Diagnosis.

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It seems my therapist has decided to speak to someone about referring me for an official diagnosis. Shes a CBT therapist trained to deal with things like low self esteem. Although I have low mood I do not have any self esteem problems and she feels that social anxiety is not what is causing my social difficulties. For example she mentioned that most therapy for social anxiety problems would include helping someone with feelings of embarrassment due to blushing, to which my response was "what is wrong with blushing?". It was a genuine question (what is wrong with blushing, it is only a physiological process and quite a natural one) but apparently that is not a typical answer for someone with Social Anxiety.

I do experience some nervousness when meeting new people, at job interviews and when going on dates but not enough to be causing the social problems I am experiencing.

She feels I need support she can't give me as my low mood is a direct result of my social situation. I am completely socially isolated in terms of having no friends, family, no partner...this is having a detrimental effect on my mental and emotional well being. Whilst I am not the most social person in the world (I do not cope with too much social interaction, I need some alone time) I do need some socialisation to be happy and healthy.

She feels that it would be best to refer me for formal assessment so that they can put me in touch with someone who might be able to help me with my social problems so I can resolve my isolation.

I have tried on my own and I don't seem to be able to do it. For whatever reason people are not accepting me or I am not reading their signals or both. I tried socialising at my local pub for example but was told that no one there wanted to speak to me because I was too weird.

Ergo I need someone to assist and my therapist is not trained specifically to deal with Aspergers (if that is what it is, she seems to think so, as did the support worker I had a few years ago).

At least I won't need medication as she does not think my depression is chemical in origin. My situation and social problems are driving it not faulty brain chemistry. That is good as I am very very much into my paleo diet/lifestyle thing (so much so I am thinking of buying a tent so I can sleep out side on some nights during the summer...more natural like our ancestors did. I also want to grow my own vegetables and I may swap weightlifting on machines at the gym for more natural forms of exercise done outside or indoors using my own body weight as that is more natural for the human body too. Is anyone else here into paleo nutrition and lifestyle? I like to chit chat about all the new stuff I am reading about or exchange ideas) and I do not like the use of medications as a result. I am also sensitive to the side effects so they don't really help me.

My therapist is going to telephone me to (I must remember to plug my phone in, I don't usually bother plugging it in as I don't answer it unless I know someone is going to be calling me anyway..I do not like unexpected social obligations) to let me know what is happening but she did not book another appointment with me at this time.

How long on average does this whole process take? I am in the UK. East Anglia.

PN I don't know when I will be checking back to the thread. My pc is due to go in for repairs at some point today (they will collect it) so I may not have internet access for a while unless I go to the library in the market town nearby (there is no public library in my village).

I went straight from my GP to being assessed.

It took about a year though, I think one of his colleagues did it in the end.

It was just a 2 hour meeting with a clinical psychologist and a nurse consultant specialised in autism.

It took about a year to get the report back as well
My GP finally got a copy after threatening to put in an official complaint with the building where I received my diagnosis.

The 2 guys who did it didn't sound like they were from up north and my GP was saying how so few people in this country are willing to diagnose adults.

unless you have 2 grand anyway

Congratulations, B! About time you made it official.

I'm curious how a Mental Health professional thinks they're supposed to "help" one with their isolation. My therapist suggested group therapy, but I just couldn't see how sitting around with a bunch of other guys with emotional issues was supposed to make me feel any less isolated. I'd rather somebody just bought me a hooker.

Hi! Been blushing excessively for the last 2 years even when I am not embarrassed or when i am alone too. It started due to a very embarrassing encounter when I was with my friends. Funny thing is I don't How to Stop Blushing around strangers. It happens when I am with people I know. But after reading through your tips I think I know the problem. I will definitely try out your tips. Thanks!