How to go about requesting a referral from my GP?

Apologies if this isn’t the right place to ask for advice, but I hope I can get help one way or another.

I’m a 23 year old female and suffered from mental health issues (depression/low mood and anxiety) for over a decade. For a while, I’ve just wanted an answer, as in a proper diagnosis because the most I’ve received is therapy (currently on waiting list for a second time) and anti depressants. 

After some research, I believe that I may have autism. I’ve taken multiple tests where the results have shown I’m “likely” or “extremely likely” to have it. Without going into too much detail, in one of the tests I received a score of 40 out of 50, which seemed quite alarming to me.

I’d like to contact my GP and see if they think I need a referral, but just the thought of a self diagnosis makes me feel incredibly guilty. It sounds silly, but I have all these fears of wasting my GP’s time if they reject my request.

It all starts from calling the doctors where I’m required to state the reason for visiting my GP, but how do I go about the whole process? It’s difficult for me to phrase things, so any advice would be appreciated.

Parents
  • Hi there, 

    swallow your fears and ask for an appointment regarding a ‘referral request’.To be fair I don’t think the doctors need more info than that before you go… once you have an appointment date make a list of what you want to say and possible answers…the one expect is ”why do you think you have it?” One of your questions must be , “ I am requesting a referral to be diagnosed for Autism “ 

    they will ask why and you possibly may choke at trying to reply to the doctors questions… remember they have to ask you questions xxx just keep referring back to your list of questions and possible reply’s.
    I don’t think they can refuse you this service. The waiting list is possibly long and the journey will be longer, but taking this first step is the hardest but  you will also be half way there.
    My doctor laughed and said ”I have a friend with Asperger’s and your nothing like him” my reply… “we’ll maybe but I would still like to have a referral “ I think I repeated that sentence a few times i between tears!!  … 

    be strong, remember they don’t know what’s going on for you….  Feel the fear, recognize it as just a fear.. call, make an appointment, it will help you x

  • That’s appalling that your GP said that to you. I’m glad you insisted, but it’s disgusting that he reduced you to tears with something so dismissive and insensitive to make that insistence harder than it should have been. I feel so lucky to have had a much more sensitive and open minded hearing from my GP, it’s such a lottery isn’t it? 

Reply
  • That’s appalling that your GP said that to you. I’m glad you insisted, but it’s disgusting that he reduced you to tears with something so dismissive and insensitive to make that insistence harder than it should have been. I feel so lucky to have had a much more sensitive and open minded hearing from my GP, it’s such a lottery isn’t it? 

Children