To be really worried I’m Aspie?

[MorrisDancersUnited]

Think I may be. 27 and in a very high pressure job.

I looked at a study discussing characteristics of women with Aspergers. It covered just about every characteristic displayed in humans. You're probably not Aspie, if you are - I am!

If you are, you are the same person you were yesterday. If you are not, you are the same person you were yesterday. The only thing that would change would be whether you knew something more about what had always been.

Me too.

What nocool said. I often think/am told I am probably autistic but have for various reasons chosen not to pursue a diagnosis just now. I'm diagnosed as dyspraxic and just take my social stuff and quirks with that . I'm just me .. as are you just you and a label wouldn't alter that or change you. I was worried if I had a label I'd feel I had to be a certain way to fit it if that makes sense and I'd use it as an excuse to further isolate myself (but that's just me!)

Does it matter? It's not like a diagnosis would change anything. I mean you won't just suddenly keel over at the age of forty. You will be fine. Take a deep breath. You've been enough, whoever you are, to get this far, you can make it all the way.

Why worried? If you are, you are, if you get diagnosed, it doesn't actually change you, you are already you if you get me.

I have autism, being diagnosed has always helped me, as it helped me understand why I do what I do etc

And? In my generation it was not even a diagnosis so there were lots of undiagnosed Aspies around. At school they were just labelled as weird kids and if able to work they tended to get jobs that suited their strengths/weaknesses. Pretty sure DH is one. Makes sense as one of our kids is. I definitely went to school/uni/worked with quite a few, none of whom have a label given it did not exist as a diagnosis when we were young.

You are the same person you were yesterday and have been for the past 27 years. Rather than freaking out about a label you may or may not have why don’t you go to a decent clinical psychologist to work on whatever specific issues you currently have that you feel are problematic.

I was diagnosed at 24. Also in a high pressure role. I felt I needed it in order to understand how my brain works.

The diagnosis combined with support from my employer means we have been able to transform the way I work. I am now so much more productive and a top performer because I can work in a way that suits my own brain.

I may be as well. What difference would a diagnosis make to your life? Maybe it's worth getting one, maybe it's not, only you can decide.

Can you identify why you feel worried about it? I am 44 so by now I am what I am, I don't think a diagnosis is something I would worry or be upset about, but obviously different people have different thoughts and feelings about this. Maybe if you can identify what worries you it will be easier to address.

My youngest has Aspergers (diagnosed). I once did a self-diagnosis tool quiz thing online, out of interest...it told me I am quite markedly on the autism spectrum. I’m not.

It was worth getting my son diagnosed so that he has support at school. What is it you’d hope, as an adult, to gain from a diagnosis? And what is it that worries you about it?

I got diagnosed at 45, one of the best things I've ever done. It is so much better knowing and having it officially recognised.