Hi all,
Today I've started the journey by booking an appointment with a GP to discuss a possible referral for an assessment on the back of an Occupational Health assessment requesting that I do so. After talking through some of the issues that led to the referral, the lady suggested that these maybe signs of an ASD.
I'm a 33yo female already diagnosed with depression and generalised anxiety, who I think has probably cloaked a lot of these traits at home due to having close relatives with severe mental health problems and having to survive. But since adulthood they are affecting my ability to retain jobs. My current employer is the only one to stick with me and referred me to OH in the hope, they might be able to help. The big issue at work is my rigidity and my reactions/outbursts when these aren't followed, along with crippling anxiety that isn't justified for the situations but when coupled with the issues I have at home, I'm starting to wonder if the OH was right. I've never been able to maintain long-term friendships and only have a couple but it doesn't bother me if I never see me. I'm happiest with my dogs, alone at home. All of my issues have been long-standing, certainly as long as I can remember.
I know this is likely to be a long road and that my GP may not even refer me for an assessment, but to get an answer to my quirks and to possibly get some help with them, I think would make a huge difference especially to the employment issue. I'm unfortunately not in the position to pay for a private assessment so will be at the mercy of the NHS so aware this might take some time if it happens at all.
Could anyone share their experiences of gaining a diagnosis as an adult?
