Aspergers

LegacyUser

i think i might have aspergers syndrome. i am based in donegal. Where can i go to get tested without anyone knowing?

Victor

First off talk to your GP, its confidential, he can't tell anyone. This si because we all get ideas into our heads and focus on minor symptoms while ignoring the basics and suddenly we turn a headache into a brain tumour.

If you can't talk to your GP ("why?" can be dealt with another day) then talk to a GP in another area and he can refer you to a specialist.

Nevyn

http://aspergersireland.myfastforum.org/

http://www.professormichaelfitzgerald.eu/

http://www.aspire-irl.org/

clouslen

would it be possible i could go straight to dublin to get it diagnosed? would anyone have a phone number?

clouslen

i think i might have the symptoms of aspergers but i am not sure.

i am very indecisive and find it hard to make friend but i thought this was because i had an unhappy childhood and was bullied a lot when i was younger

Nevyn

Michael Fitzgerald is who you want to get intouch with in TCD.

LegacyUser

clouslen wrote: »

i think i might have the symptoms of aspergers but i am not sure.

i am very indecisive and find it hard to make friend but i thought this was because i had an unhappy childhood and was bullied a lot when i was younger

the big symptom is being unable to tell what another person is feeling from his/her expressions. can you not relate to others? do you have specialist topics and limited interests?

Cuddlesworth

rejtkumnhb148 wrote: »

the big symptom is being unable to tell what another person is feeling from his/her expressions. can you not relate to others? do you have specialist topics and limited interests?

Pretty much sounds like nearly every IT department in the world.

DiscoStu

http://www.somethingawful.com/d/news/aspergers-zeph-mercurial.php

some other reading.

How about growing up, stop blaming your social failings on some nebulous sub definition of autism and try bettering yourself?

You may have it, you may not, I cant say, everyone else here cant. That should be left to mental health professionals but self diagnosis and convincing yourself that your problems are not your fault is dangerous. Keeping that mindset is far more destructive than any symptom of the disease and is disrespectful to those that actually do suffer from autism.

But then again it is so damn easy to blame someone or something else for your own failings than accept responsibility and fix them, and these days we wouldn't have it any other way.

dudara

krazy_8s wrote: »

Pretty much sounds like nearly every IT department in the world.

See how easy it is to think that just because you might not be able to relate to people, that you suffer from some condition.

OP, you need to visit a GP, who can refer you to a specialist. If you are not comfortable going to your regular GP (who has to respect your confidentiality), then visit a different one.

Don't fall into the trap of self-diagnosis.

Marber

I would also recommend Professor Fitzgerald, you can see him in his private practice in Castleknock. My son was diagnosed at 15 by him and everything suddenly made sense, he was spot on.

Lux23

Marber wrote: »

I would also recommend Professor Fitzgerald, you can see him in his private practice in Castleknock. My son was diagnosed at 15 by him and everything suddenly made sense, he was spot on.

He should really speak to a GP first and hopefully he can get a referral to a good doctor. You could just be shy.

The Black Oil

Diagnosis of the condition is not straight forward, I don't think there is one 'big' symptom so much as there is a cluster of them and any diagnosis will only come about if there's an impairment in functioning. Also, it's not a mental health condition, medical problem or a disease.:rolleyes: I would avoid the route of self-diagnonsense as this tends to be unhelpful.

dellas1979

I know someone through work with aspergers.

If you had it, I think it would have been diagnosed a while ago.

From what I have seen, the person has problems understanding, and will take everything quite literally. For e.g, if you told that person during a conversation "Ahhh go away!" (as in a "No way" comment), the aspergers sufferer would in fact actually turn around and walk away.

The guy that I am taking about has a minder as well, who helps him.

PS: I meant to say, your doctor is the only way to go or the only what you should go. Again, self diagnosis is not healthy.

Nevyn

dellas1979 wrote: »

If you had it, I think it would have been diagnosed a while ago.

Aspergers is fair new to a lot of people as being a disorder of a syndrome esp in this country.
I would say there are people out there struggling who have never been diagnosis, but it needs to be done by a health professional.

krazy_8s wrote: »

Pretty much sounds like nearly every IT department in the world.

The highest % of populations in the world where child have Aspergers or are on the austistic spectrum is Silicon valley where there is a high % of non neurotypical people.

My son was in the last year diagnosised with Aspergers and I can't honestly say I am off the spectrum myself.

Professor Fitzgerald comes highly rec emended from people who have dealt with him.

stek

What is aspergers? what are the symptoms?

Nevyn

The websites listed above have that type of info.

yoyo

I have Aspergers Syndrome, your diagnosed by answering I think 2 or so questionaires with a doc... Its a hard condition I appreciate, been quite though putting up with it...

Nick

whatsgoinon

my cousin has Aspergers. His mother for some reason decided not to tell him, he found out by accident and went mad at her for not telling him. We knew that he was a bit odd, but when my parents told us what was up with him, we were able to understand him more and engage more with him.

Kevster

I have Asperger's Syndrome too and I'm a moderator on a different psychological web-forum that has an Asperger's Syndrome section. It's beneficial to get a diagnosis for some of us. However, others with the syndrome have managed to integrate into society adequately and go through their days without even knowing they have it.

As far as I know, there are long waiting lists to see psychiatrists that specialise in the Autism Spectrum Disorders.

quickbeam

I also suspect I have Aspergers for various reasons. I'm reluctant to get it diagnosed. On the plus side, I could get treatment for it. But I'm not convinced that the treatment would help much. On the down-side, it would have to be something I'd have to disclose at any medicals or medical forms I might have in the future and it could damage future job prospects or getting insurance etc.

Elessar

I wouldn't be in a rush to diagnose yourself with "Ass-burgers" :rolleyes:

Be vary careful getting yourself "diagnosed" with a psychiatric wish-wash for what can easily be just general social impairment. As said it's not a disease or anything and most people like that are living completely normal lives. To get a classification of it, at least in the US, requires significant impairment in day-to-day functioning (even motor clumsiness).

If you are desperate for it, at the very least get two opinions from professionals. For every trained professional that says you have it there will be more that say you dont. Be careful.

Instead of looking for a label, why not try ask for help in bettering your social and communication skills?

Nevyn

Elessar unless you are a medical profession who has reserached the area stop calling it wish-wash.

Getting the help a person needs often only happens after they have the 'label'.

clouslen

quickbeam wrote: »

I also suspect I have Aspergers for various reasons. I'm reluctant to get it diagnosed. On the plus side, I could get treatment for it. But I'm not convinced that the treatment would help much. On the down-side, it would have to be something I'd have to disclose at any medicals or medical forms I might have in the future and it could damage future job prospects or getting insurance etc.

is this correct?

spurious

Thaedydal wrote: »

My son was in the last year diagnosised with Aspergers and I can't honestly say I am off the spectrum myself.

A friend of mine who has many years' experience of working with children with varying degrees of autism used to joke (in a semi-joking way) that there are very few people that do not display some elements of autistic behaviour.
Personally, I know I would certainly tick a good number of the boxes, so to speak.

OP - if it will put your mind at rest, see your GP. Putting a reason or explanation behind certain ways of behaving or interracting with people may help.

raemie21

I work with children & teenagers with Aspergers Syndrome and I'd firstly just point out that there are plenty of people out there who have Asperger's Syndrome and they don't know it. Leading typical lives, jobs, married, kids etc. Your G.P would be the best port of call to be honest and he can refer you to you local psych services. Don't presume that you have it and think about why you now want to get help for it and what would be the benefits of being diagnosed..Asperger's, Autistic Spectrum and even ADHD, Co-ordination Difficulties, Speech & Language difficulties all exist on a continuum and it might be a case that you have some features but not enough to meet diagnostic criteria. Also, we all have some 'traits' but obviously it's the extent of these and their amount that divides someone with Aspergers and someone without. I'd be wary of the previous posters recommending specific Consultants, talk to your GP or contact the ASPIRE association first. You don't say how old you are but don't read too much about it first because what can happen is that you get so in tune with the features and the warning signs that you may under-estimate your abilities. And to finish off, typically for people in late adolescence onwards, the diagnosis is largely based on the account of the early childhood and history, school years etc. You need to give a true account of things as best & realistic as you can if you are being assessed, don't focus too much on what you think is 'wrong' with you, remember to talk about all your strengths aswell - this is the best thing to do for yourself and also gives the consultant the best chance of assessing you accurately and seeing what the appropriate plan of action might be, if any. Best of luck x

clouslen

raemie21 wrote: »

I work with children & teenagers with Aspergers Syndrome and I'd firstly just point out that there are plenty of people out there who have Asperger's Syndrome and they don't know it. Leading typical lives, jobs, married, kids etc. Your G.P would be the best port of call to be honest and he can refer you to you local psych services. Don't presume that you have it and think about why you now want to get help for it and what would be the benefits of being diagnosed..Asperger's, Autistic Spectrum and even ADHD, Co-ordination Difficulties, Speech & Language difficulties all exist on a continuum and it might be a case that you have some features but not enough to meet diagnostic criteria. Also, we all have some 'traits' but obviously it's the extent of these and their amount that divides someone with Aspergers and someone without. I'd be wary of the previous posters recommending specific Consultants, talk to your GP or contact the ASPIRE association first. You don't say how old you are but don't read too much about it first because what can happen is that you get so in tune with the features and the warning signs that you may under-estimate your abilities. And to finish off, typically for people in late adolescence onwards, the diagnosis is largely based on the account of the early childhood and history, school years etc. You need to give a true account of things as best & realistic as you can if you are being assessed, don't focus too much on what you think is 'wrong' with you, remember to talk about all your strengths aswell - this is the best thing to do for yourself and also gives the consultant the best chance of assessing you accurately and seeing what the appropriate plan of action might be, if any. Best of luck x

thank you for yor reply.

i have looked up aspergers online. i seemed to have the symptoms. however is it possible i have these symptoms from my early years? eg the way i was brought up. as i already mentioned when i was younger i was very unhappy. i would have needed counselling but didnt get any help at the time

Nevyn

It's not to do with how you were brought up it is to do with having a non typical brain structure. You relate and learn things in a slightly different way. Non nurotypicals just see the world slight different and react differently is all, and different is not bad, it's just different and sometimes they have to learn skills that other people pick up with out seeming to learn them.

Yes if it is spotted and the extra help learning those skills is given in can make a difference and you learn to cope better and to other stand yourself and others which
cuts down on the frustation/anger/depression and the younger the better imho but that does not mean your parents or school failed you we just didn't know then as much as we do know.

craichoe

Thaedydal wrote: »

Elessar unless you are a medical profession who has reserached the area stop calling it wish-wash.

Getting the help a person needs often only happens after they have the 'label'.

In fairness Thaedydal, there are a number of people that have relatives who's lives have been ruined by misdiagnosis, guess work and general lack of skills by the HSE.

So I don't think diagnosis by a Mental Health Professional should be taken at face value either.

One example I can think of it a friend who:
1. Went to his Doctor with a sleeping problem, was prescribed Anti-Depressants
2. Went again and they referred him to the Psychiatric unit in in the local hospital, they put him on a cocktail of stronger anti-depressants and anti-psychotics.
3. He gained about 4 stone from the anti-psychotics, he became suicidal, had hallucinations, memory loss.
4. Then they stuck him on anti-buse because they said he had a drinking problem.

In the end his family told the HSE to go and f*ck themselves, he stopped taking all the medication and after about a year he is somewhat normal.

This was after going into his GP with a sleeping problem, if you don't sleep for 3 days, i'm sure you'd seem somewhat jumpy too.

So sorry Thaedydal, no way i'd take it at face value. Even myself, I was almost killed by an anesthetist in the HSE. I am very wary when using any of the health services in Ireland, especially Mental Health services.

Overheal

krazy_8s wrote: »

Pretty much sounds like nearly every IT department in the world.

>_>

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Lad in my course we're nearly convinced of it - and by that, 99.95% that he has Aspergers. He knows everyone's name, even if you never give it, finds you on Bebo with 2 days of saying hello to him, enjoys approaching you from behind, and will pretty much follow you anywhere in complete silence, stare at your friends as they share a kiss, and has only ever expressed an interest in playing Nintendo Games and has violent fits of rage when playing multiplayer. Basically just a complete failure to take social queues. You have to feel sad for the guy but we've all reached the end of our ropes.

On a side note, did they really have to call it Aspergers? Don't people have enough problems fitting in already..

then you have the other 0.05% where you have to wonder if he's running around saying he has the Syndrome just so we will put up with him. Blah.

yoyo

Overheal wrote: »

>_>

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<_>

>_<

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Lad in my course we're nearly convinced of it - and by that, 99.95% that he has Aspergers. He knows everyone's name, even if you never give it, finds you on Bebo with 2 days of saying hello to him, enjoys approaching you from behind, and will pretty much follow you anywhere in complete silence, stare at your friends as they share a kiss, and has only ever expressed an interest in playing Nintendo Games and has violent fits of rage when playing multiplayer. Basically just a complete failure to take social queues. You have to feel sad for the guy but we've all reached the end of our ropes.

On a side note, did they really have to call it Aspergers? Don't people have enough problems fitting in already..

then you have the other 0.05% where you have to wonder if he's running around saying he has the Syndrome just so we will put up with him. Blah.

Does sounds like aspergers... People with aspergers generally are extremely interested in thing and one thing only (Me its pcs) and those other symtoms do sound like it alrite, It is a though thing to suffer with, belive me, I've suffered 19 years now with it only finding out the name of it recently, but hey you just gotta live and let live, and try get on with life normal..

Nick

Overheal

Fair enough - but it becomes stressful at a point to socialise with people with Aspergers. Too many weird things have happened and its just started to creep us all out. My flatmate once tried talking to him once and taking a girl talking to him as a queue he asked 'if she wanted to be his girlfriend'. Now I understand it requires a bit of patience but you can see how that might creep someone out and ruin your chances for fitting in (...or can you?)

yoyo

Overheal wrote: »

Fair enough - but it becomes stressful at a point to socialise with people with Aspergers. Too many weird things have happened and its just started to creep us all out. My flatmate once tried talking to him once and taking a girl talking to him as a queue he asked 'if she wanted to be his girlfriend'. Now I understand it requires a bit of patience but you can see how that might creep someone out and ruin your chances for fitting in (...or can you?)

I fit in grand, have good m8s and enjoy college. Having said that there are times I will talk on too much or even situations I find difficult, There are different levels of Aspergers afaik. I don't know too much about it though. My other issie is a mixture of stress/aspergers I suffer, both dont go well together!

Nick

clouslen

Thaedydal wrote: »

It's not to do with how you were brought up it is to do with having a non typical brain structure. You relate and learn things in a slightly different way. Non nurotypicals just see the world slight different and react differently is all, and different is not bad, it's just different and sometimes they have to learn skills that other people pick up with out seeming to learn them.

Yes if it is spotted and the extra help learning those skills is given in can make a difference and you learn to cope better and to other stand yourself and others which
cuts down on the frustation/anger/depression and the younger the better imho but that does not mean your parents or school failed you we just didn't know then as much as we do know.

no what i mean is it possibble i dont have it just a complete lack of confidece, sdocial skills etc

Overheal

Define this complete lack of confidence and social skills is you would with some examples? All we have is what you're telling us.

But besides that we're just opinions, and none of them professional.

Dudess

OP, are you sure you didn't just come across something with a definition of Aspergers and think to yourself "Oh I have that... and that... and that"? You might be building this up way too much. But have a chat with the doc.

Nevyn

clouslen wrote: »

no what i mean is it possibble i dont have it just a complete lack of confidece, sdocial skills etc

Well then get a referral and find out.

Friend of mine has it but i dont know if he knows it. He is terrible with people and when i introduce him to other friends thay can be quite offended by him. If he starts a new hobbie, he will learn everything about it down to the history .
He is also a collecter and once he starts, thats it, he never stop's. He then uses all this knowlage to connect with people as its the only way he know's how. But if you get in a conversation , he can really bore the ear off you. I am very blunt with him about it , and he actually appriciates it. Good lad really.
To be honest everybody that has it are very good people very trusting, in saying that are we the ones with the affliction

sobriquet

Dudess wrote: »

OP, are you sure you didn't just come across something with a definition of Aspergers and think to yourself "Oh I have that... and that... and that"? You might be building this up way too much. But have a chat with the doc.

That's possible certainly, but as others have pointed out you could throw a stone in an IT department or similar and hit someone who'd likely rate highly for the diagnostic criteria. I can say from experience that reading the criteria (from the American DSM-IV and other places) scared the **** out of me - too many things seemed to be a match, and I know others who'd almost certainly make the cut beyond even my own obsessions and absence of social graces. (I don't think I have it, for the record.)

OP, you have to ask what do you want to get out of it? I'm thinking particularly if the diagnosis were that you don't have it, as Dudess pointed out is possible. Aside from it simply being confirmed, do you want to develop yourself in other ways? Confidence and social skills can be learned and developed - it takes time but it's perfectly doable, I know that from experience. Your GP could give you some directions in that way as well, counseling etc.

Dudess

And what age are you, OP? Because often, teens/early 20-somethings who feel a need to belong might build up any character traits of theirs that they perceive as socially unacceptable. The great thing about getting older is you start to realise that you're actually normal and if people have a problem with you they can shove it. And having such self belief and disregard for whether you're "normal" or not actually draws people to you, while being all self-conscious about whether you're weird or not can turn people off you.

FakeRedHead

Well, I'm going to assume you've checked out the criteria and have seen that you might have reason for concern.

I wouldn't for a second listen to anyone else's opinion on whether you have it or not unless they have a PhD/MD and your full history .

Best to get it checked one way or the other so you can move on and stop stressing.

I don't know much about the public route for adults and assessment, especially in Donegal.

In Dublin Prof Michael Fitzgerald is one of the main consultants dealing with this. As a previous poster mentioned, he has a private office in Castleknock where he can usualy fit people in within two weeks.

It costs about €350 and I don't think a GP's referral is essential but his secretary can tell you that.

If you'd like the address and phone number just PM (not sure he'd welcome me posting it openly).
The cost is tax deductible or some can be claimed back from VHI, if that applies.