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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! 

Parents

  • 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. 

  • 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. 

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  • 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. 

Children
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