Reddit reviews I Think I Might Be Autistic: A Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis and Self-Discovery for Adults

> I don't want a diagnosis via internet forum, but does it make sense to go against my therapist (who won't ever diagnose me with Asperger's because I can communicate OK with him one-on-one) and pursue a diagnosis from a specialist?

Yes, it absolutely makes sense. I've seen so many reports from others who have been in a similar situation, diagnosed multiple times with various conditions, with the possibility of Asperger's/autism repeatedly dismissed on superficial grounds, as if the mind isn't full of layers, many of which are hidden beneath the surface.

> Could it be that I flew under the radar for so long?

Indeed. Especially as a woman, there's a strong bias to attribute your behaviors and qualities to anything other than Asperger's. This bias exists both in general culture (for example, hormones are used to explain away so many female behaviors without any real consideration) and in the culture of the mental health profession (largely due to the original research decades ago focusing on male children, almost completely ignoring both females of any age and adults of any gender).

I'm a male myself, but it wasn't until recently, when the profession started to wake up to the possibility of Asperger's being just as prevalent in women as it is in men, that I started finding resources that I really connected with. Thus, I suspected I had Asperger's when I was 24, but it was only once I was 32 and revisited the subject that I found all the stories by other "under-the-radar" aspies, many of them women, and could truly connect with those experiences, learning from them and learning about myself more deeply. I certainly have some male stereotypes too, but the stereotypes have done a lot of harm, causing many people to go unrecognized for so long.

> And does anyone have tips for pursuing a diagnosis?

I just got done reading the book I Think I Might Be Autistic: A Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis and Self-Discovery for Adults, and I think it could be a useful read for you. Some of the details of the middle chapters are US-specific, so their usefulness will depend upon your location, as the diagnosis process differs quite a bit throughout the world. It's also a quick read. (I should have gotten this book a while ago; I had read the author's second book on the subject, Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate, over a year ago and loved it, as well as many articles on her blog Musings of an Aspie, and her first book indeed had the same quality.)

A somewhat longer book which I'd also recommend, with more of a focus on the reflective and emotional side of the diagnostic process, and less on the concrete details, is Very Late Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder): How Seeking a Diagnosis in Adulthood Can Change Your Life.

I'd also recommend considering finding a therapist/counselor who specializes in adult Asperger's/ASD, without necessarily focusing on an official diagnosis, at least in the short term. If you can relate to the experiences shared by adult aspies, and you feel like you are obtaining deeper self-understanding and highly applicable advice from books and online, it only stands to reason that you could find similar help from a counselor who is willing to approach your situation from that angle. I found a great counselor by very cautiously reading through the descriptions on the Psychology Today therapist search page. Might've gotten a little lucky that my first pick was a good pick, but it worked for me. Also, insurance might complicate this; I paid out of pocket, so I was free to go wherever for whatever reason.

So yeah, that's the essence of my advice: Self-directed research through books, blogs, and online communities, a sympathetic counselor regardless of current diagnostic status, and plenty of time and space for introspection. Also, be liberal with the self-love; when a person internalizes the perceived expectations of the society around them and feels like they are always failing to satisfy those expectations, it can be brutally debilitating, and can easily become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Learning how to wisely choose and live by my own expectations was one of the best things I've ever done.

Cynthia Kim: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Might-Autistic-Diagnosis-Self-Discovery/dp/0989597113

I haven't read it but the 'look inside' looks good and I like her blog Musings of an Aspie. She seems like a very sensible and insightful woman.

There are a couple of books on Amazon UK.

I Think I Might Be Autistic: A Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis and Self-Discovery for Adults
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0989597113/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SCPIxb4TH3Y4Y

and
Sensory Issues for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1849056617/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ODPIxbG8DPSRT

Both have kindle versions.

No. The place I went kinda sucked actually. They seemed totally unprepared. The first appointment I showed up and the provider I was supposed to see wasn't even there and they ended up doing my intake with some other provider who happened to be free but didn't know anything about it. They weren't very prepared themselves, so they sure didn't prepare me.

I prepared myself by reading a book that I thought was pretty helpful. The book has a checklist of possible symptoms, and I had gone through and marked which ones I felt like applied to me and put some notes about how. I ended up reading off this list for the provider.

I like Cynthia Kim's blog, Musing of an Aspie. I haven't read her first book - I Think I might be Austistic - but most materials were taken from her blog, I like her casual narrating style. She has a second book out soon so I will be watching out for that.

I don't want to overload you with too many book recommendations, so have you tried any of these four?
I Think I Might Be Autistic - Cynthia Kim
Living Independently on the Autism Spectrum - Lynn Soraya
Sensory Issues for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder - Diarmuid Heffernan
Been There. Done That. Try This!: An Aspie's Guide to Life on Earth - Various