Published on 12, July, 2020
In my area the waiting time for an assessment is about 5 years. I'm halfway through but also so burnt out and struggling to keep working, cannot afford to lose my job but I'm not formally diagnosed so I can't find any other help in my area.
Other than ending up on the psych ward, which I have been trying so hard to avoid for the last 20 years, is there any way of speeding up the wait time for an assessment? I hate that I'm even asking this question, everyone else on the list is important too but I'm really struggling with life at the moment and I need an accurate diagnosis. My GP surgery aren't taking me seriously and tell me to keep taking my depression & anxiety meds and go for a walk, try mindfulness etc. I do not know what to do.
There's private but that will obviously cost. I was waiting a long time and called up a few times and I think that got me seen a bit sooner because they realised how much it was stressing me out.
You might be able to see if your GP can get things moving for you as well. If that's something they are willing to do for you.
If you can get in I do recommended the Lorna Wing Centre, that's where mine happened. It was a very long wait but was worth the wait. I found them reassuring and supportive, nothing was ever too much trouble.
Yeah the waiting lists aren't great, I'm in Durham and the list is around 3-5 years for a formal diagnosis.
If you find meds beneficial please keep taking them, if not discuss your options with your GP.
Mindfulness and meditation can be challenging when you're anxious or stressed but it's worth persevering with.
If you've been referred there must be a strong suggestion that you have ASD.
You can get a private diagnosis but obviously that will cost.
If you get an official diagnosis, what difference will it make, Will it make you feel any different?
Take care
You can. If you are aware of the service provider for your screening, you can appeal to the practice manager for a faster track, you should give them a measure of the suffering that a lack of diagnosis and the surplus of waiting period is continually causing you..:)
Psychiatry UK are actually at capacity right now, but you can still go through Right To Choose (free NHS) with Clinical Partners https://www.clinical-partners.co.uk/for-adults/autism for adults. And Places like Clinical Partners and Psicon will do Therapy sessions via Skype for general mental health support. For kids Right to choose is also in place with Wellbeing https://www.wellbeingasd.co.uk/services/right-to-choose/
https://psychiatry-uk.com/right-to-choose-asd/
It's free, and the waiting time is about 4 months. They can give you an official diagnosis, but nothing else. If you want workplace adjustment you have to find an agreement with your employer. If you want treatment you are out of luck unless you can pay for private. Remember that in UK, mental healthcare is an expensive luxury and not an human right.
Apart from seeking a private assessment, im not sure how you can speed this up. If you know that you are aitistic, self diagnosed, then how about starting to accept this and making changes to help you "manage better"? To be honest once diagnosed i dont know if there is much help out there.
Do you have a supportive employer who you could talk to? Could you take some time off sick? X
I got myself referred through right to choose and hope the wait list isn't more than a few months. I was told it was about 3 months.