• Home
  • About
  • Posts
    • Autism
    • Synesthesia
    • Unbelievably True Adventures
    • Body Language Expert
  • Press
Talk Nerdy To Me™

Type and hit Enter to search

  • Home
  • About
  • Posts
    • Autism
    • Synesthesia
    • Unbelievably True Adventures
    • Body Language Expert
  • Press
AdventuresBody Language

#WTF: An Adult Autism Test in Los Angeles Costs How Much!?

June 20, 2022 9 Mins Read
277 Views
0 Comments

A week ago, I was formally diagnosed with Autism for the second time in nine months.

See, I had been seeing this Human Lie Detector (who for the first time formally diagnosed me being autistic) but then I found out via my Bull$hit detector of a girlfriend that I couldn’t trust ANYTHING about him.

Not only was he involved in a kidnapping many moons ago, but HE BROUGHT HIS OWN CAMERA CREW TO SAID KIDNAPPING.

eweeee Talk Nerdy To Me™
Kidnapping someone is horrible … but also feeling ENTITLED in said horribleness is … next level not good.

The man was full of shit, and thus (from my perspective) meant that anything he said could NOT be taken seriously in a court of law (despite the exaggerated marketing efforts from a con man).

liedetgector Talk Nerdy To Me™

I had been wanting to document what I have been seeing/ made aware of in terms of now owning the label “Autistic,” but because it came from a phony, I couldn’t take his word or myself seriously if I did.

There were a lot of red flags (more on those later).

notcool1 Talk Nerdy To Me™

Either way, I was frustrated that I felt in these series of completely surreal life experiences one of the only TWO THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE (having synesthesia and being autistic) still had a barrier to entry that I had no idea how to get through.

Who has “medical jurisdiction” in this case I wondered?

Refusing to let anyone or anything take my power (excuse me, superpowers) away, I then pounded the pavement knocking on Autism center doors …

literally1 Talk Nerdy To Me™

… before I had received enough answers that “any psychiatrist” can diagnose.

I didn’t agree with that statement as sure “any” psychiatrist can diagnose it, but there’s still a VERY STRONG RATIO of psychiatrists that don’t believe “women can have autism.” So while they can diagnose it, I have to find one that doesn’t follow this extremely archaic belief system.

needle haystack Talk Nerdy To Me™

The current cost for Autism testing in Los Angeles County is between $5,000 and $10,000 (out of pocket as most insurances do not cover this type of testing).

eweeee Talk Nerdy To Me™

I was pissed.

I was pissed for myself.

I was pissed for other women reading horror story after horror story surrounding diagnosis.

I was pissed for other autistic people in general who KNOW they are autistic and desperately want that validation to explain SO many things that now make SO MUCH SENSE.

Screen Shot 2022 06 20 at 12.53.45 PM Talk Nerdy To Me™
I completely relate to this article featured in Vice.

When you’ve spent your life wondering if you are from another planet, finding “your people” via a diagnosis is EVERYTHING. I already knew I came in peace, I was also just ready to start understanding the pieces of myself.

“Trauma is like Pokemon Go for Autistic people,” my girlfriend Leticia so eloquently said upon our first meeting. Until you realize ‘HEY! I have a weakness in this area,’ you continue to not see it which only perpetuates the trauma/ recovery cycle more.”

bingo 1 Talk Nerdy To Me™

Confused not in myself, but what my next step would be, I reached out to Leticia on FB to ask for help getting diagnosed.

Screen Shot 2022 06 17 at 1.25.39 PM Talk Nerdy To Me™
Screen Shot 2022 06 17 at 1.26.28 PM Talk Nerdy To Me™
$1,200 is a steal compared to the other quotes I got.
Screen Shot 2022 06 20 at 2.18.25 PM Talk Nerdy To Me™
Screen Shot 2022 06 20 at 2.18.56 PM Talk Nerdy To Me™
Screen Shot 2022 06 20 at 2.19.25 PM Talk Nerdy To Me™
Screen Shot 2022 06 20 at 2.19.51 PM Talk Nerdy To Me™
Of course I go into producer mode at the end and go MORE PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR YOUR WORDS!!! 🙂

I let out a big exhale on my kitchen floor after reading what she said.

sense so much Talk Nerdy To Me™

She then sent over this video (which I watched … still on the kitchen floor).

I then joined the Facebook group she recommended (which can be found here) in addition to one for Synesthesia (which can be found here).

Technically speaking my membership is still pending on the Autism group, but the Synesthesia one has been a total game changer. It’s very helpful to read other people’s words about their experiences, as it’s helping me day by day vocalize mine more.

I get asked a lot now about what life is like, and the best way I can articulate it is like describing a color. I’ve just always known it as a “thing,” like the color blue.

It just “is.”

blue myself Talk Nerdy To Me™
blue msyself 3 Talk Nerdy To Me™

I then decided, “hey, being diagnosed with Synesthesia is a BIG deal, and I haven’t checked in with my therapist in a while, so might as well do a quick ‘check in.'”

I didn’t care if she diagnosed me as being Autistic or not.

I know what I know, and hey, self-diagnosis is good enough for me if that’s what is on my life path.

dance119188 Talk Nerdy To Me™

She was surprised logging into zoom at my perky as a peach self.

My last two sessions started off with a heavy sigh and a conversation surrounding the actions of mentally ill narcissists.

Isn’t it great in this scenario, I see shapes around people, yet it’s not considered a mental illness! BRINGING A CAMERA CREW TO A KIDNAPPING IS.

padded room Talk Nerdy To Me™

She asked why I wanted a session and I explained it had been three months, and a 90 day check in felt appropriate after receiving life changing news.

“That’s smart,” she said as I updated her on life.

Half way through the session she asked, “do you still identify as being Autistic?”

slow grin Talk Nerdy To Me™

“Yes,” I said with deep pride adding “and self-diagnosis is a ‘thing’ within the community.”

“Tell me more about it,” she said.

I led with how different my communication style is.

“I conducted exit interviews with my last two boyfriends. (Well, I waited six months into said time apart so I could get an accurate assessment.) I wanted to better myself and learn what I could work on.

They both said (separately) “I never knew what you were thinking and you don’t really communicate.”

I laughed after the first breakup thinking I’m a writer, that’s comical, and then I self reflected and recognized how active my brain is in processing ideas at any given moment. Not like processing the environment (I do that naturally) but taking abstract concepts and questioning if they could be related.

(At the time) I never said what I was thinking because I hadn’t fully thought it through. Imagine dating someone with a stoic face and asking them “what’s wrong” and the answer being ‘I’m thinking about the correlation between the increased rate of parachute pants I’m seeing and trying to understand if there’s a new Aladdin movie about to come out, or if MC Hammer really did decide that you CAN touch this again, and is making a comeback.'”

Note in 2019 there was a new Aladdin movie.

As I grew older I stopped saying what I was actually thinking because people thought it was weird.

“It’s masking,” I explained. “I didn’t know what it was but I do it a lot, it’s why people tire me out so much. Everyone thinks I’m a people person, but I’m not. My most natural state is an observer. I notice everything, and talk to people because there is no filter between thought and mouth – I blurt things out. Social cues never came naturally to me. I just got really good at processing them (I had to if I wanted to date and be social to people who read this blog), but it takes effort.

A lot of effort.

Even just from a sensory perspective, I’ve had seizures that after having an MRI were declared “unremarkable.” I had to have an EKG because I was having fainting spells. The Dr. came back noting I have a heart murmur but it’s almost super human because the hiccup actually allows my heart to work faster and stronger.

Medically speaking, I still to this day have NO IDEA why I faint and why I have had those seizures.

“Both are a tell tale sign of Autism,” she said.

fact19191 Talk Nerdy To Me™

For my own privacy, I can’t say what else was said, but she went from believing the fact that I believed I was Autistic to declaring it herself.

“You’re really good at masking,” she noted.

“Yes, but I don’t want to do that anymore. It got me here, which is great, but I’m even weirder than I let on. I also don’t believe I’m highly functioning, I just believe the qualities I have are rewarded in life.”

“What do you mean, she asked?”

“I’m the definition of a dog to a bone. I’m brutally tenacious, and won’t give up on any goal I am going after. How did I plan the meeting for my friend’s murder? I was in a catatonic state at the time, yet go into this LASER focus knowing I am going to execute.

(Poor choice of words in this moment, but you get the idea.)

“This is going to change your life,” she said before closing out the session.

i know Talk Nerdy To Me™

“So I better get going and live it!!”

dance119188 Talk Nerdy To Me™

A very very huge thanks to Jeff, Lethal Linds, P&J, my family, unnamed therapist, Leticia … just everyone who has helped in the last six months. These diagnoses are COMPLETELY life changing, and I’m so fucking thankful to have the support in going through it.

thankyou Talk Nerdy To Me™

If anyone has questions or wants to learn more about resources available should you think you have Autism too, ALWAYS feel free to reach out to jen at talknerdytome dot com.

Super happy to help!! 🙂

Love you, nerds.

I’m excited for what’s next.

Jen Friel Talk Nerdy To Me

Tags:

Autism test los angelesjen frielnerd talktalk nerdy to me

Share Article

Other Articles

mikel parera v86i3 NaWR0 unsplash scaled Talk Nerdy To Me™
Previous

#TruthBomb: What Do Men Find Most Attractive in a Woman?

Screen Shot 2022 06 28 at 12.11.34 PM Talk Nerdy To Me™
Next

#NerdsUnite: The body language of @Jack & @RickRubin

Next
Screen Shot 2022 06 28 at 12.11.34 PM Talk Nerdy To Me™
June 28, 2022

#NerdsUnite: The body language of @Jack & @RickRubin

Previews
June 17, 2022

#TruthBomb: What Do Men Find Most Attractive in a Woman?

mikel parera v86i3 NaWR0 unsplash scaled Talk Nerdy To Me™

No Comment! Be the first one.

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Hi, I’m Jen Friel

    & I’d like to personally welcome you to my home
    Talk Nerdy To Me.™ 

    Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube

    Featured Posts

    11864805 10100873076569489 7874067153814933141 o Talk Nerdy To Me™

    #TalkNerdyToMe: The full story behind our @BritneySpears moment

    Screen Shot 2022 12 01 at 2.59.49 PM Talk Nerdy To Me™

    #NerdsUnite: The time a square walked into a bar (and not the kind of square you’re thinking)

    JenFriel AgeTwo Talk Nerdy To Me™

    #OpenLetter: Dear Grandma & Grandpa – you guys sucked (and you weren’t even the Hoar in this scenario)

    ScreenShot2022 04 06at4.24.22PM Talk Nerdy To Me™

    #WestTexas: Saying Good Bye to a Great And Saying Hello to @Jack outside of a Teepee

    ScreenShot2022 03 14at4.17.53PM Talk Nerdy To Me™

    #HowTo: Out con a conman (or in this case con-woman)

    Related Posts

    Screen Shot 2022 10 19 at 10.10.25 AM Talk Nerdy To Me™

    #OriginStory: A tale of three acid trips (& one very true story)

    March 4, 2023
    deon black CYUybSQ886c unsplash Talk Nerdy To Me™

    #OriginStory: That time I got stiffed (instead of getting something stiff)

    February 23, 2023
    IMG 9948 scaled Talk Nerdy To Me™

    #NerdsUnite: Moe’s tavern is a real place & I met the real Moe!

    February 15, 2023
    11864805 10100873076569489 7874067153814933141 o Talk Nerdy To Me™

    #TalkNerdyToMe: The full story behind our @BritneySpears moment

    February 8, 2023
    Talk Nerdy To Me™

    Talk Nerdy To Me™ is an intimate and intelligent perspective on the stupid things that happen to us in life & tips on how to be smart in situations most would find foolish.

    Talk Nerdy To Me™

    • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Media
    • FAQ

    Category

    • Autism
    • Synesthesia
    • Unbelievably True Adventures
    • Body Language

    Follow Us

    Facebook Twitter Instagram

    Talk Nerdy To Me™ by: Jen Friel

    • Home
    • About
    • Posts
      • Autism
      • Synesthesia
      • Unbelievably True Adventures
      • Body Language Expert
    • Press