Aspies For Freedom

I like in the UK, Scotland to be a little more accurate.

I've always been different from the norm when it came to areas such as socialising and behaviour. In recent years (I'm now 29) as I've left structured education this has become more pronounced.

Having read about AS in a newspaper I've looked into it more as some of the characteristics of people diagnosed with AS matched how I would describe myself. I've taken some tests online and all of them have suggested that I may have AS, for example my results from the Aspie Quiz were:

Your Aspie score: 143 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 57 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie

My predicament is that I really do not know what to do next. Should I go to my local GP and explain how I've been feeling and what I think may be wrong? Should I bring up the subject with my parents first and see their views?

My worry is from reading these forums that parents are likely to laugh it off as some kind of excuse, whilst doctors do not seem to have a good understanding of AS. Is there some other route I should go down?

Your help would be appreciated.

Well, like some other people on this forum that I've read posts from I live with my parents still. That's a small part of what makes me think I might have AS in that I've never remotely wanted to be out there, socialising, going to parties, clubbing etc. It's not something that I have enjoyed when I've had to do it and have felt awkward and uncomfortable doing so.

I am exactly the same way.  I feel it's not an innate immaturity/weakness that makes me avoid situations like that, it's more an innate tendency to avoid situations that fall out of order.  We as Aspergians don't like chaotic social situations where we can't analyze things fast enough, or figure out how a certain "new" person will react to us.

That's how I see it, for now.

Don't let someone tell you you're some kind of parasite for still living at home at you're age--I am 25 and in the same boat, though I'm not necessarily proud of it (personally, tho.)

Many Aspergians just aren't socially oriented.  So if you're Aspergian, that could mean.. why bother with all these new environments and unfamiliar people when you know that's what bothers you the most?

We're quite overwhelmed (and in some cases, overstimulated) by those things, though coping mechanisms can be developed.

Well I went to the GP, explained how I was feeling and about me, that I'd taken some online tests, spoken to the National Autism Society and suspected I had AS. His point of view was that an official diagnosis wasn't necessary as "labels" aren't helpful, but agreed that it was likely I fell under the classification of AS. I can't say he was a significant help in anyway, but he's offered to put me in touch with people who might be able to help.

I am going to do the same thing.

I will let you know how it goes.

Keep in touch, BTW, and let me know how your assessment goes.

Why the pervasive skepticism in the "GP community"?

Maybe since it's not their field, they are dismissive of such things?  That seems a silly reason to be skeptical--just waving something off because you don't know much about it--but I wonder if it's true.

To update you, a letter came through the door last week advising me of an appointment at a Health Centre in Glasgow to see the Adult Autism Team there for an assessment. That was a good 6+ weeks since I visited the GP and I had pretty much given up on any progress being made there but hopefully this is good news.