Posted by caroline on December 22, 2001, at 12:02:12
In reply to Re: Psychotherapy and CBT » caroline, posted by Dinah on December 22, 2001, at 9:10:31
Hi,
According to DSM IV, I guess there are certain criteria you have to meet to get a diagnosis - if you do a search for aspergers on the net there is a page listing DSM's criteria; I have a print-out of it somewhere, but I'm darned if I can lay my hands on the wretched thing this evening, sorry.
In my opinion, however, from research I have done, and I do work as a psychologist, I don't think it's fair to rule people out if they don't fit DSM, particularly if they are adults, as most of us learn ways of coping. I know many adults who have been told they don't have AS based on DSM criteria. Most of these adults have been made suicidally depressed by their inability to fit in, in the world. I haven't met many adults who fit all of the criteria by the time they get to 25, but if they'd been asked back when they were ten they probably would have.
Have a look on the net for the criteria and go through them, thinking about how you'd have answered ten years ago, even twenty, see how you get on.
I have to say, for what it's worth, finding out I had AS with associated OCD has made my life about a billion times better. I've not suffered depression since I learned more about the disability, and through CBT, psychotherapy and the right combo of drugs (for which I have to thank soley the contributers to this site), I've beaten the insomnia and the OCD. These last 2 years have been the best of my life.
Wishing you all the best, and season's greetings!
Caroline
poster:caroline
thread:87154
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011222/msgs/87680.html