Too much insight to have Aspergers ?

[Heytheredelilah1987]

Really hope this doesn't offend !! But a couple of people and myself suspect I may possibly have HFA/ aspergers - mildly, but if at all ... this has come to light since my son has been undergoing diagnosis for ASD.

However, I mentioned it to a psychologist I kmow and they said I can't as I have too much insight / self awareness of my traits - and we all have traits ? Is this true ? How did you all realise you were on the spectrum?

I'm too consumed dealing with my sons asd assesment to bother about whether I am or not - but if I did ever go for a diagnosis can anyone tell me why this is beneficial? I live a normal life - having asd would explain a lot of crap and my need for a low dose of anti depressants due to bad anxiety I've had all my life.

I guess I'm just pondering all this at the minute- and really unsure what to think. I don't think it matters if I do or don't as it's likely so mild if I do anyway ...

Sorry for the ramble : I am not good at explaining myself at all.

I think the psychologist you spoke to doesn't know much about ASD. Of course we are capable of having insight, especially as we grow older and learn more about how it presents. Some mental illnesses have a lack of insight as a defining feature, but ASD isn't a mental illness.

Personally I've found getting a diagnosis has freed me a bit from the strain of having to look "normal". These days I'll happily tell people that I won't be able to do something the way they want me to and other arrangements need to be made. I think it's made me kinder to myself.

Have you looked at Tania Marshalls list of traits? Introspection and much self reflection is very much a trait!

I was diagnosed asd late last year. Its certainly helped me come to terms with how my life has been. I feel I have permission to be myself now, but that's proving easier said than done.

Thanks wings and mog.

I will do the list later, thanks. I did do a well known test on the Internet and scored highly likely as pie- called the aspie quiz...

Thank you for sharing with me why a diagnosis has helped you.

Hmm... I'm unsure. I guess it doesn't matter either way as life is ok !

Too much insight?! The NHS psychologist who diagnosed me was impressed at my level of insight. He didn't think for one second that it indicated I didn't have Asperger's, far from it. If anything, the amount of detail I'd gone into in the notes I took along (a lot of detail!!!) confirmed it.
A lot of Aspies pre & post diagnosis not surprisingly do a lot of research on the subject to work out if they do have it & how it's affected them. That involves a lot of self-thinking. And we're a deep thinking bunch anyway
If your son is potentially on the spectrum then there's a higher chance of you being on it too. Add in what you think, and what others think.... I think the psychologist you've spoken to about it is one of the breed who also think we don't empathise!!

Someone on here was saying that the woman assessing them told her that most aspies take a nice little folder with all the information in, including quiz results, lists of traits etc. It's very common to become fixated on it and research it to death so you know everything about it.

most aspies take a nice little folder with all the information in, including quiz results, lists of traits etc
Puts hand up to 20 or so pages of notes (A4, type-written, matched to DSM-IV criteria), school reports, test results, medical notes....

Yeah that's twoddle. I was the first person to realise I have ASD. I asked to be referred and got diagnosed (and did lots of research while I waited for assessment!).

Is it so hard for professionals to understand different presentations?!

ds2, diagnosed, is convinced he's right about everything. It never crossed dh's mind that he may be in the wrong and therefore would need any insight into himself, everyone else needs to sort themselves out.

ds1 is like me. Can see that we're not the same and therefore analyse ourselves and everyone else for explanations, changes, ways to cope.

However as amazingly insightful as I was I didn't know to take autism into account and therefore I was working from a faulty premise for my own well being. The years I spent trying to fix myself meant be more NT and therefore was ultimately doomed to failure. I spend less time now on trying to fit in and Get It Right which frees me up to be whoever I'm meant to be.

Thanks all. I'm def one who become hyper focused ! I could imagine me bringing a4 folders of info along to a diagnosis assesment , ha.

Anti- like you I am insightful to a degree, but the possibility of ASD only came up when I recognised so many symptoms in myself when researching asd for my son. I've do everything quizzes and stuff and scored highly likely as pie... but how accurate are these things !?!

I've done **

They're pretty rough (quite a few aimed at men!) but a fair indicator. There's a possibly of overlap - I scored for bipolar, borderline personality disorder, ADHD and ASD! I have an ASD diagnosis but recognise hyper focus at times and inattention at other times.

I did the female aspie quiz. So think this one was meant to be pretty accurate for females? But all the same , I'm fully aware it's not an actual true indicator!!

I really don't think I have bpd - I've heard it's similar to aspergers in presentation though? What's the key differences? Anyone know?

A quick google got me very confused actually! Lots of similarities, however I think the key aspects are presentation. ASD seems to be about from a young age where BPD only presents from teens onwards...also manner of thinking. Aspie's tend to have 'black and white' thinking whereas those with BPD don't. Personally I find it very difficult to change my mindset about things. DH said he didn't want to have dinner at the time I suggested had arranged in my head and I was totally thrown. Still adjusting half an hour later! I had a meltdown today because he sorted a new car seat for DD and it wasn't as I expected

Thanks for explaining Faith. I would say my suspected aspergers was more apparent than ever as a child ! Through the years I've managed to mask it.

Exactly the same here. My parents learnt very quickly how to meet my needs and work with me rather than try to fight against stuff (like clothing choices!). My eye contact is also a huge issue. I really struggle to do it. I do it for interviews and now rarely manage it! I'm not sure that's the same with BPD.

Checking back in to this board as I have an appointment soon to discuss my referral. I'm loving the fact it will be fine for me to take a folder of notes in! This is totally me! In fact I'm getting excited about the thought of putting it together. It makes sense that we analyse everything and get obsessive over it. I know it's one of my latest obsessions and I won't rest until I'm told either way whether I have it or not.

I had a job interview recently and did loads of research and reading and was allowed to take notes in. They were a bit more extensive than I intended though (no I didn't get the job).