I’m autistic, but worried the psychologist got everything wrong

[milkyway512]

What is the likelihood that my psychologist on the nhs misdiagnosed me?

I can make friends, but don’t have a lot at any one time. I have a lot of acquaintances but couldn’t have loads of close friends as I’d get overwhelmed. I have liked socialising more as I’ve gotten older, but generally prefer to be at home with my family and parents. I used to only like socialising with one or two particular friends at school, I was part of a group but I didn’t feel particularly connected to the fact I was in a group, I was only really in it because my two close friends were in it.

I’m very anxious and have ocd and depressive symptoms related to mood. I don’t feel understood by people easily and feel like I have a whole inner world most people don’t know about. I’m not special or anything but sometimes I feel part of my identity is overlooked/ something is amiss.

i wouldn’t mind but im worried i have a personality disorder and they’ve gotten everything wrong. I’ve been told by two doctors I have autism, but I’m not sure as I can integrate into social situations because my mum taught me, I can be quite empathetic and I can sometimes read facial expressions.

i am just wondering how common it is for autism to be misdiagnosed when it’s really something else? I had anxiety troubles at school and my mum thought I had it as my brother was diagnosed a lot younger. I’m worried she managed to fabricate this whole thing and everything is wrong about the diagnosis.

i had an in depth assessment about 2 hours long, and another one which was about an hour and a half.

thank you!

Autism presents differently in women compared to men. It's common for women to learn to mask as you have done.

If anything, autistic women are misdiagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (née Borderline Personality Disorder), not the other way around.

I think this is your OCD talking. There's nothing in your post that makes it sound like you don't have autism, and the bit about only "sometimes" being able to read facial expressions sounds very autistic to me

I was sure I had BPD ...the doctor persuaded me to have an autism assessment to ...rule it out ...
It just ruled it in ....I wonder a lot too ,
Especially when a couple of people said ..oh no you definitely don't have autism ...and ...no you e got childhood trauma,not autism ....and the best comment,was ....oh no you definitely don't look autistic.,

oh no you definitely don't look autistic

How does one look autistic?

Two doctors have confirmed you are autistic. It's natural to second guess everything. It's often part of the coming to terms with diagnosis. You could always pay for another assessment, but what happens if you don't believe that either? Or would it put your mind at rest do you think?

I wonder the same. I can mask very well and I can communicate effectively, to the point that people don’t realise I’m autistic (they think I’m quirky and eccentric but not autistic). I can read facial expressions and body language extremely well. I understand sarcasm and nuances and subtexts. I have no social anxiety and I’m quite happy to give a speech in front of hundreds of people. Loud noise doesn’t bother me. I quite like socialising. I don’t particularly have special interests.

But I have no friends and have never had any. I like to socialise with others but they don’t like to socialise with me. I fail to realise when people are being dishonest and have frequently been taken advantage of. I’m very anxious. Sometimes I rock back and forth. I struggle to understand speech if there’s music or tv in the background. I often see things as black and white. I misunderstand what people are asking because I interpret their words factually.

I asked the diagnosing doctor if he was sure I was autistic and he said yes. Two GPs also said I was autistic. So I suppose I must have enough traits to be diagnosed?

Im very similar to you, except I do have friends. However they’re more close friends and I don’t have a ton! I find friendships generally okay, but I don’t have a partner or anything and have never had a long term relationship as I find the whole romantic thing very stressful. I do relate to a lot of what you said about the rocking, speech, and seeing things in black and white.

This was really reassuring actually to hear from people that have gone through similar things :) I feel a lot better, thank you!