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Any advice on being assessed for autism?

Jen25

Hi everyone. I am just here looking for a bit of help. I am 24 years old and have struggled mentally and socially for as long as I can remember. It started with being obsessive as a child. I struggled with s chool and to this day I still struggle to make friends. I find myself not understanding other people and how they feel and just things that other people find easy are hard for me. Things like having a conversation. I hide it really well, but I feel as if I have been hiding it for a long time and it is exhausting. I have outbursts caused by frustration and becoming too overwhelmed. These outbursts have involved anything from head butting or punching things to throwing myself down the stairs. I don't understand why I do this I just feel like I am so overwhelmed by situations and I don't know what to do with the emotions and information I am dealing with. I have now booked a doctors appointment for next week but I was just wondering if anyone is in a similar situation and how others have coped. Particularly with the social side, outbursts and sensory problems. Thank you so much in advance. 

Parents

  • Hello and welcome to the forum! I have been diagnosed with Level 2 ASD. Please feel free to ask any questions and read my profile.

    I too find it difficult to make friends easily, and uphold my end of a conversation for any length of time. I only seem to be able to connect through the written/typed word, rather than the spoken word.

    I also tend to have meltdowns when I am frustrated or am overwhelmed. I know that this is a horrible feeling and it is difficult to control your emotions. Thankfully, the majority of the time I am calm, relaxed and nothing bothers me.

    Have you tried writing something, such as a book or a script? That's what I tend to do when I start to feel overwhelmed, it's quite therapeutic.

    With regards to being assessed...

    When you speak to your GP, explain why you believe that you have Autism. They will then make a decision whether or not to pursue a diagnosis. After a certain amount of time (For me it was a month) I had to fill in a questionnaire (Tick-boxes), with regards to certain situations or symptoms. You then give that it and await the decision.

    This can take time (A few weeks all the way up to a year), for me it was 10 months. If you GP it is worth getting a diagnosis, you will be given an appointment with your local Autism organisation. During the appointment, you will be asked questions about certain situations and reactions, you can bring someone with you to support you. After this, it can take a week or two to receive a report about the appointment. You will then get an appointment with a psychiatrist, they will then give you their diagnosis and advice on what to do now.

    I hope that this helps.

Reply

  • Hello and welcome to the forum! I have been diagnosed with Level 2 ASD. Please feel free to ask any questions and read my profile.

    I too find it difficult to make friends easily, and uphold my end of a conversation for any length of time. I only seem to be able to connect through the written/typed word, rather than the spoken word.

    I also tend to have meltdowns when I am frustrated or am overwhelmed. I know that this is a horrible feeling and it is difficult to control your emotions. Thankfully, the majority of the time I am calm, relaxed and nothing bothers me.

    Have you tried writing something, such as a book or a script? That's what I tend to do when I start to feel overwhelmed, it's quite therapeutic.

    With regards to being assessed...

    When you speak to your GP, explain why you believe that you have Autism. They will then make a decision whether or not to pursue a diagnosis. After a certain amount of time (For me it was a month) I had to fill in a questionnaire (Tick-boxes), with regards to certain situations or symptoms. You then give that it and await the decision.

    This can take time (A few weeks all the way up to a year), for me it was 10 months. If you GP it is worth getting a diagnosis, you will be given an appointment with your local Autism organisation. During the appointment, you will be asked questions about certain situations and reactions, you can bring someone with you to support you. After this, it can take a week or two to receive a report about the appointment. You will then get an appointment with a psychiatrist, they will then give you their diagnosis and advice on what to do now.

    I hope that this helps.

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