We are so used to the standard story for adult diagnosis. guy figures out he’s probably autistic then spend ages trying to persuade his doctor to refer him.
when I saw this clip (https://youtu.be/YVJD2G3JITU) I realised hey really it should be the other way around. Our doctors shouldn’t need us to prompt them for them to pick up on our autism. After all they’re the experts.
so my question is, how many of you had a health professional bring up autism as a possible diagnosis before you did?
I figured out I was autistic when I was 25. Had been to see so many doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists etc over the years and none of them mentioned autism - instead I was diagnosed with things like generalised anxiety disorder, OCD, disordered eating, depressive disorder.
When I realised I might be autistic I went to my GP, she didn't really know what to do with me. Ended up being referred to a general mental health service, they didn't know what to do with me either - everyone I met said something along the lines of "I don't specialise in autism so I can't help you, I also don't really know where to refer you as I don't know of anywhere that diagnoses adults, but if it helps you're probably not autistic because you're making eye contact with me right now 
"
So I gave up for a few years. But in 2022 I came across a private service that specialises in diagnosing adults and they confirmed what I already knew (but I wanted it confirmed anyway) - I'm autistic!
I figured out I was autistic when I was 25. Had been to see so many doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists etc over the years and none of them mentioned autism - instead I was diagnosed with things like generalised anxiety disorder, OCD, disordered eating, depressive disorder.
When I realised I might be autistic I went to my GP, she didn't really know what to do with me. Ended up being referred to a general mental health service, they didn't know what to do with me either - everyone I met said something along the lines of "I don't specialise in autism so I can't help you, I also don't really know where to refer you as I don't know of anywhere that diagnoses adults, but if it helps you're probably not autistic because you're making eye contact with me right now "
So I gave up for a few years. But in 2022 I came across a private service that specialises in diagnosing adults and they confirmed what I already knew (but I wanted it confirmed anyway) - I'm autistic!
