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Getting a diagnosis

NAS75132

Hi, 

I was recently diagnosed with ADHD a few months ago and during my assessment, the psychiatrist that was assessing me informed me both verbally and in my written report that he believed it was likely that I have Aspergers (Although after reading online about the history of where the term Aspergers came from I am not too sure if I want to call it that). The ADHD thing was a fairly recent discovery but the psychiatrist saying I may have ASD was something that I had never even considered before. After him saying this, I have spent a lot of time online researching the symptoms and it explains a lot of things about my life that I thought were just silly little quirks that I had, or that I never understood why I couldn't do in the same way others can. Although not official, after the extent of research and the indication from the psychiatrist, I am fairly sure that I am somewhere on the spectrum. 

I guess the question that I am asking is, is it worth going and getting it officially diagnosed? What benefits and downfalls did you all get out of getting an official diagnosis from a professional? And is there a way I can self refer to get a diagnosis without going through my GP? As it was fairly difficult to get them to refer me for the ADHD diagnosis. 

Any help or advice about getting a diagnosis or even just navigating my recent discovery would be a huge help to me. 

xoxo

  • in reply to piggy1401

    Getting diagnosed with ADHD most definitely helped me for the same reasons you say your ASD diagnosis helps you. I was able to see it wasn't just me being lazy among many other things that I used to look at myself and not understand why I am different or struggle. I am not too sure what I would be wanting out of a diagnosis, I think mostly the confirmation and the support that may be available (although it seems like you're saying that I may not necessarily get support). I am currently studying as a degree apprentice and additional help in the school side of things would be really helpful but I don't think much of the support I would get for ASD would be much different to what I get for ADHD (extra time, extensions and study support & coaching) and school wise the only other things I would think that may help would be access to better IT equipment and extra screens for doing the lectures and assignments but since I am apprentice I unfortunately don't qualify for DSA and I cannot afford to fund it myself so I am a bit such there. My ADHD diagnosis was fairly quick, I asked my GP to refer me via right to choose to psychiatry UK which is private but NHS funded upon GP referral and I only had to wait 4 months, although I think the waiting list is now much longer as my mother is trying to do the same and isn't expected to be able to get an assessment until next spring. 

    I will have a look into self-referring although from what I have found so far seems I will either have to go to my GP or pay for it myself. 

    Eden xxx

  • hiya,

    I was diagnosed a couple of months ago and the diagnosis itself helped me a lot because it explained so much to me and it meant that support was put in place at school and things. however, I haven't actually been offered any support from mental health professionals. what do you want out of a diagnosis? getting a diagnosis doesn't necessarily mean you will get any help. it's also not a  quick process, which I imagine was the same for your ADHD diagnosis?

    I have absolutely no clue about self-referring without going to a GP, you might have to do some googling. 

    Alisha xx