Anyone with Autism? I am trying to get a diagnosis; if your GP refused to even contemplate you having Autism, and just told you that you have acute anxiety and should move on....would you accept this or go private for a diagnosis? Thanks for answers, can anyone tell me how many sessions it might take to diagnose Asperger's with a private psychiatrist?

From what you're saying, it doesn't sound like autism or Asperger's to me. I don't really know why you're wanting this specific diagnosis. When, most people with (any kind of) problems go to doctors with their symptoms, the doctor figures out what they should/shouldn't be diagnosed with.

Anyway, if you really Asperger, you would have many of the following symptoms: - Problems with the non-verbal communication, gestures, tone of voice, posture, facial expressions - Stuttering and hesitating / difficulty with small talk - Logical and objective view on all that difficult to see how things come across (from elsewhere s) of view - Intensive (or compulsion) interest / fascination with a narrow / specific subject - Knowledge / interest in a particular subject area without regard for its proper context - Away / deep / up-in-the-clouds thinking - Delayed communication (ie, took longer to talk / make / etc) - Hypersensitivity (ie can not tolerate noise or bright light) - Ritual routines / compulsive traits / can not know with what is expected to finish - Odd behavior / habits / thinking / - Excessive daydreaming / in their own world.

There are probably some other symptoms I missed, but anxiety / depression is often a result of having social difficulties. People with such symptoms fail to fit in - they often experience bullying and rejection and therefore can go through anger, depression, bitterness, social anxiety, and the like.

Bottom line is, with the symptoms you have: social anxiety / depression, you are far better off to address these issues as they are. Being diagnosed with something like autism has much bigger (major) disadvantages.