After Diagnosis
I'm sorry that I've probably posted this in the wrong section :s
January 2013 I was diagnosed with Austism, ADHD, SAD, and OCD. As I live in the UK, I was diagnosed at a place called London and South Maudsley. The professor at the time said that my local GP has a legal duty to provide services relevant to my conditions whether it be medication, right through to therapy etc, even iif they are not currently provided by that medical practice. I have visited my gp many of times, to find that they do not really understand the diagnosis, or what to do. I have such a hard time day to day with these conditions battling each other, living in my little routines then getting sick of the routines because their not done right etc omg I could go into this for hours but I wont. I asked the gp for help, I said I want to have some medication that can help, or something because I can't keep living like this being left to my own devices, I can hardly do anything leaving the house alone because of my anxiety!
I visited the gp for the X'th time this year, and he said he will refer me to a local adult autism "specialist". He told me they are not that common, since Autism is "only really known in children" which makes me angry to think what, so when they grow up that's it nobody cares? I was 21 when I was diagnosed, I am now 22. I have done research and there is no local "adult" autism specialist within the county which I live, which is Kent. Unless there is something I don't know about? So yeah. What can I do? What are my options? He has left it 11 whole months, before saying "I will refer you to an adult autism "specialist" and it will be local, I wouldn't have thought it would be london"... Why has it taken 11 months for him to decide to do this, after all the times I have been to see him about my "life" as what I call a "problem" of constant mis-understanding, not being able to do anything out of the house alone, eating all of the time because im bored NOT hungry (but it's become a routine which I just cannot get out of!) and well, yeah.
I'm worrying because, well it's what I do. I'm worrying I wont be able to control my anger any more, that I am going to make myself so ill by stress of not knowing how to deal with the conditions I have, the uncontrollable moods, the inability to express how I feel without throwing something or going OTT . What am I supposed to do, do get the help that I need? As you have already probably picked up, the gp isnt going to help me or I would have been dealt with the day they first read my diagnosis, which is a 7 page document!
I really need some help, I don't know what to do! I know I am driving my family crazy and I just want to be able to be more chilled out and enjoy things with my family, and not hide myself away, and make situations when there actually isnt a need to etc.
I am in my fifties and I was only diagnosed 3 years ago (Australia). I saw a clinical psychologist (originally from the UK as it happens) who mostly works with children and adolescents, but also sees some adults and even couples with one partner on the spectrum. I actually picked the psychologist myself (he had excellent references), got a diagnostic assessment as a private client, then went back to my GP and got her to refer me back to my psychologist under our national health scheme (Medicare). I ended up seeing him for 2 years, either fortnightly or monthly, and he gave me a lot of help with learning to manage stress and anxiety.
I don't really know of any specialists who focus on adults, at least not in my city. For me it was enough that my psychologist had a few adult clients as well as the much more frequent child and adolescent clients. You don't need the "perfect" psychologist, just "good enough", so an adult specialist might not be necessary, even though it would be a plus if one were available.
Good luck. I hope you can find someone.
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