Worth getting an adult diagnosis in the UK on NHS?

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Hi,

I think I have aspergers, I'm early 30s and just thought I was weird and had anxiety and depression up until last year when my partner (a mental health worker) suggested I have Aspergers.

I've since read up on it and I'm 80% sure I have. I've also taken lots of online tests which all seem to indicate I might have it.

So now I'm considering getting assessed. I've looked it up and there is a multi disciplinary team in my borough who specialise in adult diagnosis but they're only available with an NHS referral. And for some reason i feel a lot of anxiety about making that first step and talking to my Dr.

I've hidden a lot of myself for so long I'm scared to bring it all out in the open.

Has anyone else got an adult diagnosis in the UK? what are your experiences? And is it worth formally knowing? For me it'd be a relief to know one way or the other. If I am i'll know for sure what I'm working with and if not I can exclude it and carry on researching why I am the way I am.

Yes, it is worth following this up. You may have a while to wait though.

http://wrongplanet.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=339339

If you google Austism (or Aspergers) along with your own county or town/city you may find a local charity that will allow you to self refer. This is useful if your doctor is reluctant to refer you - mine was.

Which county are you living in?

The UK.

Thanks, I hadn't considered that my Dr wouldn't refer me.

Nearing my thirties and I had a diagnosis of ASD last year with the NHS; not through my own efforts though but my parent's. Didn't really know too much beyond some basics about high-functioning autism and didn't think the assessment would help - let alone prove - anything. Probably the unfortunate result of too many years being treated in a half-arsed fashion by psychologists for major depression, with too many failed medications and awkward, stressful therapies. I'd given up on any doctors actually helping me with my problems.

I was wrong though, and through my parent's meddling I was put on a waiting list. Over two years later, here I am. That's the thing though, as stated already it's a long wait, but I have previously read on here the accounts of others who had their NHS assessments come through with lightning speed compared to mine.

All in all, I'd say my diagnosis was certainly worth it, even though I had to be dragged into it kicking and screaming. I have a new psychologist who specialises in autism, someone who does the best she can with a very limited amount of time and a lot of patients, but she is incredibly easy for me to talk all my gibberish to, without feeling bad about it later. Thanks to what the assessment highlighted in me, I've also been vetted into a small autism group I attend. It's been a real change to actually meet others in my area, after a very long and painful time of feeling utterly alone. I am still alone, but there is a weird difference, just to have that confirmation of the existence of others like yourself when you see their faces in person.

You will indeed need to go to your GP for a referral. When I went to a GP the GP's brother had AS and was fascinated by trains. Because I wasn't fascinated by trains the GP didn't think I had AS, which I thought was quite an odd thing for a supposedly well educated doctor to say. Regardless he still referred me. Prepare for long wait though, not just for a referral but for results too. In fact this days prepare for a long wait even to see your GP! There are too many parents whose kids have a cough or a fever, or unwashed who need another sick note for GPs to have time to see you. It's worth it though, but the way you're handled is going to depend greatly on the services and teams available in your area.

For me absolutely yes!

Thanks for the replies it seems it will be worth it, even if there is a long wait.

I think I will be difficult to diagnose because on the face of it I'm doing quite well, marriage and a job, but under the surface I'm close to walking out my job and the "way I am" is causing many marriage problems.

I'd say yes.
I just got my diagnosis yesterday, at 41!
I'm feeling really chuffed about it.
You do have to talk about your childhood a lot, so that bit was hard.
I have been assessed by 3 different professionals to get second opinions etc. But the last clinician I saw was very experienced and knew her stuff, and diagnosed me on the spot.

Good Luck with it!