and thinks it is a great thing for anyone on the spectrum.
Especially for adults that are more high functioning.
Works for me. :D
 
I see a psychiatrist and a psychiatric nurse for my bipolar disorder, I see a psychotherapist for my autism. This was helpful when I just received my diagnosis and needed to explore what that meant for me personally, how it affects me and how I can deal with it. There isn’t a lot she can do for me these days though, as I have learned to deal with my ASD rather well and I am more knowledgeable on the topic than she is.
I come to the forums to exchange experiences, to feel understood and to be among people who have first-hand experience of many of the things I am going through. I like to keep in touch privately with a few of the members I’ve come to meet here over the years, who I consider my friends. Plus it’s the largest collection of mostly friendly and positive people I have stumbled upon in years, and browsing the forums often makes me happy.
Anyway, what I’m trying to say is the service that the professionals provide me is a different one than the forums do. Both have a distinct purpose from me and the overlap is minimal.
 
Fino said:
If all you're looking for is someone who understands and people to relate to, then the forum might be enough.

But, whatever the reason, if you think it's enough then it is.
Click to expand...

This.

Autistamatic said:
Not many people are able to find a specialist who can understand their autistic thought processes as well as other autistic people can. It's good to talk, but you need to talk to the right people ;)
Click to expand...

And this.

I'm self diagnosed (as are a lot of people here). I'm relatively successful in life, I'm not significantly disabled, I don't require specific accommodations or financial supports. For those reasons, I've put off getting a professional diagnosis for now because of the costs associated with it.

I'm contemplating reaching out to one of those online therapy organizations which are (supposedly, anyway) significantly cheaper than in person therapy, but I'm undecided on that point. I'm nervous about meeting new people in a formal capacity, for one thing.

There are definitely benefits to support groups (like this one) and to professional help - and which you use (or both!) depends on what your needs are. There's not really a right or wrong answer here.
 
I love my therapist who deals with family issues, self-esterm issues, and eating disorders and other addictions. She has good suggestions when i want to change something.
She missed that i'm on the autism spectrum but when i told her my reasoning she embraced it.
But, being a long standing member of 2 twelve-step fellowships, i already know the therapeutic value of identification and experience. So why not both?
 
A professional specialist is just one viewpoint, and someone who can only go by what they learned.

The people here are in great numbers and most probably live it everyday, not only that but many are my peers, experience life at my level. To me that is a far better experience.

Like if you wanna know the full story of how to build something. Don't go to the CEO. Go to the worker who actually does it everyday.
 
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