Patronized by mental health care "professionals"

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I'm really struggling with anger today.

I'm a 41 year old undiagnosed AS male, who is in contact with a mental health charity to try and get a diagnosis, simply for my own benefit and curiosity. I don't need government funds, I'm not depressed or anything - I overcame my depression myself through grief therapy. The 3 or 4 "professionals" I have been in contact with treat me like I'm a mental ret*d and seem to have absolutely no respect for me. They really talk down to me. I can understand that they meet a lot of autistic people with lots of problems, but they are incapable of understanding, not everyone is the same.

Their groups consist of us "coloring in" circles, smelling aromatic oils, learning to breathe while we walk. They bring in pictures of starving children in Africa to supposedly help us with our empathy. They hypnotize the group and tell them that the Rainbow people are coming to take their problems away. It's like being back at Infant School.

I'm convinced that the "lead" therapist is actually in a religious cult. She was passing round pictures the other day with tags on from a Indian religious group famous for sexually abusing children and regularly tries to direct us towards books and websites linked to her cult.

I've got 2 degrees and an MSc. I paid my house mortgage off by 36. I've been married for 6 years. I taught myself grief therapy and recovered from depression, childhood trauma and abuse on my own. I feel pretty good. I've worked as a professional consultant for 15 years working on accounts running into the £100millions. I have fairly intellectual pursuits, leave the house most days to pursue hobbies and have a tight knit close friends group I see regularly. I've looked after myself without any problems for 25 years. I'm great with finances and practical living.

I just cannot believe I have to go through this.

I've tried to talk to them, but they look through me and ignore the fact that I have spoken and just carry on with their agenda. It doesn't matter what I think, I'm just seen as an idiot. They even refer to AS people who don't agree with them as "stubborn aspies". It's infuriating. I'm absolutely disgusted.

Yesterday, I was interviewed by a very young assistant psychiatrist who was amazed to hear that I left the house and didn't get social anxiety visiting the post office. She wanted to check on my personal hygiene and whether or not I was going to harm myself.

I understand that there are many autistic people who do struggle in the world, but I have also met a great many that don't.

Why can't these people use their brains and treat everyone as an individual.

I feel so violated. I'm seriously considering giving up on trying to get a diagnosis. it's not worth it.

To add insult to injury they are on huge salaries (we saw their job advert on the internet). They are really highly thought of in the local community and get lots of grants for the AS people they are "helping".

I can't contain my anger, but then I am a stupid ret*d, lol.

Just wondered what other people's thoughts were.

Sounds like you've got some dodgy "professionals" there. Can't you try to see someone else?

I've only had one dealing with a mental health care professional (in the UK) and that was a number of years ago after I'd been referred to see a psychiatrist by my doctor due to depression. The psychiatrist recommended that I had a number of further appointments with him, however I found his general attitude and jargon-riddled comments so off-putting and his callous behaviour so disturbing that one appointment was more than enough. I left his office and actually cried in despair. He left me feeling like a worthless piece of dog s**t. Never again. If that was a so called mental health professional I want nothing to do with them.

You have experienced therapeutic abuse. I've encountered a certain few neuro/psych (un)professionals who nearly ended my life. I'll not divulge specifics here, but suffice that they can be heinous.

Firstly, stop seeing them at once. You owe them nothing further and trying to explain or justify yourself to them is beyond futile. (The exercises they have engaged you are downright silly, to the point of becoming dehumanising). Next, if you so choose, you may report their behaviour to the medical board. You might consider contacting an attorney to begin legal proceedings, but most likely this will only further you cost you time and money. They are not worth your time. You have every right to be thoroughly disgusted and outraged - you've been abused. Give your 'therapist' an imaginary kick in the arse and move forward.

Next, take care of yourself.....so sorry you've had to endure this humiliating experience. I had felt duped by them and now I must realise their actions are out of my control. Aspies are strong and the only need you may have is to empower yourself. Keep calm and carry on.

BTW: There's an applicable book you might like, If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him! By Dr. Sheldon B. Kopp, the pilgrimage of psychotherapy patients. Thoughtfully well-written and intelligent (entirely unlike what you've just endured).

The Lab Pet's alter ego is the Therapist Slayer. Like Buffy the Vampire Slayer but scary

My experiences with mental health "professionals" have been similarly bad. In the late eighties and early nineties, I spent much time and money trying to find out why I was so different. I ended those experiences with an exasperated psychiatrist telling me that she couldn't help me if I didn't open up to her. Since I didn't have the first clue as to what she meant, I felt I was beyond hope, and quit bothering to see her, since she only wanted to throw pills at me that did nothing good.

My "diagnosis" was when I saw the only psychiatrist in the town I'm in now. During one of our "consultations", I asked her how she would diagnose me. She became as irritated as if I asked her when the last time she bathed was, mumbled out something I didn't quite understand, and then went right back talking about meaningless inanities. It wasn't until several months later when I was reading an article, and saw "Asperger Syndrome" that I realized that was what she said. To her, it wasn't even worth mentioning that I had this condition.

The last--and I do mean last--mental health professional I saw was a psychologist. When I mentioned AS, she told me I didn't have it if I didn't want to. When I asked for clarification, she told me that if I could dream something, it would come true. I told her my dream was to float out of her second-floor office window, across the street to my truck, and without paying her bill.

It's a shame most mental health "professionals" aren't aware of the Hippocratic principle of doing no harm.

Thanks for the encouragement guys. It truly means a lot. It's hard because when you are the only one who has seen something, it's easy to doubt yourself. Your validation has been priceless and it's cheered me up no end

I'd often thought about reading the book "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him". I agree that self empowerment is the key to happiness.

One final point, is that I never asked for their "help". I told them several times, I just wanted a diagnosis. I genuinely feel the happiest I have done in my life so far(except the day after I meet these fecking people,. lol), after a lot of hard work coming to terms with my past . I didn't want help.

I always felt they wanted to stop me trusting myself again, so they could convince me I had problems and then feel good about themselves offering to fix me with their warped ideas. I believe that's called brainwashing. Strong words, but it's how I feel.

Thanks again for your support.

There are other professionals out there that actually do fit the word "professional". It took me some time before I found a mental health professional that was willing to offer me more than empty pity.

I think the worst therapist I had was a guy who I started seeing because I was suicidal at the time, and he convinced himself that the suicidal tendencies would go away if I were to suddenly decide to be heterosexual. He also asked me a lot of questions about gay sex - he was fascinated and horrified with homosexuality at the same time, and homosexuality really had nothing to do with why I saw him to begin with.

I am grateful to have a therapist who is helping me to build myself up today. There are people like that out there in the field. It is a shame that the field is loaded with landmines, however.

Cult "deprogrammer" Rick Ross used to have a section of his site where he would amass articles on all sorts of cults. Unfortunately, he got sued and had to take it down, which is too bad else I'd refer you to that site for info on this cult your therapist is pushing. I used to read through the cult articles, amazed at what people will believe. If she is trying to force you into a cult, you need to get out of there NOW. Once somebody joins a cult, they are abused to stay inside.

Therapeutic abuse is a serious matter and so sorry for all who've posted here who have experienced such weirdness. Unfortunately, there's no real recourse Just a sticky issue and Aspies seem to prone to the inanities of such neuro/psch (un)professionals. Geez.

Not to make light of the situation, but we must have a sense of humour about it. After one encounter with one 'counsellor' (using the term loosely), I simply was at a loss as to how to deal with her........she's just bananas. To sack her, I sent her a proper good-bye. Really not meaning to be sarcastic, but what else?!? I sent her this (& told her to shove it). Lab Pet, the Therapist Slayer.......

Adieu, adieu, to you, "counsellor," I cannot tell a lie......& swift kick to your dumb-arse.

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