Finally have assessment appointments-really nervous

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I don’t post often here now, I miss it so very much.

Hang Tough, Mr LoneWarrior... Years May Pass, but The Events are mostly the Same with only the Names changing... !

:-) Good Fortune as Always to You. (I was just passing by, with opportunity today, & so I Post this.)

Greetings, Miss Boating... Good Luck, as others say here to you, And I hope you get whatever you are looking for, y'know...

You may recall slightly 'butting heads' with me, but I post to say what I often say regarding 'Diagnosis'..."Why now to get assessed?" --- Do so because it not only explains a lot but also opens up a lot of support which is enforced by Law.

You need not Mask, it is better not to do so, I say. Please be honest, and act true to yourself, including If you realise after a point that you might come across as rude...?... then just say so. Just stay calm and be honest. With regards to formalities, it helps if you show proof of how you were as a Child including at school...

 There are also Online Lists of "Autistic Traits" which, while some are questionable, some are true, some may not fit... and so pick out ones which apply to Your good self. For Myself for instance... I once saw a weird Random Internet List which included: "Often or Always walks on TipToes"... and so that was it for Me...!

Good Luck again.

Hi, am in a similar position , have first assessment on Friday, I found the questions I had to send before hand aswell vague, and I couldn't not actually answer them because I struggle to my reasoning in the boxes of the questions if that makes sense, I ended up call the centre of diagnosis and ask if I could type up my answers on a separate word document rather then fill in the form and they agreed. As I find it easier to organise my thoughts that way.

Me too my biggest fear is they turn around and say no I am not autistic, its the people thing but also I am holding on to the fact I cant handle stuff because of my autistic traits and is given my issues validation.

Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has replied in such a positive reassuring way.

I don’t post often here now, I miss it so very much. 

May I  share a story with you, it will be quite long but as I rarely post I am sure you will allow me some leeway Lol.

AND SO,,,,,,,,,,!

I was recently working in a large town and knew there was an ADHD and AUTISM diagnostic and support centre nearby, for two days I kept thinking I should just pop in and see what information I could get.

Just doing that made me very anxious, procrastinated about it, decided I would, then talked myself into saying “ there won’t be any parking available”  or “ I really haven’t got time”.

I drove up to it, drove  into the small car park , yep full up, ah well better just drive off! My works van is far to big anyway !

my work colleague said hey just pull up here I will sit in the drivers seat and move if needs be!

oh ok then erm well if your sure?, the time is getting in we might get back late?

no you go he said we are here now. And you kept saying you would. Be a real shame not too, 

I got out and started the slow long walk towards the centre, I was sweating, my breathing was fast, my heart was pounding I was a bit of a mess really, 

but I kept going, opened the door and walked into the small reception waiting room.

The receptionist was busy on the phone, 

I casually looked around at fliers and leaflets, feeling more and more anxious.

finally the receptionist finished her call and said “ hello how can I help you?”

erm well I was just passing and wondered if you had any information I could take about getting assessed.

 We do she said, I will print off a copy of the process with costs for you.

off she went, 

well there was a women and a young boy sat on chairs nearby, Suddenly a kind looking women came out and said to the little boy, “ Hello you must be ********* have you come to have a little talk with me.? You will be perfectly ok as mummy will be just outside my room and I will leave the door open so you can see her” would you like to talk with me?

off they went , I turned to the women and asked “ is the young boy being assessed?”.

The women replied “ Yes he is my son and this is his first visit, I want him to Be assessed as he needs as much support as is possible”.

I replied he is lucky as there is a lot of hel0 and support if you try hard enough, not like it was when I was a young boy. He will be fine I am sure.

Thats very kind of you to say that thank you, and with that she asked me if I was autistic? 

I automaticaly said “ Yes I am but not yet formerly diagnosed”.

her reply was “ Oh wow I am only just diagnosed myself and you are the first autistic person I have ever met, may I touch your hand?” I reached out and smiled as we touched fingers, she then said I know not all of us like to be touched which is why I asked you before I reached out.

she also added she liked to hug but only children, but she was aware of others she knew who didn’t feel happy hugging anyone.

Then asked if I liked to hug? Erm not really, but well yes but only recently as I found out all about autism, I felt more able to hug but only if I felt it was my choice and It was me asking for a hug. I have never been one for being grabbed by aunties or relatives, always struggled to get away, they enjoyed “ embarrassing “ me.

She did not ask  for a hug ,,,, phew,,, although after our chat I think I would have been happy too, it didn’t happen though.

Then what followed was a very enthusiastic exchange, like two young kids bubbling with excitement Lol.

 It was so lovely, no feeling of being anxious at all, for me it felt like finally meeting one of the many members I share so much with on here.

We both talked over each other as we enthusiastically shared traits, not liking crowds, being overwhelmed by to much noise, always having felt alien like and never quite fitting in. Her finding it difficult to maintain any jobs as she couldn’t get on with the adults 

She was a member of a couple of sites for autistics, one more for  parents and a local one more for adults  and enjoyed talking with people she felt Understood her and she them.

It was a brilliant first meeting, her poor husband walked in after finally parking his car, he just sat down and smiled as he watched us both so excited. Bless him he knew how happy she was and it was ok by him.

I wished her well said if you ever get a chance come along to the NAS site as she would find it very friendly.

Told her I had been here for about eighteen months now and it was a wonderful place to be.

THE END,,,,,,( thank you for letting me share my little story)

—————————————————————————————

I do intend to be assessed when I get chance too.

It really helps to reassure when reading so many varied but positive replies.

I replied to “river” as I think the idea of having someone you know really well is a really good idea. Just knowing your not all alone before during and after has got to be so helpful.

I will remember that when I finally get round to being assessed myself. 

Just need to find that someone special that truly knows me. 

Take care everyone, your all amazing and you help so many including me by just being YOU.

much love to all x()x

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Good Luck!

Hi, I had my assessment a few weeks ago and I felt really anxious leading up to it too for similar reasons to you, it turned out to be a positive experience. My only advice having done it was that I wished I'd arranged to have someone to come and meet me after the assessments - I was given a diagnosis on the spot at the end of a day and my anxiety levels had got very high so it would have been nice just to have someone I knew well to meet me afterwards. (you might already have thought of this but thought I'd share in case not!). I hope it goes well for you.

Send the notes, in my opinion the more evidence you can give the better.  And also keep a copy to take with you to refer to at the appointment if necessary.

At my assessment appointment I was allowed to say what I wanted in practice and not just stick to answering questions.  The meandering on and off topic is part of being autistic.  An autism diagnosis is not anything like a job interview thank goodness!

The psychologist who assessed me as autistic last year said I couldn't give her too much information - so I sent through all the additional notes I made. I think this really helped her in deciding that I met the diagnostic criteria and in making recommendations in her final report. You might find it reassuring to know that virtually everyone who self identifies as autistic ends up getting diagnosed, so if  you are 99% sure you are almost certainly right. I'd send through the notes now - anything that speeds up the process is a good thing.  Very best wishes to you for a positive outcome. 

Must have taken me a good couple of hours to fill out that questionnaire after I'd already written some preliminary bullet points for each question. I've got 13 pages of notes I wonder if I should include with the questionnaire (there is a box for 'any other comments?'...my stack of info probably comes under that), or give it to them at the appointment?

yeah, just be you, because if "you" is who you think it is, then the diagnosis will be made.

best of luck

It's one of those occasions where the advice of "just be you" is as valuable as it's ever going to get. The assessor will hopefully see you, and look past the mask (or what's left of it when you're nervous anyway). And "because I really need the support at uni" sounds like a very valid answer as to why you want to get assessed now!

Best of luck, and I hope you get some answers