Beth_ Report post Posted January 5, 2011 My doctor said he would refer me to the adult aspergers assesment team (which has a year long waiting list) but a few days ago I got a letter saying I've got an appointment with the Mental Health Team. Would I be right to assume that they need to see me before I'm referred to the AS specialists? I wasn't told this was going to happen so now I'm panicking and am scared they won't refer me. The appointment is on Friday, thankfully the place I have to go is just round the corner so I don't have to go far. I'm freaking out though! I spend all my time with people trying my hardest to pretend that I'm normal, now I've got to try and prove that I'm not so I can get help. I think I'm feeling extra bad because I had a nightmare last night which has left me feeling all anxious. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tally Report post Posted January 5, 2011 Yes, this is quite normal. An assessment for AS costs a lot of money, so it makes sense to rule out mental health problems as the (sole) cause of your difficulties first. The problem is that mental health teams are trained to look for mental health problems and not Asperger's. If you have developed secondary mental health problems (depression and anxiety are common ones) it will help if you can make it clear that certain things cause anxiety because they are difficult, rather than only being difficult simply because of anxiety. It might help if you can make a few notes to take with you, especially anything other people have noticed about you which they find strange. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beth_ Report post Posted January 6, 2011 Thanks I've made a few notes. I'm getting more and more nervous, I don't think I'll be sleeping tonight! The assessment centre is right next door to the vets that I use and every time I go near there I get vivid memories of that awful day that Pixie got hit by a car. I know that however much I worry about these things, they are never as bad as I imagine they will be but even that knowledge doesn't stop me getting in a state worrying about it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beth_ Report post Posted January 7, 2011 I don't think I've ever cried so much infront of people before! The psychiatrist didn't think that I would be helped by a diagnosis. However, it turns out that my doctor referred me to the wrong department so if I still want to go for diagnosis I can just get my GP to refer me to the right place (which is in the same building, just down the corridor ) I couldn't make him understand that I need to know why I am the way I am. I need someone else to recognise my problems and see that I'm not just being uncoperative or awkward on purpose. He said I had a life time of issues that need sorting out and that I desperately need counselling. I can't get it on the NHS though. I'm sure my parents would pay for it but I don't want to ask them. I'm fed up with having to ask for help. I'm feeling pretty hopeless. I don't want to have to go back to the doctors and ask for the referral again, and have to justify what I want, again. The only doctor I've ever liked has just left and I don't know how I'd cope talking to anyone else. All the leaflets about counselling only have phone numbers on, not email address so I don't know how to get in contact with any of them. I can't use the phone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites