Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi,
I am 27,in the UK, currently on the waiting list for an assessment after having an ASD screening from an NHS physiatrist, I don't know how long the wait is going to be but for now I am struggling bad with my mental health and this has now resulted in my contract at work being terminated because I have had to take so much time off due to this. I really struggle with socialising and emotions and sleep, which leads to a difficult work life, being exhausted and burnt out constantly. Now I have no job and am not in the right place mentally to look for a new one or hold onto one at the moment. I have tried to reach out to many services for support and have yet to receive any, most professionals are brushing me off and telling me to learn to live with it.
Does anyone have any ideas of some decent support networks, people to contact, services, resources, etc?
Also how do you survive without a job, can you get DLA, UC, PIP?
still waiting for assessment/diagnosis
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you
Sorry mate, but you are out of luck. There is no support networks for adults with ASD.
Try to get access to Clinical Partners via the Right to Choose scheme.
https://www.clinical-partners.co.uk/nhs-services/right-to-choose
Be prepared to fight for it. The waiting list is some months, but it is free and it's better than the 10 years long NHS list.
Afterwards, you are screwed. There is no support available. You can ask for "workplace adjustments" like WFH, but you will need an official diagnosis for it. I would advise to do that AFTER you pass probation.
You can ask the NHS for help, but they only provide useless CBT with untrained operators with no idea about ASD. The best you can get is some happy pills from your GP. He will be happy to prescribe some. Do not be surprised if they turn you into an obese, impotent, smiling zombie. They are also extremely addictive.
Sorry if I do not sugar-coat it. I have been diagnosed one year ago, and I could not find any meaningful help. That's your life now.
JD's response is very negative, but I'm afraid that is pretty much the same experience that I am having....basically no help out there, especially for older autists.
Its almost 6 months since my later life diagnosis and whilst it has given me a better understanding of myself and been somewhat liberating to me (eg, I am not ashamed of stimming or appearing vulnerable), I do think that in general life has got that bit harder for me.
I'm taking a break from work for a while and that will hopefully enable me to de-stress, recover some energy and drive. Maybe, just maybe, I will be able to go back to being my former self - someone who was unaware of his autism and managed to mask & fit in....when absolutely necessary.