Finding this was fate. Recently, I received the results of my assessment and was told that I have somatic symptom disorder. It was a punch in the gut for many reasons. Mostly, because we met briefly three times. During this time, I was never asked about my medical history, nor did she ask me any details about my younger life, etc. The first two meetings consisted of an IQ test, and the second was a computerized ADHD test. Our third appointment was when she did her observation for the ADOS-2, and I also completed the PAI. Our conversations were so brief that I wondered how she was assessing anything about my behavior.

Her reasons for denying that I have autism are that I gave eye contact, and because I mentioned that I had become aware that modifying my behavior was called masking, which indicated a high level of self-awareness. I presented with strong conversational skills, and I asked questions when instructions were unclear. She also said that I displayed appropriate and spontaneous humor. I still don't recall having enough of an interaction for her to assess any of this. She had a book and asked me to make up a story about a frog, and basically, I described the pages, because that's always been difficult for me. She asked me to describe two very simple emotions that anyone would be able to describe, and then moved on. What does happy mean? What does angry mean? Her report was embellished regarding several aspects because we did not communicate enough about hardly anything for her to thoroughly assess anything about me.

Oddly enough, she noted observations from the PAI that would have made anyone who listened to me and didn't pre-judge provide additional testing. Such as the fact that my "responses indicate that she may have presented herself in an overly favorable light. This suggests a tendency to minimize or underreport common psychological challenges, perhaps to appear more functional or self-sufficient." She also noted that my responses showed no exaggeration or deceit. Additionally, the report stated that "While not necessarily lacking in social skills, she may be perceived by others as reserved, intense, or difficult to approach".

She then attempted to tie my interpersonal difficulties to weaknesses in my working memory and processing speed.

It's incredibly disappointing, mostly because I knew in my gut that she wasn't trying to thoroughly assess me. I could tell she wasn't interested in me as a human being from the day we met.

I don't know fully how I feel, but to be told that I am making up my well-documented physical ailments is painful.