Could use a little peer support

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I know I come across like a regular know-it-all, but I'm going to the docs tomorrow, with my GF to hold my hand, to talk about a diagnosis, and frankly I'm really not looking forward to it.

Me and our national health service have never been on great terms, due to the issues caused by the issues, if you know what I mean.

I meant to put some stuff together to help my "case" but haven't. All the arguments, rebuttals and statements I've been practising/mulling over just feel trite and defensive/dramatic.

Feel like I'm hanging on by my fingernails, could really use a pat on the shoulder and a "you'll be fine" right now. Times like this, the 6 year old inside is kind of running things, and he could really use a little comfort.


torque(d)

*pats in the shoulder*
Everything will be fine.

Now that I'm done following your instructions literally, I do believe things will probably be fine. Assuming he's a good doctor, he will see the signs on you; you don't really need to rehearse them or something because they are already there. If you've reached that point where you've practiced your arguments and there is nothing more you can think of, then it's a good time to relax and let go of it; what will come, will come, and you'll have to meet it when it does (congrats and virtual cake to the one who gets that quote btw ).

I'm doing the exact same thing Friday of next week, and going with my wife who is going to sit with me and hold me hand (I hope).
I'm 41!

I wrote out a bit of a history and sent it off a few weeks ago - I thought it would just be a couple of pages, but I think it ended up being about 10 pages long and went from my first memory (before I was even 1 yr old) to the present day; just outlining incidents, experiences, and an examples I could think of where I was different, had difficulty or displayed any kind of developmental delay.
It was hard work, and had I not written and rewritten autobiographical stories to process my feelings numerous times over the years I would not have been able to do it.

Even if you think what you've written isn't what you'd prefer, it's better than nothing, and you can always provide more later.

I won't sugar coat it and say you'll be fine, in fact when you attend you'll probably feel physically ill, and be tempted to bail out, but I'm sure you'll feel a lot better after the appointment, and that it won't be nearly as bad in retrospect as you anticipate now.

Thanks, guys. I needed that.

I'm 41 myself! And have decided that the "aim" is simply in the first instance to extract an admission that proper diagnosis would be beneficial and to find out what they plan to do about it. There's no funding for adults here, and the mental health services in my town are sh*t, to boot.

I suspect I'll likely spend more time arguing the Autism act than symptoms, but you're right, I just need to get in there and get on.

It's an evening appointment so my GF doesn't have to miss work. Going to try & keep myself busy today, I think.

Did it myself a couple of years ago, has been mostly positive for me since.

Thing is to just be honest. They will spot the physical manifestations (should be glaringly obvious as you'll probably be nervous judging from your post) and if you calmly explain your life to date they should be able to get a clear picture.

Good luck!

At least put a list of bullet points together to make sure you get the important points.

Personally I tend to go off on tangents and soon the time has just disappeared.

Good luck.

Got lucky, got a good, genned up GP (group practice).

She straight up professed lack of expertise / autism experience, checked a big book and the internet, asked intelligent questions, of both me and the GF, and is "happy to refer me to a clinical psychologist".

Mind you, anyone here would have spotted me at 50 yards as an autie, I was that stressed, got out to the car and cried for 10 mins in relief.

Now I hurry up and wait, around 2 months-ish for the referral to come through. After 3 decades of thinking I was mental, I'm in a bit of a weird place right now.

THANK YOU for the support and comments guys, I appreciate it, more than you can know. I really do.