Published on 12, July, 2020
So, had a long history of anxiety and depression. Lately become very exhausted....I'm prone to "walking" when I can't handle things.
Thought I'd had a breakdown and finally asked for help from my doctor. I was referred to the mental health crisis team. I was assessed on the phone and asked to come in for a face to face.....
I was just expecting to be offered more tablets (never worked) and diagnosed with a personality disorder or schizophrenia....
Halway through, I was asked if it was OK to do a ASD questionnaire.....never heard of it and when asked what it was.....I was abit taken back. Sure, anyway...I scored a high level and will be referred for I don't know what next or how long that takes. I was assured I wasn't mental at the end anyway but now feel in limbo abit.
I'm 41.....I've gone through life trying to convince myself I was normal, and since they've mentioned asd.....I've realised I'm really not.....but that's OK. It kind of makes sense, my life and how I think.
Anyone else in the same boat?
I concur. I didn't know what I did was stimming and masking until my daughter was diagnosed and I became intensely interested in the topic (hyper focus). I think of Homer Simpson when the monkey is jumping in his head when people are talking to him. I regularly zone out. :-)
I understand what you mean about having difficulties and being passed through the mental health system without any help specific to your actual needs. I guess for me it's about learning to be honest about my true struggles and learning that anyone with these set of challenges would also struggle. From reading your post and others it seems that we are all very resilient having navigated the world without complete understanding of our internal challenges. I hope things improve for you from here on in.