DonkeyJoe wrote:
I was sent to be assessed for tourettes in the east midlands. The referral only took 4 weeks but the assessment took over a year. In the end, I was assessed as having aspergers but not tourettes.(My ticks both verbal and physical disappeared when I changed my diet)
If you are just starting out on this journey as an adult in the UK I think there is three important things to bear in mind:
1) Never start the process by telling a UK GP you are depressed. Being depressed means you need antidepressants NOT that you need to be referred to a psychiatrist according to the NHS. Tell your doctor you are fustrated dealing with people and are thinking of hurting someone/ committing a crime.
2) Don't do any research into ASD conditions before being assessed. Knowledge of how the diagnosis works can skew the process in favour of false positive. It is best to enter the process ignorant - being diagnosed as having aspergers when you don't, and possibly having something treatable instead, will do you no favours.
3)The process can take a long time (in my case, once I was referred by my doctor to the psychiatrist it took 1 year) (also learn the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist), and don't expect the diagnosis to change anything or the NHS to treat you once you have been diagnosed. When you are diagnosed you get a letter sent back to your GP saying you have aspergers. This will mean nothing to your GP. Honestly they might as well send a letter saying you are from the planet zogg. It will be up to you to teach yourself what it means to to be autistic.
I think the most important thing I can say to anyone starting this journey is to understand that noone really gives a s**t that you are autistic. Not even my wife in my case. It is something that you personally will have to deal with. It changes nothing in itself. Don't expect too much from doctors.
But as the ancient Greeks said in Delphi 'Know thee self'. If you have an autistic diagnosis you have understood yourself better than most people ever will.
J
I agree with most of what you have said.
However, in case someone is reading this who is thinking of going to see their GP...you do not need to say that you are thinking of hurting someone/ committing a crime.
Just honestly say how it affects you, eg in making friends, sustaining a relationship, interacting with colleagues. I spoke honestly and the GP had no hesitation in referring me.
28 May 2016, 4:56 pm
