Your input/opinions please on diagnosis

[AmKeepingAwake]

Lost without routine

Hate not knowing what's going on/not being in control. Have to organise everything myself, or have every minute detail if someone else does it.

Anxious about changes (someone sitting in my seat on the bus freaks me out. I feel a bit lost).

Can't bear being late/someone else being late. I get very stressed.

Have to have matching things: knife and forks, plates, glasses.

Get very stressed if things are not where they should be and 'can't find something' if it's on the wrong side of a shelf.

Not very good in social situations. Can pretend and smile but generally like helping out so I don't have to make small talk which I find impossible.

Quite often misjudge a situation and say something hurtful/not appropriate.

I'm often too loud and get over excited/emotional, even at my age (over 40) people sometimes ask me to keep my voice down/calm down

Hyper sensitive to smell and small sounds (can't sleep anywhere there is ticking. Had to change watches as cannot sleep with one that ticks. Can smell burnt toast 2 days later.)

Years of panic atttacks when any/some of the above does/n't happen.

Is it genetic? Does my DC get it from me?

Why do I use so many / ??

AKA

Meh! Quite a lot of that sounds like me and I relate better to my ASD child than the other three. I think it's becoming increasingly clear that ASD is hereditary. I'd just add that my half brother who has struggled with (apparent) mental health problems for years is now enthusiastically pursuing assessment for ASD because it seems to explain his experiences and even now with no DX and no appropriate therapy he's doing better than he has in years because of his increased insight into his own problems. There seems to be a LOT of it about.

What do you think of the AQ test? You can find it by searching online for "AQ test"
Might give you some clues. Can't diagnose anyone, and nor can the test, but it sounds a bit like it's worth talking to your GP about if you think it might be an ASD?

Do you think .. or may be I'm just a bit OCD, which I think is what people who know me think. It's just I've noticed that these things don't just aggravate me, they really upset me. I just have to put it right. If MIL comes round and loads the dishwasher, I have to redo it and likewise the wash, or anything else anyone touches. I should be grateful, not picking holes. I should feel glad that soemeone has bothered, not obsessing over whether the glasses are back on their correct shelves. And as for the bus, I stood there for a couple of minutes feeling lost and not knowing what to do. How stupid is that? It's like my coping mechanisms don't want to cope anymore.

If someone sits in my seat at work I start to hyperventilate.

DH filled out 2 of 40 thank you notes but didn't say what we were thanking for (we had a list) and I was almost in tears!! I had a real go at him for being so slow as well. Why?

FGS! What is going on?

I would talk to my GP Amber, but considering my DC was recently diagnosed, I just think may be they'll think I'm jumping on the bandwagon.

And may be I am... but I've always been that little bit.. quirky?

AKA

Sounds simular to my dd1, she has AS, also sounds like my DH who we think has AS but he won't speak to the GP .

But GPs are totally used to parents getting their children diagnosed and then coming to them afterwards and saying "Oooo, I wonder if it's me too?" It's often how adults first encounter what an ASD is. So no, I don't think your GP would be at all surprised. And they're the only ones who can refer you on to someone who'd be able to tell you for sure. Unless you pay privately, which is Jolly Expensive.

OCD doesn't normally have sensitivities to sight, sound, smell. Or constant social gaffes either. Or being too loud.
Well worth a good think, I'd say.

No experience of ASD, but I have a very close girlfriend and you be describing her - she has dx OCD, bought on by depression. Also manifests into panic attacks.

Thanks for sharing. Yes I think there is anxiety there, but what mother hasn't suffered some anxiety since they had kiddies?

35 on the AQ test....

OMG. I think I am going to have to talk to DH. He was a very slow developer and has the most amazing memory (brilliant at University Challenge) so maybe we shouldn't have had children!!

Ah well. I always quite liked being different and at least we share our obsessions.

Thanks again guys

AKA

OCD is, I believe, normally no higher than 28-32, but don't quote me on it.