Is a mental health referral normal during assessment?

Hello, I'm going through the assessment process. I had thought my GP had referred me to an autism specialist but instead it was the primary care mental health team. Is this a normal part of the process? While I have difficulties that I believe are autism-related, I do not have mental health issues and the assessor made it extremely clear she thought I was wasting her time.

She did agree to refer me to a specialist team based on a ten-question evaluation, but said explicitly that I would not get a diagnosis because I'm 40, married and have children so am clearly able to function.

I'm feeling very dispirited and am now extremely anxious about taking the process further. On the other hand, I believe I'm right to seek help - my problems include an inability to recognise faces (including my own children) and a tendency to shut down when overloaded with sensory stimuli. I stim almost constantly, obsess over things like languages, need to follow a strict routine, struggle with social situations because I take things literally and can't read faces, and have very erratic sleep patterns.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Am I right to pursue a diagnosis?

Parents
  • Arrrrghhhh! I am 42, married with a child and in a middle management job....I function because I have no choice! To function is different to existing and totally different from living......what are the basic requirements here... I am self diagnosed so not as brave as you....to fight for recognition itself

    yes...ASD has comorbidity with depression, social anxiety...but are the wanting to address this mental flotsam that ASD causes or acknowledge the root.

    yes you are right to pursue x

    Serenwen said:
    She did agree to refer me to a specialist team based on a ten-question evaluation, but said explicitly that I would not get a diagnosis because I'm 40, married and have children so am clearly able to function.

  • Thank you, that's very reassuring.

    Yes, I function because I have to, and have spent the last 40 years trying to be normal! I'm going to have to return to work in the next couple of years (full time mum with some part time admin from home at the moment) and am hoping for some support as I have struggled with it in the past.

    I had assumed I would be expected to talk about my background and behaviour but she dismissed all that and kept asking me how I was feeling. I couldn't see how it was relevant to the assessment. Probably should have talked about my anxiety but I was feeling so anxious and under pressure that I didn't think to...


    I'll hope for a better experience next time.

Reply
  • Thank you, that's very reassuring.

    Yes, I function because I have to, and have spent the last 40 years trying to be normal! I'm going to have to return to work in the next couple of years (full time mum with some part time admin from home at the moment) and am hoping for some support as I have struggled with it in the past.

    I had assumed I would be expected to talk about my background and behaviour but she dismissed all that and kept asking me how I was feeling. I couldn't see how it was relevant to the assessment. Probably should have talked about my anxiety but I was feeling so anxious and under pressure that I didn't think to...


    I'll hope for a better experience next time.

Children
  • I have now been referred to a specialist team so I'm hoping to progress from here.
    And agreed, it does seem to be seen as a male issue. I suspect I come across as normal but antisocial and introverted, although I do sometimes get funny looks for stimming (mainly foot and hand tapping), and when I get people mixed up it's very awkward.

  • Is there anyone who can come to these meetings with you....can you go to another GP? Can you afford a private diagnosis....and is a diagnosis important? 

    This story is so familer and I am sure you don’t look like rain man...! Lol.....but this shift needs to happen....! 

    Everbody raved about Chris Packham and him talking about his ASD diagnosis...but like my name tag...us women are still unnoticed and not seen x