I recently came through a good amount of research to the conclusion, that I might be autistic.
Now I want to ask my GP for a referral for a test. But since I already had to fight hard to get a psychological assessment for my depression and anxiety, I'm worried I won't be taken serious.
Is there anything somebody can recommend how I could state my case in the best way?
I have just had my confirmation for my referral and the doctor seemed a little bowled over by the amount of evidence I produced. What I did was since I found out I started keeping notes of things I thought were Autistic traits I have just in a big list and I've been moving it over to a larger document laying out evidence such as developmental stuff family told me and stories from my past.
This document is around 20 pages now. I am doing this so when it comes time to go for my assessment in a couple of years I have tons of information built up. When it came to talking to the GP, he's already had a report from elsewhere but I pulled out the most stereotypical evidence the doctor is likely to be clued in about and just did a bullet point page, a full sheet of A4 with things I could just list to him.
As it happened I saw him in person rather than on the phone so I showed it to him, I had already done the AQ10 that the local authority needs to process a referral so I gave that to him too and I just briefly talked about how it has been affecting my life.
Like I mentioned I did have a psychiatrist for the ADHD assessment suggest a referral for ASD so I had a leg up there and my history reads like a stereotype for misdiagnosed ASD with Anxiety and depression disorders and Bipolar etc so it is somewhat going to depend on your history and also your doctor. I would bear in mind that you don't have to take no for an answer though, you can seek other opinions if you think your doctor is unfair or if your lucky enough to be in a self-referral area you can bypass the GP altogether if you want.
I have just had my confirmation for my referral and the doctor seemed a little bowled over by the amount of evidence I produced. What I did was since I found out I started keeping notes of things I thought were Autistic traits I have just in a big list and I've been moving it over to a larger document laying out evidence such as developmental stuff family told me and stories from my past.
This document is around 20 pages now. I am doing this so when it comes time to go for my assessment in a couple of years I have tons of information built up. When it came to talking to the GP, he's already had a report from elsewhere but I pulled out the most stereotypical evidence the doctor is likely to be clued in about and just did a bullet point page, a full sheet of A4 with things I could just list to him.
As it happened I saw him in person rather than on the phone so I showed it to him, I had already done the AQ10 that the local authority needs to process a referral so I gave that to him too and I just briefly talked about how it has been affecting my life.
Like I mentioned I did have a psychiatrist for the ADHD assessment suggest a referral for ASD so I had a leg up there and my history reads like a stereotype for misdiagnosed ASD with Anxiety and depression disorders and Bipolar etc so it is somewhat going to depend on your history and also your doctor. I would bear in mind that you don't have to take no for an answer though, you can seek other opinions if you think your doctor is unfair or if your lucky enough to be in a self-referral area you can bypass the GP altogether if you want.
It's kinda sad that one has to basically prepare a court defense to be taken serious. In still waiting to get therapy for my depression and anxiety. But if I'm right and I really should have autism, it would make it so much easier to cope until the therapy will happen.
I'm even tempted to pay for it myself if the way ting list is too long. Atm I'm hardly holding it together and something has to happen, the one or other way.
