I am currently seeking an official diagnosis, even after seeing a psychiatrist for approximately 6 hours and a psychologist for the same amount of time – only the psychologist called me ‘atypical’ after asking directly if I was Autistic. They then informed me that they had told my mental health nurse the first day they had seen me that they suspected this. They are not under New Zealand guidelines able to do this unless an “authorised” person – so I have to see a consultant psychiatrist in May. I would not pursue an official diagnosis if I did not need it for research purposes. I agree with the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network – self-diagnosis is valid.
TW/CW: Sexual assault
Evidence
Misc
- I have co-occurring ADHD & OCD [1]
- I have co-occurring Crohn’s Disease[2]
- I have co-occurring Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia [3]
- I was told off for fidgeting constantly (ADHD shared symptom) [4]
- I was sexually abused due to naivety [5]
- I struggled through University and had to drop out frequently for “stress” [6]
- I used to run away as a child [7]
- I would have stress meltdowns after school [8]
- I was bullied at school frequently [9]
- I was disliked by teachers for asking ‘stupid questions’ [10]
- I suffered acute Autistic Burnout at 36 which nearly cost me my life [11]
Tests
- I score 144 on the RAADS-R [12]
- I score like this on the EQSQ test [13]
- I score this on the Autism Spectrum Quotient Test [14]
- I score like this on the Self-Reporting Camouflaging Autistic Traits Test CAT-Q [16]
- I score like this on the Sensory Perception Quotient [17]
I have seven pages of evidence I am going to transcribe here that is not cited… but these are some of the things I believe that are irrefutable proof that I am an Autistic Person. Also the AQ-10 is garbage, as is most of the AQ-50.
