Recent (tentative) Diagnosis

[exwitchoz]

After several years being bounced around on various anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and what-have-you and being variously labelled as being Bi-Polar, as having Depression and who knows what else... My shrink has finally decided that I have Asperger's...

From what little I have read on Asperger's it certainly seems to describe me best of all the 'labels' I've been given in the past...

Anyway... they are confident enuff with this new diagnosis to be taking off all medication and concentrate instead on psycho-therapy and 'behavioural retraining' (gotta love the terminology these guys use, huh?)...

Well I'm a little nervous about this as I've been on the anti-depressents for a few years now and whether or not I am physically dependent on them I have come to rely on them to keep my moods 'stable'... so there is a psychological dependence...

So I'd appreciate some prayer about that and also about this 'behavioural retraining'... I'm sure it's not as bad as it sounds but I can't say I'm exactly looking forward to it if you know what I mean...

Thanx in advance...

 

[vespasia]

Tony Attwood is a good place to begin to read.

Ask questions before starting any therapy.
Often what is on offer is not what is needed so be sure the potential benefits of beginning outweigh the potential pitfalls.

 

[uniquetadpole]

I am in therapy now...and this behavioral retraining...think of it more of behavior modification. Helping you to understand the worl and how the world wants us to act...kind of a socialization so to speak.

As for therapy...I would definitely do some research...find one that specializes in aspergers and autism. Because we have a different kind of mind and the average therapy does not work for most aspies. I took me a while to find one...but she is absolutely wonderful...she really understands all aspects of learning that takes place with AS...including sensory issues and how it affects our way of thinking and so call rigid mindset. I have accumulated many webite links on AS and autism ...let me know if you are interested.

Tad

 

[exwitchoz]

As nervous as I am about it all I know in myself that I just don't know how to react to (or in) certain situations and end up looking and/or feeling like an idiot because of it...

I think the behaviourial retraining is sorely needed... already from what I've read (and speaking to those that know me to compare notes about what I've been reading) I've found that for 40 plus years I've had the 'Asperger's gait' and didn't realize I was even doing anything different to others...

Now I KNOW i can do something about it and I've asked a cpl of friends to poke me in the ribs every time they see me schlumping instead of standing tall and straight like I should...

Sounds pretty basic I know but I figure I've got to start somewhere and ... well... that was as good as any I figured... the counselling proper and retraining doesn't start till mid -late january so i've got a little while yet to steel myself for it...

...and again Many many thanx Tad and all...