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Living on a psychiatric ward

lollypsb

I am awaiting diagnosis for ASD whilst living on an Eating Disorders Unit and finding it an almost impossible environment to cope with. The space between mmeltdowns is getting shortworsen my stimming is getting worse. I feel that my possible ASD, which the eating disorder is really secondary to, is not being treated at all on the ward and that it is hindering my recovery. I feel really desperate and don't know what to do next- everyday I tell someone the difficulties I am experiencing but there is no action. How do I cope? 

  • If you have access to the internet I would suggest you search for the NICE guidelines on adult autism, put in a search term of "eating disorder" or "anorexia" and see if there is some relevant material (I think there is) and quote it to somebody who is reasonably sympathetic - or get a family member or advocate to do this on your behalf.  They should know that a high proportion of people with eating disorders have ASC, but of course the chasm between best practise and acutal practise is very large - so whether you can navigate this is down to a lot of factors beyond your control - good luck.

  • Hi,

    It is very common for people with an ASD to have an eating disorder (I posted on this a while ago).

    Who is condcting your ASD diagnosis? Is it possible for them to get involved in your care on the ED unit? If not can you ask for a member of staff/the hospital/clinic who has experience with autism to be involved in your day to day care and any treatments that you are undertaking?

    I have noticed with health professionals that it is often choice of words which gets things done. They are often not interested in hearing how upset someone is, but if you can describe it in a different way, in the kind of speech they are used to/understand it can have an effect.

    Do you have any family/friends wo support you who could be your advocate, come and sit in on a meeting to get through to the professionals that things are not working ot for you on the unit because of the ASD.

    I really hope you are able to get things changed.

    Best wishes.

  • hi lollypsb - I presume you're being treated by mental health services and I don't know how serious your eating disorder is but have to presume it is serious enough to have caused an admission to hospital.  Does the hospital have an inpatient learning disabilities dept?  Drs and nurses who know about autism tend to be in that dept.  If it has, then you could request to be seen by a psych or nurse from the LD dept.  I presume you know that inpatients have rights under the law.  You should have been made aware of that upon admission and they should be able to provide you with leaflets if they haven't already.  If you are sectioned then you can request an appeal at any time and they have to arrange it.  I think I'm right about that.  You can have a solicitor who specialises to help represent you.  You can have an advocate to help you. You could bring up your asd at the appeal.  3 lay people sit on the appeal panel.  There may be info on this site to help guide you or on sites such as Mind.