The Revamped TSR Asperger's Society!

Are you planning on going into a career where you would be forced to declare it? For most jobs i think the way it works is you don't have to declare it but if in the future if a condition you previously knew about effects your ability to do said job an employer can consider this gross misconduct, You would also have protection under the DDA if you chose to declare it when applying.

I don't want it slapped on my record when i'm applying for a job.

Well, I'm not too sure, I'm not even too sure on my career path, I might become a geneticist, but I also fancy becoming a football coach(if I decide to get the badges). So i'm not really sure whether I need to declare it.
Plus, I don't want my mum to know I might have a condition, I don't know how she'll react, I think she's a bit skeptical about these conditions.

Don't think your condition would stop you in either of those fields, the only ones that are really affected are very specialized roles that put you under severe emotional strain (although i would argue being on the autism scale could improve your ability to function in highly stressful situations in some cases but thats another debate for another time)

If you are diagnosed you don't have to tell your mum, your GP/medical center is legally unable to do so without your consent. Generally its up to you if you want to be diagnosed for peace of mind or if you feel like you could use some help. Are you currently doing A levels or GCSEs and planning on going to uni? If so its not worth missing out on a diagnosis if you feel you need some confirmation/help since you won't be looking at a full time job for a fairly long while and like i said you don't have to declare it if you don't want but thats pretty far in the future.

There are only a very few circumstances under which you'd have to disclose (for example, applying to be in the military, I believe) and it isn't an issue, or even something people tell employers about, for the VAST majority of people. They're not going to tell your employer against your will. The NHS isn't organised enough for that

And sometimes I said things and they gave me the WTF face.

Last year, I was out with a friend and we were planning on meeting up with a friend of ours who is Autistic. He came into the pub, walked up to us and started rambling on, like he does. He then walked off and the person I was with, was like er, ok then. A few times, he's said stuff and my response is WTF.

Jam - there is no law saying that you must tell your employer. However, you can't moan if you don't tell them and you expect reasonable adustments.

On the subject of getting diagnosed, I am slightly confused. I received my letter yesterday. (which was vague) The letter says that I'm going to be assessed by a psychiatrist? Why? When it's not a mental issue. And do I have to bring someone?

I'm on the train back to Brizzle from a party with uni friends. It's weird. At school I didn't think of myself as particularly socially awkward (though I probably was) just too geeky and candid for the popular kids to like. And then in my first year of uni... Well I cringe when I look back. And then I got to know my choir friends who are similarly geeky and I felt at home. Anyway this party was with these friends (who I've only seen sporadically since we graduated in 2008, but who I'd call my best friends from uni. And it was awkward. And sometimes I said things and they gave me the WTF face. And I just felt... I dunno I hate realising that people I thought I was 'normal' around were just good at coping with me, and now they're not around me any more they're not and I'm no better

on a depressing side note just googled "does asperger's need to be diagnosed by a psychiatrist in the uk" (no information sorry) and after typing "does asperger's" the first auto search provided by Google was "does asperger's exist" 4th down was really exist....i hate the world.

Why? When it's not a mental issue.

I don't see what's bad about that. There's no reason non-aspies should necessarily know whether asperger's is real or a sucky excuse. At least they're using their brains and going and finding out!

Last year, I was out with a friend and we were planning on meeting up with a friend of ours who is Autistic. He came into the pub, walked up to us and started rambling on, like he does. He then walked off and the person I was with, was like er, ok then. A few times, he's said stuff and my response is WTF.

On the subject of getting diagnosed, I am slightly confused. I received my letter yesterday. (which was vague) The letter says that I'm going to be assessed by a psychiatrist? Why? When it's not a mental issue. And do I have to bring someone?

Ummm what? What did you think it was an issue with if not your brain? Why do you think we refer to non aspies as neurotypical? Because people on the autism spectrum are neurologically different.

I was always under the impression that psychiatrist was more for depression and related issues...

Sometimes I wish I could turn my mind off. Just for a short time. My thoughts are truly fascinating and they race at 300mph, but thinking deeply and trying to work out everything can be very draining. Yet when I 'relax', I get either bored or overly analytical and panic myself. It would be nice to have some peace from it sometimes.

Psychiatrists deal with just about anything brain-related (except the physical aspects like scans and so on). I think you're thinking of counsellors?

Have you heard of alcohol?

Sometimes I wish I could turn my mind off. Just for a short time. My thoughts are truly fascinating and they race at 300mph, but thinking deeply and trying to work out everything can be very draining. Yet when I 'relax', I get either bored or overly analytical and panic myself. It would be nice to have some peace from it sometimes.

Haha It doesn't work for me, for some reason I don't get 'drunk' unless I drink enough to supply a small army. I get a buzz for 5 minutes and then that's it.