new and mindblown

[yorkshireT]

hi everyone!

 

i'm going to try not to ramble too much in this introduction, but no promises, k? but i'd like to start by thanking the people who have made this forum, and contributed to it, as reading about others' experiences is soooooo helpful. THANKS! it's a really precious thing, this is.

 

i've only recently started looking into AS, and it has blown my mind. it just seems to explain, piece together, the lasy 28 years for me (i am 28). it's been quite an emotional time, but i'm looking at it as something very positive, as i feel i have already become less inclined to beat myself up about things (e.g. if i stress out at stuff that others can't understand why i'm stressing about; saying things that seem to annoy or hurt others - when that really is not the intention! i.e. 'big mouth strikes again' syndrome; 'burning out' and not wanting to spend time even with those i love, because i just don't have the energy to interact; and i could go on and on and on, but like i said, i want to try keep this shortish and sweetish!)

 

.. but now, for the hard part - getting a diagnosis! :/ i went to my gp a week ago, asking for a referral to someone who could assess me for AS. he seemed to listen well, and was really nice about it all, then gave me a number for the primary care mental health service and told me it was self-referral, and to ring them. so i did. with a 3 week wait for an appointment that i thought would be the assessment. but looking on their website, their service seems to be to help people deal with anxiety, stress and depression, offering cbt, etc. i don't want cbt!! i want a diagnosis, so that i can better undertsand myself, really get to the core, not just cover it up by learning even more 'correct behaviour'. and so others can better understand me too. i'm already an outsider, even in my friend groups, it would be a relief to be able to tell them why (sometiems i worry they might think i don't care, on those many days i just don't want to 'hang out'... which is pretty much never - i'm up for doing stuff with friends, but 'hanging out?'... anyway, i digress, again!)

 

does anyone know if this is the normal route to a diagnosis? i just worry i'm waiting these 3 weeks for nothing and will have to start over again. how have other adults come about getting assessed? any advice would be so much appreciated,

 

thanks!

t

[MBF]

Hi Yorkshire T, I'm at the GP tomorrow with my hubby to seek diagnosis and it is my knowledge that you need to see a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist and you get this referral though your GP. If you go to your GP and ask for a referral to either of these he has to refer you ( good old labour government). Anyway check out this website as this may help.

 

http://www.autism.org.uk/About-autism/All-about-diagnosis/Diagnosis-the-process-for-adults.aspx

 

However, depending on which area in York's you live in, you may get to see either of these professionals through the mental health team, they may have a specialist worker for adults with AS however, a diagnosis will only come from the Clinical Psychologist or Psychiatrist. (be aware that this could be a lack of knowledge on your GP's part regarding AS though and that's why he's referred you to the mental health service).

 

It sounds though that as you are suffering from anxieties that may benefit from the treatment offered through the services of the Community mental health team.

 

Good luck I hope it all goes well for you. Please keep us informed.

 

Regards,

 

M x

[yorkshireT]

thanks mbf!

 

that website helped me to get my 'case' together for the dr, and i'm pretty sure i asked about a clinical pyschologist or a psychiatrist, to which he suggested i get in touch with the mental health service. perhaps it was through a lack of knowledge/understanding, and maybe he felt they'd be better to refer me to a psych. i hope so. i guess i just felt a bit fobbed off. and you're right, anxiety has been a part of my life for definitely over a decade - i don't let it take over though - a good dose of meditation and qigong tend to keep it in check. but a little more understanding of where it is coming from will hopefully keep it more in check, the times i'm in my head and not my belly

 

good luck with your/your hubbie's appointment tomoro. i hope it goes well for you too - i'd like to hear how it does go.

 

thanks a lot

t

[Karen A]

hi everyone!

 

i'm going to try not to ramble too much in this introduction, but no promises, k? but i'd like to start by thanking the people who have made this forum, and contributed to it, as reading about others' experiences is soooooo helpful. THANKS! it's a really precious thing, this is.

 

i've only recently started looking into AS, and it has blown my mind. it just seems to explain, piece together, the lasy 28 years for me (i am 28). it's been quite an emotional time, but i'm looking at it as something very positive, as i feel i have already become less inclined to beat myself up about things (e.g. if i stress out at stuff that others can't understand why i'm stressing about; saying things that seem to annoy or hurt others - when that really is not the intention! i.e. 'big mouth strikes again' syndrome; 'burning out' and not wanting to spend time even with those i love, because i just don't have the energy to interact; and i could go on and on and on, but like i said, i want to try keep this shortish and sweetish!)

 

.. but now, for the hard part - getting a diagnosis! :/ i went to my gp a week ago, asking for a referral to someone who could assess me for AS. he seemed to listen well, and was really nice about it all, then gave me a number for the primary care mental health service and told me it was self-referral, and to ring them. so i did. with a 3 week wait for an appointment that i thought would be the assessment. but looking on their website, their service seems to be to help people deal with anxiety, stress and depression, offering cbt, etc. i don't want cbt!! i want a diagnosis, so that i can better undertsand myself, really get to the core, not just cover it up by learning even more 'correct behaviour'. and so others can better understand me too. i'm already an outsider, even in my friend groups, it would be a relief to be able to tell them why (sometiems i worry they might think i don't care, on those many days i just don't want to 'hang out'... which is pretty much never - i'm up for doing stuff with friends, but 'hanging out?'... anyway, i digress, again!)

 

does anyone know if this is the normal route to a diagnosis? i just worry i'm waiting these 3 weeks for nothing and will have to start over again. how have other adults come about getting assessed? any advice would be so much appreciated,

 

thanks!

t

 

Hi.

It can be extremely difficult to obtain a referal to a professional who is able to diagnose AS if you are an adult.In my area until recently there was no such professional and I live in Inner London.

 

AS is a learning disability rather than a mental health condition.Although community mental health teams may provide support for mental health problems which may be the result of AS or more likely the result of living in an environment where there is little understanding of AS they do not offer diagnosis of AS or support for people with AS who are well but looking for support in understanding AS or associated difficulties.Many profesionals within mental health have very little understanding of AS.Some professionals have been known to label people with AS with mental health problems where the difficulties they experience are known to come within the diagnostic criteria.

 

If you are seaking diagnosis I would suggest you talk to your GP and ask for a referal to the professional with responsibilty for AS diagnosis in your PCT.This may not be a psychiatrist.

NAS also provide more detailed information on their web site.

 

Karen.

Edited November 3, 2010 by Karen A

[yorkshireT]

many thanks karen!

 

you show a lot of understanding there. that is pretty much exactly what i want the pro's to realise. that the anxiety/depression is likely a result of having had to try and shape my life (myself!!) around a society that doesn't understand, and doesn't accept such differences. at least, that is what i am thinking about it. it just makes it all make sense. but yes, i will try to talk to the mental health team about this, as i think they can rfer me too. but if that doesn't work, i'll go right back to the gp, with the info you (and anyone else) on here gave me, in the hope of helping them understand a bit better. i'm not very good at getting my point across verbally, and find myself stumbling over words and just not getting them out they way i planned beforehand. especially when a pro has a different idea in their head. many thanks for the advice! just so i know - what does pct stand for? thanks tx

[yorkshireT]

just so i know - what does pct stand for? thanks tx

 

ah... primary care trust. got ya cheers