(HFA) Asperger's doesn't exist in rural areas?

Since my recent Asperger's diagnosis I've been trying to learn as much about it / myself as possible but I just keep coming across the same introductory information on the subject again and again across the internet and in every booklet and leaflet available. I just want to speak to someone about it, to question a little deeper than the same regurgitated information and TO FIND OUT WHERE I GO FROM HERE!

I've called several of the helplines asking for information (At least the NAS one replied, unfortunately the information pack was just another repeat of the exact same information.) but I'm just told to wait for a call back which never comes - unless it's normal to wait weeks for said call back? 

There are absolutely no services relating to (older) adult Asperger's anywhere near where I live! This is crazy considering there ARE in fact services for children and younger adults (up to aged 25) or for those requiring services such as supported accommodation. 

If I was diagnosed with just about anything else I would receive a prescription or health advice or referral to appropriate services or, at the very least, an Elastoplast!! Is it normal to be simply dropped into a void like this? Is a secret element of Asperger's that it only affects people living in cities? (Because I don't remember reading THAT anywhere!) This online community is the most help I've found and although I'm so grateful to have found it (on my own, by accident) it's not the place for obtaining the type of personalised information I need most. Everyone else seems to have access to courses and groups and something called PIP and, well, just support to understand what comes after diagnosis. Since finding this online community I've actually felt a lot better, more comfortable, with my diagnosis as I'm seeing that there are lots of people out there like me after all (which is a huge relief) but I seem to be the only one living in the entire North of Scotland!?!? Doubtful as that seems, it's the only rational explanation for the complete lack of services. 

I don't regret for a minute that I have this diagnosis, it explains everything, but the advice to "Get a Diagnosis" as it will "allow you to access the services / support / information available to help" definitely doesn't seem to apply if that diagnosis turns out to be HFA / Asperger's.       

          

Parents
  • For a wealth of real women's and some men's experience of finding they're ASD in later life you could do much worse than look at the musingsofanaspie blog, quite a few of us as yet undiagnosed bods arrived here because of reading that and all the comments, which are quite enlightening. There's a lot to read and many 'me too' moments.

    When I finally get a diagnosis (trying to sound confident rather than terrified that I'll be denied) I'm expecting little to nothing by way of support, even getting the diagnosis is horrendously unsupported really.  Hard to feel like we matter to anyone but each other. Obviously Im2having an Eeyore day.

  • Yes, I've definitely had a few Eeyore days where there seems to be a lot of Pooh happening! Where's Owl when you need him?

Reply Children
  • Same, I'd love to escape there sometimes. I only 'discovered' them with my own children though along with the AMAZING Dr. Seuss (esp. 'What was I scared of?'). I find these books add a certain something to the bookcase that you just don't get from ancient Greece! 

  • I instinctively had a dislike for Wol's pomposity but loved him too, combined I think we can match his wisdom, or at least spell owl right.

    Had all the Winnie the Pooh books as a child, would love to be able to retreat to a cabin in the woods and read them all again.