Do psychiatrists understand autism where you are?

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I have self-diagnosed myself with autism, but the psychiatrists won't hear any of it. According to them I have bi-polar. Now I am on medication that is doing nothing to ameliorate my condition, I'm pacing, I'm stimming . I have always had problems relating to other people in conversation, the speech is eccentric or even worse the speech is egocentric. It really came home to me about how little the psychiatric world knows about mental illness when I described to my psychiatric nurse my problem in terms of my "breaking social norms" he was a conscientious guy but "breaking social norms" wasn't part of the language of his profession. My question is how can mental illness at all exist without the concept of social norms. I'm very interested in any ideas you have.

I didn't know I was autistic when I was in extensive therapy in the past, I guess I have enough grim material to work through around being autistic (which obviously shines through everything and complicates stuff further), it would have made therapy easier if we both knew there was such an undercurrent, she was a brilliant woman so I'm sure she would have amended her approach to accommodate it. I can't get a therapist on the nhs (gp's said there's nothing available which would be useful probs due to funding cuts so nothing except limited cbt available which is useless in my case) but I am increasingly trying to go to group sessions I am invited to where there are autism specialists who are wonderful humans and will hopefully guide me along over the years.

I didn't understand what you said but I do like your avatar, that's the Shining right?

no

For me, it's NVLD. I have found a couple of great docs who studied on NVLD and understand it as more than just a learning profile. Those who think of it as a learning profile automatically assume that I'm on the spectrum as I have dyspraxia. It's so frustrating because I don't share the hallmark traits of Asperger's namely the intense interests.

Whether I have Asperger's or not, I am just happy to work thru my issues and feel that I am listened to by the doctor. A person that considers other things as well is the kind of doctor I want whether it is a psychiatrist or a orthopedic or a primary care doctor. I have lots of visual processing & sequencing issues associated with NVLD and have social skills issues. Not all those with NVLD have social skills issues but at least some with it do. It's nice to have people who can work thru these with me and discuss strategies and help me organize/compartmentalize. It means a lot because when I work on it, it makes me feel more useful and less anxious.

Maybe try to get a 2nd opinion?

Last year my state got a F for mental health. I have been extremely disappointed with the "psychiatrists" I have talked to.

It is very hard to find some one to truly listen and care.

I don't think most psychiatrists know much about it. You really need to go to a psychologist who specializes in autism.

Before I was diagnosed, I saw a couple psychiatrists who had no clue I had autism even when I brought up that I thought I could have it.

No.

There may be the psychiatrists that work in big deal universities on the coasts, but nothing in Metro Detroit.

You need to scratch up some money and see a psychologists who diagnosis adults on the spectrum. You want actually testing done. You don't want someone who will talk to you only and make that decision.

You can be bipolar and have autism. Autism is a developmental disorder. Bipolar is mental illness.

No shrink will ever take anyone's word when you use the phrase "self diagnosis". It makes them hostile and they figure you are trying to manipulate the session. ESPECIALLY if they have no clue about Level I autism. It really isn't in their training. I asked my psychiatrist, who graduated in 2012 is it even taught in medical school or residency? No. Not for adult psychiatry. The pediatric psychiatrists get exposed because they work with developmental pediatricians. You may only get snippets here and there from medical school.

What part of you pinged the shrinks bipolar radar? Usually a person gets schizoid personality disorder if they are on the spectrum where I live. My husband has Aspergers and his original diagnosis from the shrink was...

Schizoid Personality Disorder
Major Depression
OCD
General Anxiety disorder

When he got the ASD diagnosis it condensed to

Major Depression
General Anxiety Disorder

Good luck...

Where I live I find the therapists to be clueless. It's not their fault really because I have a lot more conditions than being Autistic - bipolar, PTSD, AvPD (undiagnosed) and BPD (undiagnosed).

Recently, though, they've come to the realization that I'm basically beyond help because I'm way too resistant, complex and difficult to be treated.

Thank you for the input it pretty much confirms what I've learnt from experience.