Hi,
I found this thread via a link on AIBU, it's a while since anyone has posted so I hope you don't mind.
I suspect I am on the spectrum, most likely something like Asperger's syndrome (does that diagnosis even exist these days?) I am highly intelligent, and performed well at school, gaining top grades and getting into a leading university, despite being bullied and socially isolated. I was someone who always tried my hardest to please the teachers and do well, but I was told I was immature and asked too many questions. I was frequently in trouble at home and was always considered the difficult middle child with a chip on her shoulder.
Once I got to university and then work, I struggled massively in the unstructured environment, and have underperformed massively. I barely scraped through my degree, and I have had a series of short term jobs, none more than about 6 months, all of which had either ended in resignation or being fired. I have suffered from clinical depression since my teens, and was diagnosed whilst at university.
When seeing counsellors for my depression, both at university and through work, two have independently suggested that I have Asperger's syndrome. After the second counsellor suggested it, I did speak to my GP, who dismissed my concerns, was unwilling to refer me, and said that even if I did have Aspergers, there would not be any support available as I was not diagnosed as a child. To the best of my knowledge, Aspergers was only recognised since the early 90s, and was predominantly diagnosed in boys (still has a high m:f ratio), and as a highly intelligent female who was academically excelling it would not be surprising if I slipped through the net.
I have a sister with SN, she has traits of ASD, dyspraxia and language processing difficulties, but did not meet the criteria for a specific diagnosis of any of these. Her difficulties are more severe and she has struggled academically, and therefore these difficulties were picked up early, and she has received support from my parents and at school and university. Whereas my poor behaviour at home was always met with punishment, hers was excused because of her special needs. I realise now that my parents were doing their best to make allowances for my sister due to her difficulties, and I'm sure if they were aware I had difficulties they would have done the same for me too, however thinking back to my childhood still upsets me because it felt so unfair to be getting punished whilst my sister wasn't.
I'm not really sure what I'm looking for here. After my GP dismissed my concerns, it upset me and has put me off seeking a diagnosis for now. I guess I am just looking for some validation that my concerns are real and I may have a genuine reason for why I have found things so tough.