Possibly on the spectrum?

Apart from tapping feet on the floor and hands on the desk I use my thumbnail to press each finger just above the first joint then first finger to do the same on my thumb then go back at the top of the nail finally back on the top of my hands just below the nail always try to end at my thumb.  I try to make sure no one sees me doing any of this.

Thanks very much Free to be me. I did look at that a week or so ago. It still says there’s about a 3 year waiting list. But like you say, they’re taking on new staff, so might not be as long as that. It might be worth me getting on the list. Thanks again 

Hi Forrest123

you can also self refer. It you go onto this website https://www.norfolkcommunityhealthandcare.nhs.uk/home/service/autism-service-norfolk-60/

This is for Autism Service Norfolk which is an NHS service at the community hospital in Bowthorpe. They also have a clinic in Dereham Norfolk. There is a  self referral form on the above webpage. I believe that they then send the relevant paperwork to you direct. There is also a phone and email address if you want to contact them first. 
I was referred by a clinical psychologist at the QEH in Kings Lynn from a mental health referral originally but I know you can use this form to self refer. 

I waited 3yrs but they told me in March that the waiting list is a lot shorter now as they have just employed more staff. It’s worth just taking action and getting on the list so it relieves some of the stress in your head thinking about it. 

Thank you. Yes before I go to the GP, I will make sure I have a list with me explaining as many different traits as I can think of. Also good idea about getting a friend or family member to write a couple of things as well. It’s good to get the view of someone that sees from the outside. I can actually look people in the eyes sometimes, but it seems to depend on the day, and how confident I feel on a particular day. But usually I don’t tend to like looking directly into people’s eyes when I talk to them. And that’s not just strangers, I have trouble doing it with people I know really well. As I think I mentioned in my opening post, sometimes I start to smile if I try to look into someone’s when talking to them. It’s very annoying, and I don’t know why that happens. Anyway, thanks for your message 

I think I am Autistic too. I tried the GP route and it was terrible. The GP did refer me on, but said he thought they would not see me as I made such good eye contact with him and could express myself too well. At the referral I had the same problem the lady reading out the questions would not refer me to a psychologist. It really brought me down. I am now going private with the Autistic Society who have agreed to see me. I suffer every day with high Anxiety, and big round abouts or new places when driving get me in a right state. I would suggest keeping a diary of things that are tricky, how that makes you feel etc. Look up Autism info which might trigger you to think "I do that to" and write it down. I also got people who knew me to write down some of my difficulties. Family, friends, I was luck as my boss is a SENCO at the pre-school I work at she wrote something too. I should have done all this before I saw the GP, in hindsight, no good looking back though. Wish you lots of luck.

Yeah, OCD can take many forms. I never really considered I had OCD until a couple of years ago. I always just associated it with people that just wash their hands a lot. But it’s much more broad than that. Intrusive thoughts is a big sign. Double and triple checking things, door locks windows etc... it can be treated apparently with CBT. So I now believe I’m very likely to be on the autistic spectrum, because I definitely have traits, plus I’ve got OCD as well. I’ve always been one to overthink things far too much, I try to work things out in my head for hours on end. 

Never thought of OCD before will look into that as well.

Thanks for your message. That’s annoying that they didn’t think there was enough evidence. That’s what worries me to be honest. I’ve got this feeling the GP will just brush it off. I read your profile page, and it sounds like you have OCD too? I’ve got that as well.

Hi, just joined today and can identify with a lot of what you are saying.  I saw my doctor just before lockdown and received a letter from the referral service saying there was not enough evidence of lifelong specific traits so I need to start compiling more evidence before I go back.  I believe that I am at the low end of the spectrum but would like to be able to make sense of the way I feel and act.

Hello there Plectrum, 

Thank you. I can relate to what you’re saying. I also thought the whole stimming thing that I do is childish. That’s probably the main reason I’ve always tried to hide it from others. I also tap the top of my head, and the sides, I also tap and rub my fingers on my nose, which makes it go red if I do it too much. I tap my kneecaps as well  there’s loads. The best way to explain my nose rubbing stim is, I look similar to a hamster when they rub their nose and face  I’ve never thought until pretty recently, that it could  be a sign of autism. But I do think I should discuss things with my GP and hopefully get a referral. I definitely have sensory issues. Thanks very much for your message 

Hello TelNorfolk, welcome to the forum!.  

I am a stimmer too and I am awfully over-sensitive to touch as well. I tap /swing my foot all the time and I also touch my hair and face a lot.  My fingers are always busy with something. I had a long list of other examples of these kinds of traits, similar to yours, and I only started to notice that I DO flap, after I was diagnosed.  I imagined flapping was something very childish, but I pat the sides of my head or legs a lot and  I also mimic the patting action (patting the air!) without actually patting anything. I sometimes like to give myself pain which I crave in mild amounts. 

I guess like many people diagnosed in adulthood, I have adapted my weirdnesses to look less weird or to attract less attention.

I think the apparent paradox of wanting to touch(stim) and not liking being touched (sensory issues) is somehow due to having extreme control over the touch sense.

I got myself diagnosed a year ago due to anxiety and burnout.   For the first few months, it was so mind-blowing that I regretted it, but life calmed down after that and I carried on as before.

Yeah. In a way I think I’d be relieved if I got told I was on the spectrum. Because I feel it would make so many things in my life finally make sense.

Thank you. When I do it, it does seem to calm me for some reason. Plus like I say, I do it out of excitement as well. Something I’ve always done, just thought I’d see if others do it too. Thanks for your message.

Regarding stimming, I (in completely subjective way) see this as a way of 'overclocking' my processor to allow me to understand emotions and/or absorb information more quickly.

That's interesting. I guess I'm similarly nervous that I'll have my assessment later this year and be told I'm just a few points away from an official autism diagnosis - that happened to someone I know of. Seems like such an arbitrary demarcation, the definition of autistic vs not autistic

No problem!

Yes thank you, I will give those a look. 

Thank you Chloe

Only because that would mean I have these issues, and don’t know why. Because I certainly don’t seem to fit in with regards to normal social gatherings and activities etc... 

Thank you for messaging me.

Hi Forrest123,

Thank you for sharing this with the community. You may like to look at our information about autism spectrum disorders:
http://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is.aspx

If you were interested in finding out if you are on the autism spectrum, you would need to have a formal diagnostic assessment. You may find it useful to have a look at the following link for further information about diagnosis and the benefits of getting one:

http://www.autism.org.uk/about/diagnosis.aspx 

Furthermore, it is important the professional you see has experience of autism spectrum disorders. You can find details of diagnostic services on our Autism Services Directory in the Assessment and diagnosis section:http://www.autism.org.uk/directory.aspx

You may like to have a look at the following page which includes personal accounts, which may help:http://www.autism.org.uk/about/adult-life/stories.aspx

It might also be useful to pass on information about autism to health professionals when seeking a diagnosis. The following page includes information for a range of health professionals: 

https://www.autism.org.uk/about/diagnosis/professionals-involved.aspx

If you have further questions, you may like to contact our Autism Helpline team. They can provide you with information and advice about getting a diagnosis. You can call them on 0808 800 4104 (Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm, Friday 9am to 3pm).Please note that the Helpline is experiencing a high volume of calls and it may take a couple of attempts before you get through to speak to an advisor.

I hope this is useful to you,

ChloeMod.

It sounds like you have some autistic traits, but, out of interest, why specifically are you worried about being assessed and told you don't have autism?