The Mental Health Thread - (Help Contacts in First Post).

[mushy]

I've just got a referral from a GP for an evaluation to see if I've got Aspergers, rather than just wondering if I do. Be interesting to find out, though I'm not sure exactly what I'd do with the information, if confirmed.

It must be bothering you if you went to your GP, getting confirmation one way or another is maybe all you need.
good luck.

[Tenbury]

I've just got a referral from a GP for an evaluation to see if I've got Aspergers, rather than just wondering if I do. Be interesting to find out, though I'm not sure exactly what I'd do with the information, if confirmed.

Dan.
This was suggested to me, after years of being a confirmed whack job.
I've been in various hospitals with bipolar and and done all the meds etc since my early 20s. Then 4 or 5 years ago the shrink I'd been seeing for a couple of years (and still do) told me that many people who have bipolar and borderline personality disorder (and plenty that have neither) have in recent years been diagnosed with high functioning asbergers. What followed was an hour long (could have been longer) series of questions, a sort of box ticking, multiple choice thing. He already knew what they answer was.Classic high functioning Asbergers.
For me, and I think for most others diagnosed in later life, it's not a question of treatment, most will lead successful lives, but it has helped me understand a lot of stuff that goes on around me, and explain a lot of the past.[ Most bipolars respond very differently when they are balanced than I do, and, by and large, I never feel I've anything in common with them,or anyone else really].
There are other traits (that partners,kids,etc seem to find infuriating) I like to plan what I do fairly meticulously, I like punctuality and familiarity and when circumstances change suddenly, things can be awkward. Basically, I'm an arseh*le to live with.
I would have sent this as a pm, but it's a bit trite and self indulgent, what I'm trying to say is, I'm ,on balance, better for the diagnosis,whoever you are, however old, however ill,or whatever,any increase in your own self knowledge and understanding can't be a bad thing surely?
Good Luck.

[WHU Independent]

My best mate died at 3:30 Am this morning.

I've had to run the gauntlet of doing the phone calls, texts, messenger etc etc. It's draining but the repetitiveness of saying the same thing over and over again had numbed the pain a lot.

I'm coping well I think, don't want to drink, going to train in a while to get rid of some of the emotional energy I have about me.

Not cried yet but I know when I go to ring him, and he's not there, it will hit me like a brick.

[mushy]

f*** me Indy, that's really tough mate.
Are you ok?
We could pop out for a beer if you wanted.
Edit, just reread your post, make that a coffee.

[DasNutNock]

Thinking of you, Indy - and indeed, all of you on this remarkable thread.

As for the Asperger's bit, I just hope it helps me understand my place in the world a little better, because I've never had a f*cking clue, to be honest.

Tenbury - I don't think I have bipolar characteristics, to be honest. If anything, I mostly feel pretty even - not really experiencing much in the way of highs or lows. I wonder how much of that is me conditioning myself to try to avoid the disappointment I associate with feeling happy (like something's always round the corner to take it away) or the crippling feeling I associate with being down.

I do wonder, sometimes, if much of my lack of emotion is related to Asperger's or something along those lines. I often feel like I respond the way I do to emotional situations and the way I interact with people because I've conditioned myself to respond that way - like I've observed that behavior in other people, decided it is "normal", and taught myself to follow that response.

This might end up going nowhere, but the thing that's concerning me a bit now is that I see a lot of my own behaviour in my eldest daughter. The debilitating confusion experienced when dealing with people who are irrational or aggressive, the inability to perceive much in the way of subtext when interacting, that kind of thing. If it turns out I have some sort of condition, I'm hoping it'll help me communicate and help her, because it's definitely looking like whatever it is that I have, she has it, too.

[DasNutNock]

Basically, the GP thought these things were worthy of further study:

- My adherence to routine to achieve anything, and my discomfort when that routine is broken.

- Excessive planning.

- Slightly obsessive and prone to addiction.

- Serious discomfort over confrontation.

- Inability to cope with irrational people.

- Dependency on logic.

[WHU Independent]

Thanks Dan and Mushy - that means a lot.

Mushy - once I'm sorted I'll take you up on that offer of a beer. I'll need one by then

[S-H]

Basically, the GP thought these things were worthy of further study:

- My adherence to routine to achieve anything, and my discomfort when that routine is broken.

- Excessive planning.

- Slightly obsessive and prone to addiction.

- Serious discomfort over confrontation.

- Inability to cope with irrational people.

- Dependency on logic.

I think you've just described me there, mate. Seriously.

Good luck getting to the bottom of it all.

[RichieRiv]

As for the Asperger's bit, I just hope it helps me understand my place in the world a little better, because I've never had a f*cking clue, to be honest.

You're born, you grow up, do some stuff, find a partner, maybe have some kids, do some more stuff, watch your kids grow up, maybe enjoy life doing stuff, then you die.

No point over-analysing life, there's no point. You're not going to be a nobel prize winner, you're not going to cure cancer. You will have very little impact on the world other than those that are around you. And do you know what, there is absolutely no problem with that. That's what 99.99999999999999999% are doing.

Tenbury - I don't think I have bipolar characteristics, to be honest. If anything, I mostly feel pretty even - not really experiencing much in the way of highs or lows. I wonder how much of that is me conditioning myself to try to avoid the disappointment I associate with feeling happy (like something's always round the corner to take it away) or the crippling feeling I associate with being down.

I do wonder, sometimes, if much of my lack of emotion is related to Asperger's or something along those lines. I often feel like I respond the way I do to emotional situations and the way I interact with people because I've conditioned myself to respond that way - like I've observed that behavior in other people, decided it is "normal", and taught myself to follow that response.

This might end up going nowhere, but the thing that's concerning me a bit now is that I see a lot of my own behaviour in my eldest daughter. The debilitating confusion experienced when dealing with people who are irrational or aggressive, the inability to perceive much in the way of subtext when interacting, that kind of thing. If it turns out I have some sort of condition, I'm hoping it'll help me communicate and help her, because it's definitely looking like whatever it is that I have, she has it, too.

I think you are the most prolific poster on the irritation thread. That may make to intolerant but Aspergers?

Do you have many mates? Proper mates, not ones in the internet?

[DasNutNock]

Do you have many mates? Proper mates, not ones in the internet?

My wife's my best mate, otherwise I have maybe 4 or 5 that I see regularly. There's plenty of people I'd like to see more than I do, but my priorities changed a lot after our first was born. Parenthood absolutely changed my social life, though I wouldn't describe it as negatively. I love being a dad, I just want to do what I can to help my kids make more sense of the world than I've ever managed to.

I'm not concerned that I might not change the world in a significant way. I'd just like to try to understand why so much of every day life confuses me.

[Tenbury]

Indy.
You've been expecting it , and I honestly think that must make it worse.The sadness began sometime ago, but will go on just the same. I'm sure he knew you were a real mate..... and they're pretty thin on the ground. In time you'll remember him with a big smile, right now things just be really raw.Best wishes.





Dan.
People that live their lives without reflection, well maybe they ARE far happier, [though Plato (after Socrates) wouldn't agree, though there again he wasn't a skint West Ham fan with teenage kids.]
Everybody gets by in their own way, even if I thought I had the secret to contentment ,I'm not sure it would work for anyone else.I do know,though, that at the worst of times the simple fact that some people are prepared to spend a bit of their time to listen, without judging, is pretty good.

[WHU Independent]

Thanks Tenners. I appreciate that mate.

I think that I find the situation more bearable because I know he isn't suffering any more.

I, and all his family to a person, are all relieved that it is now over - if relieved is the right word. He was suffering terribly before the end of life medication was given. Seeing him go from a 6 ft 2 14 stone big lump of a healthy man, to a skinny, nappy wearing 5 stones skeleton in a coma was a hard watch. You never like to see anyone in pain and knowing he is not suffering any more is a blessing.

I think the problems will be in the future, when I go to ring him for a drink and realise he's not there any more.

But I will have to cross that bridge when I come to it.

Dan - I hope your diagnosis goes well and wish you the best of luck.

To all you others out there - thanks for your support and I wish you and yours all the best.

[RichieRiv]

My wife's my best mate, otherwise I have maybe 4 or 5 that I see regularly. There's plenty of people I'd like to see more than I do, but my priorities changed a lot after our first was born. Parenthood absolutely changed my social life, though I wouldn't describe it as negatively. I love being a dad, I just want to do what I can to help my kids make more sense of the world than I've ever managed to.

I'm not concerned that I might not change the world in a significant way. I'd just like to try to understand why so much of every day life confuses me.

Well a key symptom of aspergers is an inability to form relationships and friendships, so that doesnt appear to be the case.

Why does everyday life confuse you?

[S-H]

Dan, try this https://psychcentral.com/quizzes/autism-test/

[wolf359]

Dan, try this https://psychcentral.com/quizzes/autism-test/

Scored 43 - never been tested but I'm pretty sure I'm somewhere on the spectrum.

[S-H]

After reading Dan's post last night, and seeing a lot of similarities in myself, I was surprised to score 26,

34 & up Autism likely
30 - 33 Possible autism
0 - 29 No autism

Who knows how accurate it is though.

[DasNutNock]

I've done a few of these and usually score quite high. 45 in this case, though as you say, their accuracy is open to debate. I'm as interested in the process used by specialists to collect and analyse the data as the results themselves.

[Patito]

After reading Dan's post last night, and seeing a lot of similarities in myself, I was surprised to score 26,

34 & up Autism likely
30 - 33 Possible autism
0 - 29 No autism

Who knows how accurate it is though.

33 for me. Scary how accurate some of the sentences described me.



Indy - Sorry to hear of your loss, if it is the same chap you have mentioned on here before, well you really seemed like a proper friend to him from what you posted

[Mega Ron]

9.

I wanted to be a bit more special than that.

I guess I'll have to go non-binary or something instead.

[S-H]

9.

I wanted to be a bit more special than that.

I guess I'll have to go non-binary or something instead.

34 & up Autism likely
30 - 33 Possible autism
9 - 29 No autism
0 - 9 Free lollypop