I have just come to the end of my therapy / care with my local secondary mental health team, and the support and understanding has been superb. I was probably made much more relatable as my therapist was also on the spectrum.
Unfortunately at the same time I have had to have major open heart surgery. This has meant I have had a few trips post operation to our local A&E department. They have absolutely no allowance for people on the spectrum, in particular no accommodation is made for heighten sensitivities. For me this is bright lights and noise. I now have my little survival kit ready at hand, dark glasses, cap and noise cancelling headphones. However, at best these are sticking plasters, I still return home completely drained, and now have this great reluctance to go to A&E.
I have found my coping strategies work everywhere else, and if worst comes to the worst I can just retreat. This is obviously not an option with A&E unless you're prepared to take some potentially serious consequences health wise. I'm finding it some what ironic that the organisation that is charged with our healthcare in the UK is also the one not making any concessions in organisation or infrastructure.
Many of the doctors have a deal of sympathy, saying it's not really an acceptable environment for the allistic let alone for those on the spectrum. It seems to me much is made of the steps forward in mental health awareness, but the one organisation that ignores it the most is the NHS.
Do others have similar experiences?
