How Did You React To Being Diagnosed?

[Earchres]

I'm self-diagnosed but my therapists (marriage and personal) concur...my unraveling of the mystery began in Dec 2012 with my former therapist pointing out that I miss social cues often. How could that be possible? I was a member of the Homecoming court in high school??!?! But I googled socially clueless and realized my daughter was at risk for Aspergers. Within 2 weeks of research combined with a new therapists who advised me to take these online personality quizzes that stunned me with "High-probable Aspergers" I used every cooing tactic and compensation strategy I've learned throughout the years to fit in/be normal. And then a common drama occurred between my husband and I but armed with new tactics to help the Aspie cope with a meltdown it became apparent without a doubt that I had once again misinterpreted communication. I've kind of retreated to my old familiar glass room that I used too visit often as a child. I always felt as if I was looking out a window at life instead of living in the world. 120 Aspie 99 NT 17 EQ 63 SQ LD diagnosed senior year college, Mensa age 9, Special Ed for 1 month age 9, one Master's program completed, one Masters program formerly started and abandoned, only other issue is Paranoia (but not delusional) which stems from my brain seeing patterns in everything.

 

[gailt915]

I, too, am self diagnosed. Have talked to many psychologists, psychiatrists, even primary care docs over the years. Even talked about sensory sensitivities. I got diagnosed with: Bipolar II, GAD, depression, ADD, social anxiety disorder........no one ever mentioned that it could be AS. I am 53 and am just learning I've been AS my whole life. I think being a female and growing up during a time when AS was only noticed in males made it more difficult for docs to "see" that I had AS. I knew all those other dx's were "off" some how, that they were incomplete. I am now waiting to see if I have been approved for medical financial aid so I can be offically tested and correctly diagnosed. I do wish I'd had the correct dx a long, long time ago. Perhaps if I'd had the help I needed as a young person, I may not have made the horrendous mistakes I did thru out my life.
I was both relieved and angry when I found out "I'm probably an Aspie". Relieved that I had the answers I'd been seeking my whole life. Angry that no one ever noticed my many Aspie traits. Angry that my whole life was wasted, in a sense, due to misdiagnosis and lack of proper/helpful treatment that could have made my life better than it was. It almost feels like: too little, too late. The damage has been done and it was severe. Just feel like I've been swept aside, like so much rubbish.
Guess I'm just a little depressed about the whole thing right now!!!!

 

[Meistersinger]

Relieved, although the reactions I get from people range from smiles to astonishment, especially coming from a family where there was not much hugging going on, and I was in my own little world most of the time.

 

[smith2267]

I was enormously relieved. It meant my failures in life--to have friends, a Gf, to finish vet school--weren't because I was a bad person.

 

[robertwnielsen]

I wasn't able to accept it at first because I thought I was the last person who would have any form of autism, but now I'm starting to accept it. It's not a big thing, really.

Serendipity, I know exactly how you feel!! When the prospect of AS (and autism in general) was first mentioned to me, my first thought was Autism? ME?? NO WAY!! But then I started reading about AS and realized, I've got it!!, although my diagnosis has now been altered to PDD-NOS, because I don't "fit the profile" of an Aspie. (But, isn't profiling WRONG??) Although, when the DSM-V is released, AS and PDD-NOS will both go away, to be replaced by the more generic "autistic spectrum disorder."

 

[robertwnielsen]

Serendipity, I know exactly how that feels. When a counselor suggested that I be tested for autism, my first reaction was, "Autism? ME? IMPOSSIBLE." But my knowledge of autism (at the time) was limited to what I'd seen in the movie Rain Man. I started reading about different types of autistic disorders, and became fixated on Asperger's Syndrome as what I had--I seemed to have most of the traits, and it seemed to fit me. But a neuro-psych evaluation a couple of years ago told me that I didn't have Asperger's...that I didn't "fit the profile" of an Aspie...(but, isn't profiling WRONG??)

My diagnosis has been refined to PDD-NOS, and I've accepted it...grudgingly, but, I've accepted it.

 

[Pusteblume]

I got sad. I had always thought that I one day would become normal and fit in, but now I know that will never really happen.
Ofc it have explained some stuff, but that doesn't make things easier.

 

[J. Ann]

I didn't have to much of a reaction, because I was young, and I didn't know much about what Aspergers actually was. It helps that I was diagnosed, because It helps explain things. I'm still not sure how being labeled as an Aspie will effect my life, but even if I wasn't, I would still act the same, and be the same person. That's why it's nothing I try to hide (Even if I wanted to I probably wouldn't be able. I'm not sure how easy it is for people to realize I have HFA, but I'm pretty sure they realize it eventually.)

 

[Kuribo]

I was diagnosed at the age of five ... but I found out about my diagnosis when I was eight or nine through reading "Asperger's Snsrome, the Universe, and Everything" by Kenneth Hall. I was relieved to know why I was different.

I've heard of some Autistic people celebrating their diagnoses, but I disagree with this, because it can only encourage discrimination against the self-diagnosed.

 

[Loomis]

I was enormously relieved. It meant my failures in life--to have friends, a Gf, to finish vet school--weren't because I was a bad person.

I still blame myself for not finishing my PhD. I often have dreams about my academic advisor and sometimes in my dream I am still in school and hoping the department will let me finish. It is twenty years since I left.

 

[Loomis]

My son, who is 17 is also an aspie. My wife is sad he is not NT. I am sad too, not because he is an aspie, but because I know his life will be hard and full of pitfalls for him. He is sweet, good-hearted and kind but ill-treated by his peers. It is heart breaking to see him hurt. He is so different from me. I can handle the the nasty turns life throws at us but I am not sweet and kind like him. He is a far better person than me but I fear what the world may do to him; he is so vulnerable.

 

[Nolan1971]

I have never been officially diagnosed but learning that I most likely am and my other disorders has set me free!:happy:
I have never been this at peace with myself and have such renewed faith in all my dreams old & new excepting I just have to pursue them
a different way.

 

[Nolan1971]

My son, who is 17 is also an aspie. My wife is sad he is not NT. I am sad too, not because he is an aspie, but because I know his life will be hard and full of pitfalls for him. He is sweet, good-hearted and kind but ill-treated by his peers. It is heart breaking to see him hurt. He is so different from me. I can handle the the nasty turns life throws at us but I am not sweet and kind like him. He is a far better person than me but I fear what the world may do to him; he is so vulnerable.

He already has one advantage he has a father that is Aspie and can help him with it!
I look so forward to raising children knowing our kids have 2 Aspie parents to help them in ways we never had that would have made all the difference to me.

 

[oscar2012]

i knew i had something so i was sad and happy but am glad i no now.i have 2 sons and a grandson who have autism and 3 nephews and a niece. me question his who is chris and who is aspergers

 

[Fox]

I was enormously relieved. It meant my failures in life--to have friends, a Gf, to finish vet school--weren't because I was a bad person.

It's funny because when I was first confronted about having AS I had just about resigned myself to thinking that I was a bad person, and nothing I could ever do or try to do would change that. I was prepared to live a miserable and unhappy life because that's what I thought I deserved.

While I haven't been officially diagnosed, the fact that I have AS gives me immense hope. All of my failures in life-the inability to keep or make friends, my unhealthy relationships, failing out of school-did not happen because I am "weak." They didn't happen because I am "bad." They happened because I'm wired differently. I'm an alarm clock trying to function in this world as a smart phone and I've been trying to do so for so long it has worn me to the bone. I don't have to do that anymore. I'll have to adapt a little tiny bit for sure but I don't have to lie about the way I am or the way I think. I am finally able to embrace and use my strengths to the fullest. I can find ways to cope and even fix my flaws. I'd thought for a very long time now that I would end up doing nothing with my life because I wasn't capable. Now I realize that I am entirely capable of achieving great thing in my life, I just have to go about them differently.

Through finding out about my AS, I now feel confident and strong enough to take on the world.

 

[anne.bc]

I was diagnosed at 7 but mom and dad never told me why I went to all those appointments when I was little. Mom finally told me when I was 11, I thought it was the coolest thing ever that "I have something" told all my peers and they all laughed at me because of the joke we all know from the name. I could never catch a break as a child being the butt of all jokes, so that didn't help... especially during middle school. I wanted to die at one point. Kids were sooooo mean.

Now I'm the one that's laughing.

 

[Kida]

I've only gotten diagnosed about 3 months ago, I believe.
My initial reaction was that I wasn't really sure what to think.

Admittedly, it came kinda unexpected.
I had hear the words 'Autism' and 'Aspergers Syndrome', but I honestly didn't really know anything about it.
I had never really considered it before, so it was a bit of a surprise.
And since I didn't really know what it all meant, I didn't really know what to think or how to feel about it.

In fact, I'm still not quite sure how I think/feel about it.
Naturally, I've done some reading about AS now.
And one side, it feels kind of relieving in a way.
But I'm also quite scared, I suppose.

 

[Girl Anachronism]

I was 19 when I was diagnosed.
After having been misdiagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder and ADD/ADHD as a child, my family and I felt vindicated that we'd received the official word what we'd suspected for years.
I know my Mum was angry at all the doctors and specialists who kept getting it wrong; it meant I never really received enough intervention as a child.
It was just a feeling of "yep, that makes sense".

 

[DealingWithIt]

I am reluctant to get diagnosed, I'm not sure what will it will mean. I have twin boys with ASD and it's through them that I discovered Autism. Everything began to make sense, from the incredibly hard time I have connecting with other people, to the weird desire to be as precise as possible about what I mean when I speak. It was a relief, but being that I am already well into my adult years, I see very little benefit in getting a diagnosis.

 

[poey]

I was diagnosed on 17 May. I was in shock for a couple of days, as my old therapist was blaming my symptoms on everything but
AS. The Neurophyshocologist was firm in her diagnosis, and after a few days, i think it was more of a relief. Now, i just know i have it and don't have to guess. I'm relieved i think more than anything. Everything makes sense now.