Published on 12, July, 2020
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.
I live about halfway up (mainland) Scotland, so hello nearish neighbour! I wondered if you had seen the 'Understanding Autism' course on Futurelearn? It seems to run fairly regularly and I found it very helpful and informative and a good link to other materials.
Here's the course: Understanding Autism
Can one edit one's own replies here? I haven't worked out how to do that. I was trying to add a link to the Futurelearn course, but it's appeared in a comment all on its own.
Thanks for this! I haven't heard of 'Futurelearn' but I'll definitely look into it, an online course seems to be the way to go seeing as there doesn't appear to be any provision anywhere near here.
I don't think you can edit your replies on here (anyone?) but you can delete your own reply - if you click on 'more' you should have 'delete' as an option. I'm still learning how to use this forum too, never having used any such online chat facility before. I think it'll be a while before I learn how to post things like photo's!
Futurelearn is owned by the Open University and there is some really good stuff on it. I did one unit on literature and mental health, which was particularly interesting and enjoyable. I can be a bit flaky about keeping up with the timetable on open access courses, but having the content available at all is a big plus. As you say, there is often very little available locally.
So you can! I have just tried and achieved it :-)
Thanks for the tip
You can edit your responses using the 'more' button at the bottom of your reply after you've posted it. Delete is only available if no one has replied to said post, but edit is always available. I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure on that.
Photos are something I haven't mastered as they have to be smaller than 1mb and my phone won't go down that low so image editing required.
It is depressing how many of us have wandered around lost for huge amounts of our lives and even when we finally figure out what and why were still figuring it out alone.
Or maybe at least with each other.