Support thread for women who suspect or know they have ASD traits or are on the spectrum

[OxfordBags]

Hello, all! As the title says, I hope this can be a support thread for those of us who suspect or know we have some (or many) Aspergic traits; where we can share experiences, stories, problems, worries, knowledge and info, and hopefully benefit and help each other too.

I found a great link a while ago that is very comprehensive in its description of how Asperger's presents in women and how women experience it. Some of it is strikingly different from the male model and how most people perceive Asperger's. Here: ASD in women

I truly believe two things: 1) that ASD in females is woefully misunderstood and under-diagnosed and 2) that our current understanding and the definition of the AS Spectrum is, in itself, rather ASD in its rigidity, and that there is an actual spectrum of traits much broader and more nuanced than the current model, and that there are a hell of a lot of people struggling with some very typical ASD traits, who nevertheless do not have all the traits required to fulfil a formal diagnosis of having Asperger's or High-Functioning Autism.

So, with that rather typically ASD-style long-winded and unnecessarily detailed intro out of the way, let's chat!

I just got 190 on the raads. How am i functioning?!

holey
(And happy birthday for saturday!)

I don't know what happened last Oct, but very glad to hear you have a diagnosis :-) and things are better for you! Currently waiting for my own referral.

:) i dont know what happened either, but you sound really upbeat, so its clearly ended well!

I'm lucky - dont have to worry about my official diagnosis because of the equality act, as my physical health shit means i'm already covered (silver lining, haha)

I am stressed and fed up. DH been so busy with work I am holding the ship on my own. Trying to get anxious DC1 through SATS, meeting new SENCO team from secondary school,worrying about DC1 starting secondary school, applying for jobs so I can have something out of the family to focus on, making sure DC3 (NT) gets the attention he deserves, DC2 (dx AS) going on first residential trip so have to organise all that and worry about how on earth he is going to cope and all these things involve meetings with ….people!!!!! (some of them new people!!!) each meetings leaves me stressed and exhausted (own dx of ASD and ADD) so all in all I could do with a cheer up! Can somebody give me some positive side to having ASD?

I have my second opinion assessment tomorrow . Hopefully this woman will know what she's talking about . I'll let you know how it goes.

oh, and DD has her first appointment on Monday. It's going to be a challenging few days. I'm expecting my personality and parenting to be ripped to shreds .

It

Oops! It's a YES!!!! proper NHS diagnosis too . Got to dash DS has football.... Back later!

Thank you .

It was a bloody scary experience actually. It was a team of 4 people assessing me and during our lunch break I was convinced I was going to be sent packing and told to pull myself together. But the psychiatrist said he was in no doubt I had ASD, they didn't even want me back for a second meeting. He's going to refer me for CBT (which my GP has turned me down for three times over the last 3 years ) and to the Hampshire Autism support group.

Why does it have to be SO hard to be diagnosed? Over the last 25yrs I've had several psychiatrists, CBT and counselling but not one of them ever mentioned ASD. Thank goodness my gut instinct was right and my mum and sister were able to back me up and get me through it.