What to do after a diagnosis is NOT confirmed after an assessment?

Hi,

I had my Autism assessment today after 3 years of waiting and the assessor believed my situation did not line up with the Autism Spectrum. His reasoning seemed to be that it is because I felt that it did not affect my life at an early age but certain debilitation have become more problematic in adulthood.  He mentioned the vague term of me having a personality disorder - more likely Anxiety. Yet, despite my obvious disappointment I don't know what to make of it - I've a list of Personality Disorders and common traits within them and nothing seems to jump out at a connection.

The problem is I feel that the debilitation I have are not just apparent when I am anxious. A lot of it is social based but even when I am with a friend I still cannot make eye contact among many other sensory and personality conflicts - I feel as if I simply don't qualify as an adult nor can handle any life skills expected as an adult.

I could go on further but the simple point is I am stuck, do I get another referral which I would have to pay for/cannot afford or look further into this vague term of personality disorder and go from there? I feel the debilitation getting worse, struggling to manage my work by the second. I was hoping to get through this get assistance but now I fee l am left  with nothing... & I don't know what to do...

Parents
  • I really feel for you.  That sounds so incredibly frustrating, after such a long wait.  We all hope that we'll be listened to and validated.  
    Can you contact the person who assessed you and have a dialogue with them, telling them what you've said here, and making an appeal about the result?  I've read on this forum about at least one situation where a person emailed the assessor afterwards, and their diagnosis was updated.

    If you don't get any success this way, if I were you I would look into options for a second opinion from somewhere else.

Reply
  • I really feel for you.  That sounds so incredibly frustrating, after such a long wait.  We all hope that we'll be listened to and validated.  
    Can you contact the person who assessed you and have a dialogue with them, telling them what you've said here, and making an appeal about the result?  I've read on this forum about at least one situation where a person emailed the assessor afterwards, and their diagnosis was updated.

    If you don't get any success this way, if I were you I would look into options for a second opinion from somewhere else.

Children
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