I paid out of pocket for a Shrink who works with the UCSF Autism Clinic who was recommended to me by an employee of the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute. I did not want any dx I might to be in anyone's computer network and possibly fuck with my employment prospects. She declared me definitely on the spectrum, but too high functioning to be Asperger's.
Cassanova, I find that absolutely intriguing as I have never, not even once, heard of anyone with a diagnosis like that, but I guess I've also never looked. Would you care to share your major struggles or what particularly made you 'too high functioning' to be declared Aspergers? Is your sociability learned? (Via things like studying body language, reading texts on expressions, rapport, etc.)
I completely understand the not wanting to be in anyone's network for employment prospects. Did you have a profession in mind, or is it just the over-arcing stigma that comes with certain diagnoses that has left you (justly) paranoid? However, I have learned two things 1. Certain diagnoses can make you more apt to attain certain jobs I am interested in... Profiling and such. And 2. That I can walk in and walk out eventually with whatever diagnosis I please anymore, because I know generally more of what they (the psych*s) are looking for than they do in most cases. Have you ever attempted this?