Do you ever think you could be a bit autistic?

Yes of course online tests are valid indicators you have any sort of anything and are definitely an appropriate eu substitute to proper evaluation.

WebMD is also better than a GP and doesn’t cost €60 a pop.

honestly like.. 🙄

BrianD3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120207131#Comment_120207131

Great contribution, Mr Rolleyes.

Again, looks like it needs to be repeated that the test mentioned in this thread is not some FB clickbait quiz. It was developed by a renowned expert on autism, to be used as a tool, not as a substitute for a proper evaluation. Still, it's more than sufficient for a light hearted thread in AH. Suggest you refer back to my post about how po faced, dismissive "experts" always appear in these type of threads to rubbish everything.

Also, given the massive and well documented problems getting to see a GP, getting a GP to see patients for more than 2 minutes, bullsh*t phone consultations, getting a GP to do anything apart from sending patients to A&E for minor issues - then yes, Webmd starts to look like a decent option. So that point isn't the gotcha you think it is.

Grayson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120199078#Comment_120199078

I won't welcome you to the club just yet :D

There's no single test, well not an online one anyway, that will tell you if you are/are not autistic. But the results should give you something to think about.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120199222#Comment_120199222

Yes there is. the basic method of diagnosing it is to see if there's certain traits that are outside of the norm. By norm, I mean it in a maths sense.

people who have those traits to a high degree will find it harder to adapt to the world. Imagine a world where everyone thinks differently to you. They figure out problems and come to solutions differently to you. they communicate in a way that's different to you. This causes lots of problems. Knowing about these differences, getting education and learning how to cope with the world helps. Think of it this way. I moved to germany last year. Different language and different culture. I'm learning about the place and culture. Being autistic is like being here but being german and never understanding german or germans.

I have younger relatives who have been diagnosed. I have older relatives that haven't and I can see similar traits in them. The problem is that because of a lifetime living like that they have become bitter and angry. The world wasn't a welcoming place so the way they adapted was to become hard and nasty.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120199222#Comment_120199222

Why are you unsure you believe there is such a thing? It's well documented and researched. It can require assistance and care from professionals.

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211108#Comment_120211108

We live in a culture now where there is very much a rush to diagnose everyone with some condition or other , it’s important to be sceptical of the psychology industry sometimes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211959#Comment_120211959

I completely agree, but let's not slide the other way either. Autism is legit - it can require special schooling, care, therapy, and it's not a psychological condition.

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120212023#Comment_120212023

It’s a broad church nowadays

weemcd

I'm 90% sure I have a mild form of ADHD but you'd have to get a referral and several consultations done and then medication on top of that. I don't want the cost or the hassle never mind taking medication for the rest of my life. I'll just manage as I have the last 34 years.

Jafin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120212217#Comment_120212217

Medication isn't always a requirement for people with ADHD. Depending on what symptoms you have it's entirely possible to learn coping strategies to deal with it yourself. I'm not an expert by any means but my boyfriend has mild ADHD and isn't medicated, but he does several things to help with it such as taking time away from screens when he gets overstimulated, exercising regularly (nothing strenuous, just going for a decent walk most days) and he finds that doing some cleaning helps to quieten his mind too. Everyone is different of course and I'm not saying these things specifically would work for you if you did have ADHD, but they're what works for him.

Montage of Feck

I feel like that at the moment the likes of Autism and ADHD are becoming symptoms that are being medicated against to turn the patient into a some sort of neutral personality type.

Montage of Feck

My conclusion on mental health since coming out of the lockdown is just to keep to yourself as much as possible, there's nothing like other people to melt your brain.

Grayson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120212217#Comment_120212217

Referrals aren't necessary. I say a site that had a list of people who can assess for ADHD/Autism and no referrals were necessary. However it does take months of waiting because the queues are long. And you could be looking at being a grand out of pocket.

If you want to go public I'd say you need a referral and you'd probably be years waiting. There's feck all available for adults in Ireland.

I'll see if I can dig out the links I have and post them here. You, or others, might find them helpful.

Grayson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120215227#Comment_120215227

You have a boyfriend who needs to clean? That should be on billboards and dating sites. It'd help neurodivergent people get more dates :)