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Speaking on the phone, medical & health appointment

Deleted User

I've got a telephone appointment next week to discuss my health. In the past when talking to doctors or whoever,  I've struggled to explain myself properly. I now know this is autism related to do with communication, alexithymia and poor interoception. So now I'm aware of it, I'm more apprehensive than I usually would be as I'm more aware that I struggle to explain myself properly.

So next week on the phone I am going to state from the off that I struggle with open questions and also request if I can email anything retrospectively after the appointment. Also that i sometimes struggle to fully understand how i feel. Of course I'll write a list of what I want to include but quite often this goes out of the window during conversation. I've been keeping a diary but even that is difficult when I have to pinpoint what's going on (ie to what extent). I think sometimes I err on the side of caution and think I'm ok when I'm actually not. I'm just going to tell them I'm AS so find these things difficult.

I need to be able to explain myself clearly or I'm concerned they'll think there's not much of a problem when actually there is and my case won't go any further. 

Has anybody else got any tips or strategies that you use in these situations? I'd much prefer to speak in person or type answers to questions and find initial assessments difficult on the phone. It's ok though once I've got to know someone. 

Thanks.

Parents

  • The appointment for the above went ok, it was talking more about physical aspects.

    I thought I had an appointment today with the mental health team. I had my notes ready. I've had difficulties with this service before,  apart from one excellent therapist, I usually end up getting fobbed off, not being listened to correctly and generally feel worse off. It's given me anxiety all today as I feel I won't get my point across effectively. A lot of the time I don't feel right but fail to understand why. I feel like unless I can give specific reasons, they're not going to be able to help me.

    What makes it harder are those blooming stupid questionnaires they use to measure progress over the last 2 weeks. I find it difficult to answer as a lot of the time my head is crammed full but I can't identify everything as "worry". And 2 weeks is a long time, I don't know how to filter through that fortnight...it's like how long is a piece of string?! I find it hard to remember although do keep a log. Unless I'm having difficulty on the day they ring, I have trouble explaining cos I can't cast my mind to the "bad" days. And also it's not the frequency of poor mental health, it's the impact when they do occur. So I might be ok for 2 weeks then a few days later things get challenging  again.

    The appointment is actually next week and i got mixed up. I've waited 9 months for any meaningful input from this service and still don't feel confident. Im currently off work so things arent as difficult as they were when i first requested help but i know when i go bsck itll start up again. I feel unless I've got specific problems now, they won't be able to help. I'm just guessing as I don't know till next week but previous experience doesn't fill me with hope. Services are stretched and I feel I'm taking away from someone who needs more help who has more complex needs.

    We need more autistic people working in mental health. There needs to be more emphasis on acceptance instead of being a broken problem to be fixed.

Reply

  • The appointment for the above went ok, it was talking more about physical aspects.

    I thought I had an appointment today with the mental health team. I had my notes ready. I've had difficulties with this service before,  apart from one excellent therapist, I usually end up getting fobbed off, not being listened to correctly and generally feel worse off. It's given me anxiety all today as I feel I won't get my point across effectively. A lot of the time I don't feel right but fail to understand why. I feel like unless I can give specific reasons, they're not going to be able to help me.

    What makes it harder are those blooming stupid questionnaires they use to measure progress over the last 2 weeks. I find it difficult to answer as a lot of the time my head is crammed full but I can't identify everything as "worry". And 2 weeks is a long time, I don't know how to filter through that fortnight...it's like how long is a piece of string?! I find it hard to remember although do keep a log. Unless I'm having difficulty on the day they ring, I have trouble explaining cos I can't cast my mind to the "bad" days. And also it's not the frequency of poor mental health, it's the impact when they do occur. So I might be ok for 2 weeks then a few days later things get challenging  again.

    The appointment is actually next week and i got mixed up. I've waited 9 months for any meaningful input from this service and still don't feel confident. Im currently off work so things arent as difficult as they were when i first requested help but i know when i go bsck itll start up again. I feel unless I've got specific problems now, they won't be able to help. I'm just guessing as I don't know till next week but previous experience doesn't fill me with hope. Services are stretched and I feel I'm taking away from someone who needs more help who has more complex needs.

    We need more autistic people working in mental health. There needs to be more emphasis on acceptance instead of being a broken problem to be fixed.

Children
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