I've recently started on the long route to a diagnosis via the NHS for ASD. In my local area you see a triage service who offer their opinion and refer you on to the correct team for diagnosis if appropriate.
After an hour with triage the two assessors said, without doubt, I am 99.9% autistic. (The autistic part of me is niggled by the missing 0.01%). They have referred me on for a psychiatrist to assess me formally which is great stuff as I want to ask for a few easements at work and this will help. I also found their interim "diagnosis" to be quite comforting too, as it gives a reason to a lot of things in my life rather than constantly just thinking I'm odd, and its my fault.
My crux is this though I don't think anyone believes me! I'm a mid 30's female, married, kids, relatively successful job, lovely house. With a herculean amount of effort I always look organised and on top of life. Again, with a massive amount of effort, I manage to interact with other people albeit I will avoid it when I can as I prefer my communication to have a purpose.
The phrase "it's a spectrum" and I must be on the faking it/lower end of the spectrum is how I feel people have responded to me.
I've just read In a Different Key by Jon Donovan and it seems even the medical community can't even agree on what autism is. So how do I know how I have it?
Am I just weird, odd, strange? Or do I have a neurological condition that explains a lot about me?
Does anyone, diagnosed or not, feel like this?