• Replies 10 replies
  • Subscribers 82 subscribers
  • Views 1960 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Has anyone got a diagnosis without prior history of using mental health services?

Dara

Hi. What are your experiences with a UK adult diagnosis, did you need to have any of the 4 factors below?

I have done months of obsessive research and self-reflection and know that I'm autistic. I want a diagnosis, but having read the English guidance for GPs, I see that they will not just look at all my traits like I expected, but also whether I've had:

  1. "Problems in obtaining or sustaining employment or education.
  2. Difficulties in initiating or sustaining social relationships.
  3. Previous or current contact with mental health or learning disability services.
  4. A history of a neurodevelopment condition or mental disorder."

The thing is, 3 would have applied to me if I had sought help previously for depression, anxiety and OCD, but I never did. (I do have probs with 1 and 2, but not enough to concern a GP.) Now I'm worried that my disinclination for seeking help in the past will create a barrier now that I'm finally asking for some.

Does anyone know anything about this? 

Thanks! 

  • in reply to BassFace

    Thank you, that’s really helpful and reassuring. 

  • I am in the process of getting diagnosed and it was easier than I thought it would be, based on things I have read in the internet. If you're worried your GP won't take you seriously, write a list of the autistic traits that you have and bring it with you. I did this (obsessively, with multiple drafts) but I didn't even need it, the GP immediately gave me the link to a website where I could self-refer myself.

    (Maybe I was acting so obviously autistic that he thought he didn't even need to question me. It happens when I am nervous.)

    Don't worry about not having any of 1,2,3 or 4. I would say 2 only applies to me very slightly, 1 not at all, and 3 and 4 do not apply to me because like you, I have had mental health issues but I never sought help until recently. I was still able to get referred, no problem.

  • in reply to NAS70583

    Thank you for sharing your experiences. Yes it does help to hear what other people are doing or have done as it gives me a few more possibilities to build a picture of what might happen. I think you’re right that my not contacting them before is part of the communication difficulties of autism - thanks for that insight, as I haven’t thought about it like that before. 

  • Yes - I have...

    So I am calling BS on No.3.......

  • Hi, 

    I am in the UK, and like you should have accessed services for anxiety and possible depression in the past. I haven’t as I didn’t want these things on my record for a variety of reasons. I have an assessment  next week, and am being supported by my employer. I have chosen to go private and will simply ask the assessment centre to send the report and supporting documentation to my GP. Although there may be a recommendation  of medication for anxiety, I won’t be asking the GP for anything they wouldn’t have provided if I had seen the GP with the same symptoms. I will not be applying for anything that costs anyone anything, so have decided to do it this way. 

    ASC is a communication difficulty, and that can be the reason- and likely is - that your have never sought help. I have worked for my employer for 22 years and only just sought help. I didn’t know how to articulate what the problem was or what I needed support with. If you are employed , can you ask your employer for a letter or statement detailing your difficulties. My employer has provided a useful one. Hope this helps. 

  • Thank you for that. Perhaps I am seeing the list of additional criteria as too concrete (it was a link I got from the NAS website on what criteria GPs are supposed to use) and it is worth doing as you say and trying anyway. The uncertainty of how it will go is putting me off making that first phone call. The flowchart and the advice you've given is great though and really helps. Thanks again. Slight smile

  • I dont know you enough and if your GP will use whatever you have found on the internet

    I recommend ,,,, follow the overplan below. Read Aspergers as Autism

    1. do the online tests and see if they indicate you are autistic

    2. go to your GP and ask for an initial Autism assessment with below

    Make a list of reasons why u think u are autistic.

    include relatives in your family who are autistic or adhd or called weird/different

    and a list of occasions when u have been called weird, autistic, different

    the list should be electronic ie so you can email it to anyone who wants it.