Deciding who/when to tell

I hope your GP and teams will be understanding and helpful with this. Being assessed I think is definitely a good thing. It brings with it a comfort, you know why you're like you are and it's also brought you here to others in the same boat who will always have your back. And like Dawn says it will hopefully bring you the right help. 

You could also put them in touch with the service that diagnosed you. That might help them understand better. Xx

Ah purple  your assessment could be your key to the right help at last - depending what they understand. I hope your team do understand autism.

Hey Purple, it is essential that they know.

My GPs were a mixed bag. The GP I had was awful, because they had no clue. The biggest problem I have due to my autism is accessing health care, given that the sensory problems had resulted in so much distress in medical situations, I thought I was going mad. Yet even when I needed to come with an advocate, they thought I should ring at 8. 

But, I changed practice for logistical reasons (they are building a new medical centre opposite my house) and they could not be nicer. They really wanted to know what the barriers to health care access and my medical phobias have been about all these years. They want to understand my autism. That makes all the difference. Of course there are a number of physical medical problems we are more prone to that others and any medication that acts on the neurology might not behave the same way for us. And of course so many of us have problems describing what's physically wrong, or just dealing with reception...it is essential that they know in order to adapt to your need and take that into account when investigating both MH and physical complaints and prescribing.

It is essential MH services know. Likewise, their response can be patchy depending upon their level of understanding, but many therapies designed for NTs have little benefit to us, or they may need to be heavily adapted because we do not think the same way, or communicate thought or emotion the same way or process feeling the same way as NTs. If they don't know they could end up treating you with inappropriate meds, inappropriate therapies, giving you inappropriate diagnoses, and totally misunderstanding your issues. Their understanding may be hit and miss, but there is no chance they will get it right if they don't get that you are autistic.

Our local CMHT are awful. But magically, my so called MH problem disappeared as soon as I knew I wasn't going mad, the problem was in my sensory system and very real all along. It's left me with some residual trauma, but otherwise I don't actually have any of the problems they'd misdiagnosed me with.

I would strongly recommend that even if you choose to tell no one else, you do give your GP and CMHT your diagnosis and profile report. If you are lucky and they are switched on it could change their approach for the better.

Good luck.

I'm glad your GP was helpful, sorry about your MH team, that's what I'm worried about, them discounting it or saying that I can't have therapy because of autism.  I'll feel better when I read the reports they're going to send me to give to people.  At the moment I wish I'd never been assessed.

Telling them might help as it means they will understand your situation and what you're going through better - in theory. My GP understood perfectly and has been a big help and very supportive. My mental health team and home team aren't as supportive and treat me like I don't have Autism and just mental or something.

At the end of the day - it's up to you who you tell and when you do it. There's no rush. Just do it when you are comfortable to 

Ah ok. That makes sense - I was via the NHS so the process was different. Good luck.

Dino

I had to do it privately as my ccg wont fund the assessment for people under the community MH team.  The assessment place rang yesterday to give me my diagnosis, and they said they'd send me two reports, one short for GP and CMHT, one longer one for me.

Hey Purple. Not sure where tour diagnosis was done but I as advised that the diagnosis letter and report would be automatically sent to my GP as well as myself.

I reckon your GP will already be aware.

Dino