h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am on the process of being assessed for Aspergers. I have been thinking about it for a while and only approached my GP this March for a diagnosis. If I did not have anyone with me, I would not have approached my GP. My GP is Spanish and he comes from a country where they have an excellent Autism/Aspergers diagnosis and support service.

Here are the list of some of the Aspergers traits in females:

Has a very rich and elaborate fantasy world
Do not understand the concept of small talk
Appears to be have good social skills but this is learned behaviour
by copying others
Poor social interaction and communication skills
Finds it very hard to make long term friendships
Is youthful for her age, in looks, dress, behaviour and tastes
Enjoys reading and films as a retreat, often sci-fi, fantasy
OCD and social anxiety

sweetheart, I hope that any assessment/prognosis comes up niland it will do

and that list include me in:-
Has a very rich and elaborate fantasy world

and Exclude yourself from:-
Finds it very hard to make long term friendships
how long have you known me

Do not understand the concept of small talk
The Fools Guild - for oneespecially the

Poor social interaction and communication skills
You talk regular with Jim

do not think negative whatsoever ok

That's really interesting...

I tick quite a few of those - I'm not keen on using the phone, so I tend to skip the small talk and get straight to business, which other people have commented on, but face to face I'm better; I'm definitely an introvert, so that covers a couple of other points; I have OCDs, I like science fiction and fantasy as allegories for reality, and I look and act youthful, but that's because I led a rather sheltered life in my youth because of disability so my tastes haven't matured very quickly, and I have boyish looks rather than being a woman or a man...

As for long term friendships, I didn't think I was good at making friends, because I struggled in my youth, but now I know I have great friends and I'm doing fine

Anyway, I hope you get the outcome you want so you can understand yourself better

[Amy P]

Thinker, whether you turn out to have Asperger's or not, you are far more than a diagnosis. You have a wonderful imagination, and a vocabulary second to none. Your sense of humor [I'm thinking of your puns] is first-rate, and no diagnosis will make any difference in how people think of you.

You were Thinker before and you will be Thinker in the future. A diagnosis will not change that.

It might change your day to day life to something better, though.

Thank you all for very kind and very helpful uplifting thoughtful words of support and advice.

Sasha, I find a lot of my OCD rituals to be extremely funny when I think of all my daily checking/security rituals.

I am also young looking for my age.

Yeah - it is funny to think of stuff in the abstract, and what I must look like to other people, but still the stuff has to be done... My funny is touching wood to ground myself if my thoughts run away with themselves, but some other stuff I do is painful rather than funny, unfortunately...

I do better if I'm not stressed, though, so I need to remember to chill out

A few years ago, a report on BBC London news was telling about the dangers of intrusive CCTV cameras and that were able to pry into people's homes to steal data. The report gave the idea that nearly household had a CCTV camera and they were there watching your every move. This started a ritual where I had to close the curtains to go and get my bank card out of my petty cash tin and lock it. Then after using it putting it back in, still with the curtains closed.

I also keep on checking if I have my keys, cards or mobile phone with me, when I am out.

Three times my front door has mysteriously opened in the middle of the night and since then when go in or out I have to make sure that I have shut it properly.

I find talking to my cat Simba helps me relax or help walking labrador dogs who I love chatting to. Two of them Josh and Bruno putting their paws on my shoulder as they are trying to dance with me.

Today I went to Basildon Hospital Aspergers Clinic and got a diagnosis with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. It has been a big relief for me. It has taken me from the time I went to the doctors to today, it has been a journey of 9 months. I will be getting a general report by post soon and it will take a while for me to get the detailed report.

Did they tell you how many - or rather few - people do not fit into the spectrum?

My appointment was half an hour late, due to an unexpected emergency which delayed one of the doctors. It was quite a long appointment (was not feeling too grand as I have a heavy cold, but I know from the autism website only 1 in 4 females (compared to males) are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and according to some specialists that this estimate is wrong and it is more likely to be 1 in 2. Due to the fact there symptoms are more subtle and are different from males. What helped me is that I gave a very detailed account of my childhood to early adulthood which I wrote as a report.

Here is a link from the UK autism organisation:

http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/autism-and-asperger-syndrome-an-introduction/gender-and-autism/women-and-girls-on-the-autism-spectrum.aspx

When even specialists can't agree on the number (1 in 4 or 1 in 2) I believe it is safe to say that there is quite a vast grey area to map, don't you agree?

It is interesting how specialists are beginning to realize the difference in male and female behaviour when it comes to autism spectrum disorders = symptoms vary even when autism spectrum disorders are equally severe.

(The same goes for clinical depressions by the way. It is now perceived that many violent males are in fact depressed. Their behaviour and symptoms are just frequently very different to those of depressed females.)

Anyway, what are the next steps from now on?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Once I get over my heavy cold I will contact the various local organisations and groups in my area for support. I also can get help from the UK autism via telephone support and they have an online forum as well as the girl with the curly hair online community.

with that

The first step to solving a problem is to acknowledge its existence

(Okay, you may not actually solve this as such, but you may make you situation much more bearable)

Thank you for your kind and thoughtful words.

I've heard it said that NASA and other space-related agencies have more than their share of engineers with Aspergers. The important part is that there are niches where they feel valued and needed. That's what everybody needs. There are some real gifts that go along with Aspergers.

Thank you for your very encouraging words. It must great working in a cutting edge space industry.a