Cannot get help

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I'm undaignosed and living in the UK.

My GP said he would refer me, but there are no resources for obtaining diagnosis where I live. I think that soon I will be essentially homeless and I'm about to go off the rails anyway.

Before I do, I'd like to get my diagnosis, but I simply lack the skills to get the help I need. Does anyone know of anybody in the UK that can help? I have no idea how to go about this.

The world is never going to be something to which I will adapt or understand, so I think I'm going to check out in about a year. Just want to know a few things before I do.

You shall contact ASAP (! !! !) your local council. According to Housing Act 2004 and other legislation it is the duty of your local council to prevent you from rough sleeping.

The most councils have here an emergency proceeding. You shall act latest Monday morning, if "soon" means this weekend: Act now and if possible appear in person at the council's offices.

Edit: Corrected idiotic typo.

Last edited by Dussel on 04 Apr 2009, 6:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

Hi, ElliottJumpshoe. I'm in Australia and can't really offer useful advice about getting a diagnosis in the UK, but I do feel concerned about what you wrote about "checking out". From what I saw of your blog, you've had a tough time. Please talk to your doctor again about getting some help- you sound quite depressed and anxious.

Don't give up on the world just yet- it's your world too, you know, and you have as much right to live on it as anyone else. I saw your videos (the Rubik's cube one and a nature-themed one) a week or so ago, and I thought they captured something special. You've got some talent, I think. Maybe it's something you could pursue further. Take care. Jenny

I love Dussel's advice. First deal with the impending homelessness, that seems right to me also. I'm glad to hear there is a law to require your local government (I assume Local Council is a government agency) to help you avoid homelessness. I wish we had that here.

If you had put your actual location in your profile or in your post people who live in that area would be better able to help you find some help. It's cool that someone living in London was the first responder to your original post, but the UK Wrong Planeteers probably need your actual location to address your other question.

I got my diagnosis from a regular psychiatrist, not any particular AS testing place or anything. I would start by calling some psychiatrists and asking where you could get tested for AS locally, once the threat of homelessness is dealt with. I trust you have psychiatrists locally, but maybe you live in a very isolated, agricultural area, I don't know.

Good luck!

I agree with the others. Do contact the local council and ask what their policy is on homelessness. Another important step would be to go to the Citizens Advice Bureau, as they can look into your options for you, both practical and emotional. They will be able to talk to you about benefits you can claim, and point you in the right direction for emotional support such as counselling if you need it. Don't give up on life - you have a lot to give and life would be boring if everyone was the same. I was made homeless nearly 2 years ago but I live in a lovely house now. This is just a tough time but you'll come through it. Let us know how you get on.

ElliottJumpshoe,

ask your GP to refer you to a clinic out of area. The waiting time will be long. If he/she cannot, then there might be a local psychiatrist they can refer you to who can at least give you an opinion, rule out other conditions and recognise any depression etc. It might be a good idea to give your GP a copy of what you wrote in this thread (and maybe parts of your blog), so they know how important this is to you.

If these options don't work, post here for more advice as you might benefit from making a complaint to your local Primary Care Trust (PCT), since it would be going against certain regulations by not providing you with services. If it comes to this, I can provide you with specific information on how to do this or help you write to them.


In the meantime, check out the website of the National Autistic Society (NAS); there is much advice there. For example, these links:


Benefits and Welfare Rights

Challenging Benefits Decisions

National Autistic Society Helpline Email Service

I hope I haven't given people the wrong impression.

I'm not likely to become homeless in the next few days, and even if I were I really can't stand the thought of trying to get my own place. I would never be able to pay bills, eat properly or generally look after myself. I can do a lot of things, but I cannot do things like that. I don't even want to.

Thank you all for your comments thus far. As for checking out - I feel that I've tried hard to live a life, but I've just been kidding myself that I want to. My attempts have been comically bad: I just can't do it. Although I do have my creative pursuits they are insufficient to make me want to stay. Most of the time it feels like it's raining inside my head.