I have no idea where to start...
After some arguments recently with some friends and family, its become rather clear to me that I may be autistic!?
I have spoken to my local GP practice, it was a phone call appointment, this made me feel a lot better as face to face i can loose my track, but on the phone i can take those few seconds without feeling like I'm being watched and pressured into communicating. it was a bit of a mixed phone call as I said what I was calling for and the GP seemed a little combatant to accept an adult would need an assessment, but I stood my ground and argued my point and they admitted that they didn't know much about ASD and would have to talk to the practice lead and get back to me.
2 Days later i had a quick call back from the same, but much more mindful about what she was saying and explained that the lead wasn't in until next week and would it be ok? as I usually find difficult conversations... difficult it was a yes. long wait of almost 2 weeks has gone, I don't like confrontation and don't like to feel I'm bothering people, even Drs, so I have medical problems they say will go away, still years later. Today I received a text message from the GP, apologising for the long wait and that she has sent me a AQ10 to complete and return to the practice if i want to continue with the referral. i do want to continue with the referral, i hope that it answers some questions iv had and others have, i also hope that it helps explain some things from my past and line a few things.
I hope that those on here can help with the next steps? I don't need to know what a AQ10 is or any of the other "tests", its more what types of answers do they want me to have? do they want to know what issues i have to the detail? iv have never considered myself as Autistic until recently, so I haven't had that much time to understand how my behaviours could be considered to be Autistic traits. i know i have always had trouble with social situations, I feel pain when i have to make eye contact with anyone and will force myself to do this when i know its important like job interviews or to seem confident about something. I cant keep conversations going and it tends to be me talking at people, but at the same time i think i am good at reading social cues but i might not be.
I know I will have some of the more common traits, but not al,l or maybe none? I'm struggling to "admit" that the way I am is tied to ASD. The more i read other adults say how ASD is in their lives i see it in mine.
Could anyone give me some examples of traits they have, triggers that make your day harder and how you cope, more specifically how ASD affects them, and advice on spotting those moments of ASD?
sorry if this is all over the place but i do tend to go on when im after advice, loads of questions come and i get very impatient.
