Any aspies had trouble getting mental health help?

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I have been referred by my school principal, a couple of teachers and my councillor to the public mental health services for what they describe as severe depression, possible borderline, and suicidal ideations. I am having extremely severe problems and every day is a huge, HUGE struggle.

However, the mental health services put all my problems down to 'part of aspergers.'
They have just referred me on to a public service to help people with aspergers.

BUT I DONT HAVE A DX!! !

Any advice on how to convince them that just because I might have aspergers, I am still struggling with depression and possibly ?BPD?

Anyone had similar experiences?

Thanks so much for your help, it's greatly and sincerely appreciated.

But the fact is that htese problems ARE common among aspies. That is probably why they lump it together. Now even if in your case they are separate, Asperger professionals are still experienced on dealing with these as well. So you can still get help, even if you call it Asperger. As long as you get help, why does it matter if you call it wrong name?

I know, but it could be months before I get an actual appt at the aspergers place, Roman.
I can't get medication until then.

You might try to go back to the health services organization. I know, it can be difficult dealing with bureaucracies, but that may be the only place that can help you. You should stress to them that the autism treatment center will not treat you immediately, and you need immediate help.

Another thing is that if you have suicidal ideations, you can try calling a crisis center. Just focus on your depression. They might be able to give you a referral for that.

Good luck. I hope that somehow it works out. I know that it is a challenge, but you will have to find the strength to survive. Somehow, if you dig deep, you may find that you have some inner strength that you have overlooked.

I have the opposite problem in that I am diagnosed with Social Anxiety, Agoraphobia and Depression with a past diagnosis of OCD and have a growing suspicion that I may have an ASD and have been misdiagnosed. Given that:

I rely on a sense of sameness and routine to make sense of the world. I find the social world highly confusing so retreat into my own world where there is order and clarity.

I regularly misinterpret people.

I am prone to, what appear to be, tantrums even at 35 years old (and always have been).

I have over sensitivities to things like light, certain sounds and certain chemicals and clothing etc

I stim...but just thought they were odd habits or twitches that I have lol

I am prone to repetitive behaviours

I am obsessive about my hobbies

I have trouble regulating and processing my emotions

And my social skills are so poor that I am presently unable to work and whilst I have managed to have the occasional short lived romantic relationship, I have not been able to make a friend in 18 years....18 years and when I did have friendships they were also short lived (just like my romantic ones which I found via dating sites on the internet lol).

I am really beginning to feel that Social phobia is an insufficient diagnosis when it comes to even partially explaining my problems....

Treatments such as anti depressants and therapy have also been ineffective thus far. I have been seeing therapists, psychiatrists and psychologists since my early teens (the social services wanted me to see a child psychologist when I was much younger but my mum would not take me as she did not want them involved) and have made no real progress with things. It's getting frustrating

@bumble: They might have intentionally misdiagnosed you. They do this sometimes, because some of the doctors profit from the medications that you buy - it's illegal, but it can't be proven. So they intentionally place you such diagnosis, because they get more money this way. In this case, I don't know what could be the solution. Maybe seek someone else to examine you.

Thanks for your replies.

Yensid, I will try what you said. It is a very frustrating problem - they are acting like ASDs can't be in conjunction with depression and anorexia. I hope there is some inner strength overlooked. Because I'm spent.

Sorry for my abrupt answers. Being social totally drains me.

I'm nearly 50, I almost got a DX about 10 year ago. However, Aspergers wasn't on her radar nor was it on mine. She said there was something "off" about me, but couldn't figure out what it was. Now I have tried different shrinks & they all want to lump me in with bi-polar/severe depression without any sort of testing. I refuse to take meds that may make things worse for me & I already have more than I can handle with my present issues. Have also asked for HRT, but am having trouble getting that, even though many of my core issues have to do with menopause. I hate going to docs who never listen.

What you are describing is typical bureaucratic thinking. It sounds like the person who did your initial evaluation was not very good. You may be able to find someone else to do a new evaluation.

Don't worry about not being social. I know how hard that can be. I've been where you are. I know that sometimes it seems like you can't go on any longer. All I can say is that if you focus on the small things, focus just on surviving for a little longer, somehow, from somewhere, you can find the strength to survive just a little longer.