She totally missed the point...

[Midnight Mushroom]

So I see my therapist weekly. My current diagnosis is generalized anxiety disorder and depression, but I'm pretty sure I have autism. Anyways 2 weeks ago I gave her a letter at the end of our session cause I suck at talking. It was a page and a half or traits I hadn't really mentioned to her yet, and ended with my thoughts that I might be autistic.

This is a thought I've had on and off for about a year, but it's only in the last month or so that I've really sunk myself into the community. The more I learn about autism, the more it fits me. The more I interact with autistic people online, the more I realize I'm not alone. It's been life changing and it was a big deal for me to open up about this to her.

So last week I went in expecting a conversation about autism. Instead she says we'll spend the next several sessions going paragraph by paragraph hitting individual points instead of my main point. To add irony to insult, the chapter of the anxiety workbook she gave me was titled "The Big Picture", you know, focusing on the important main things instead of smaller issues?

She addressed my second paragraph (my first was an intro of sorts) in that session. It was about how eye contact is uncomfortable and sometimes even painful for me. She said we'd work on that by increasing my self esteem?

I didn't speak up because that's really difficult for me. But it was so frustrating! Like I spent a week imagining a conversation that was totally ignored. It's like reading an essay but instead of discussing the thesis you dive into a few facts cited and ignore the bigger implications.

I'm confused and upset and not sure what to say. Even thinking about confronting her has me rocking.

 

[Keigan]

Have you asked her about her experiences with Aspergers Syndrome? Specifically with adults?

Bumping into professionals that specialize in things other than autism is very common, we usually know significantly more than they do. You’ll have to evaluate what to do next.

 

[Ambi]

Well...it's going to be up to you what is going to help you most. This therapist, or a different one, or just going it "alone" relying on books and videos and forum advice by people with ASD.

 

[Walsie]

That really sucks. She not only doesn't get it, she's insulting your intelligence. Have her give you a reference to someone who has experience dealing with those on the spectrum.

 

[Suzanne]

I now try very hard to not go through the perfect scenario, because it ALWAYS blows up in my face and my husband said to me: the trouble with you, is that because you have played out in your head, how it is going to turn out, you expect it to be like that; but not taking into account the other person's thoughts. A very uncomfortable fact and so, each time I sense myself slipping into the perfect situation; I back away fast!

Therapists do not like being told how to do their job. They want to call the shots and so, it is wiser to steer clear of: I think I have autism, unless she asks you.

By going over those points one at a time, your traits will automatically come out and so, she will have "proof" in front of her.

Much of our traits, are actually manifested in other "conditions" and NT's also share them to a small degree.

Someone recently said: I guess what you are saying is that aspies experience 10 find what we suffer.

So no, I do not think she missed the point. She is just trying to decifer if this is real or not.

I am waiting on a session with a psychiatrist and am endeavouring to not even venture to the question of autism; just concentrate on my chronic social anxiety. And I believe I can do it, because recently, I did it with a surgeon. As soon as I learned what was happening to me, I went and searched on every thing about the gallbladder. He, however, just assumed I was an ignorant patient and so, got a diagram out to show me where it is situated and I knew all about it, but I remained quiet and it went well.

 

[OlLiE]

1. self diagnosis is not a diagnosis (in my opinion)
2. if you want a diagnosis then a specialist (centre is required)
3. therapy is based on trust, if you don't believe that she is listening to you, then you should ask her why, leaving issues between a patient/therapist in the unsaid grey area is a waste of money, time, personal investment and trust - possibly she thinks that the cause of your symptoms is not as important as the symptoms, if it is autism then there is no 'cure', just learning how to deal with how it manifests itself, maybe that's why she is focusing on the symptoms

 

[Tcx]

There are several secondary specialist in Psychiatry, thus
a.) your therapist might not read that much papers about autism [specialist]
b.) she doesn't have contacted enough patients that may let her have the feeling 'something get wrong' [experience]
c.) it depends on how familiar she is with DSM-5, at the same time she might too go by with it. [formulation]
d.) if a.b.c assumptions are wrong or not entirely right, there might be some problems as follows
e.) your conversation with her about autism doesn't go well, either or both of you misunderstand others' question and answer. [conversation]
f.) you are strongly believe or wish you are on the spectrum, the willing might make her choose to keep observing rather than talking on this topic. [tendency]
g.) if there are arguments between you, she may think that you are challenging her profession. [mindset]
h.) she doesn't think your autism traits cause apparent problems
i.) your behavior doesn't match enough on major diagnosis standard, it's like you match 5 out of 10 major base symptoms but it needs 6/10+ and she doesn't want to go further comprehension.

My father is a doctor, not specialist in Psychiatry but both of us are on the spectrum. Here's our message. Don't take these words into mind since my father tells me he needs lots of details and time to more accurately 'guess' the possible situation, not even judge.

 

[Tom]

The therapist may or may not be knowledgable on autism. But determining it is not their specialty. To do that I believe you would need to see a doctor (psychiatrist) or maybe a psychologist.

 

[Gritches]

My guess is that she doesn't know much about autism and wants to just address your issue of anxiety, regardless of autism or not.