Help! Are there any women in this Community with ASD

Ok so I'm back, it went quite well I think, because I've been given a referral form to fill in for myself. I've got a paper copy and an email version. I've just got to make sure I get to the next step on the ladder. 

Mm interesting way to progress.. I've had thyroid problems in the past but totally different to asd.. still think I have a residue of it but doesn't show up in standard tests. 

Hope your Gp will help. 

livingautism.com/.../

Hello again glad you are back/still here. Good luck with the assessment. Yes let us know how you get on we'll be here to listen

Good luck Limey......you got someone going with you? Let us know how you get on.

i broached the subject with my GP last week...,the want to do blood tests first to rule out Thyroid problems....

fingers  crossed for you ..

Hello, I'm back! Or still here! However you want to see it! Got my first appointment today. They want to see if I make the criteria! I can't imagine that I don't, but I'm still worried that someone is going to think I'm making it all up! 

He lp! I'm struggling to find my way about the forums. Did you continue the new thread each day or not and how can I find it? How do you know which are current topics? And how do you keep up with them? I did look for you to see what chats you were in as I thought that might be the thread as we seemed to get on well but I just got lost looking. At the moment I am just trying to read lots of different topics all of which I seem to fit. Is there an Nas community app or easy way to access the community or is it a website thing only? Troglodyte!

I also enjoy arts and crafts but only on a personal level. Over the years I've sewn, knitted and crotcheted mostly giving away as gifts. My current creative outlet is colouring books. I found my old crayons and paints and my sister teaches art so she got me some new ones too. It is absorbing and I end up with various results some I'm pleased with but don't necessarily manage to keep within the lines but it is fun. Are there any art charities you could sell through? Maybe Nas could take on a new mantle and have a members etsy. Oh! Etsy that's another outlet to sell art. 

I found a really helpful website called Benefits and work. They know the ESA and PiP and show you step by step how to fill it in and what to include in different circumstances. Many people have been helped by them. You do pay a subscription but it's worth it. You can also get help to fill the horrendous forms in through your council's welfare rights. I had a lovely lady who came to help me and we made use of the Benefits and work information too. I'm currently on ESA in the group where they leave me in peace unless they send other letters which make me anxious. And basic Pip. I did have a period of time ( over a year just lived off savings ) when I didn't get anything at all as I couldn't face signing on after I went to horrific tribunal. But Sally made me have another go and with her help I got it. My Pip check up is happening at the moment and keep wondering when the ESA one will be. They make you live in fear which is counterproductive. 

Could you feel able to show your work in the Open Studios? Share a space and Put your work with someone else's sometimes they have a few people's work together in a hall so you don't have to be there.. . and it's only once a year or more as locally the artists sometimes open another couple of times in a group. It's closed now but we did have a gallery presenting local artists work then the gallery presumably got commission.. have you got anything like that near you? I.e. Let someone sell your work for you.. ? 

My god that's depressing Misfit, I'm not surprised you are cynical!  One of my whole body shaking crises was when I went to try to sign on for jobseekers allowance so that I could get housing benefit and leave to be on my own, long time ago now.  they took one look at me and told me to go and see my GP, I did and got a sick note "anxiety and depression", then got passed on to those awful assessment people who of course said I wasn't sick enough to get benefit, so I never got a penny and never got to leave.  I think I pretty much went to bed for a month, certainly didn't have enough oomph to appeal and no support.  I'm still here and given what I now know maybe that's a good thing.

Having not painted for most of twenty years after my MA I found artists on Instagram and thought 'I can do that', so I started drawing and posting my efforts, it's changed now but was small and friendly to begin with.  My account grew and I sold a few pieces but lots of people comment (in a nice way) and I felt obliged to answer them and be friendly but I increasingly found I couldn't answer and I'm still stuck like this and can't even paint at the moment.  All I want is to make my art and have a small income, but I always run into the brick wall because I can't find a way to sell it that doesn't turn me into a basket case.

. The benefits system is an incredibly traumatic place to be for sure, keeping your head down is the only option.  All we want is to have a chance at living a productive and balanced life but sometimes it seems impossible.

HI Misfit and all - wow that is something I didn't know about.  Guess it's too late to make a difference to me as I've been on facebook since moving across country on the hunt for an education placement for my daughter.  But the isolation is just too much if I don't communicate online so will have to keep going with it.  Plus - its supportive (incredibly) being on this forum.

I don't know and they don't care. Don't you know we don't try hard enough and are spongers? Bit cynical sorry. Just as well I quite like /grown accustomed to a quiet life. 

So living is a punishment now..,,my god, didn't realise that being human was such a crime.,,,,how does that scanagainst the human rights act?

Its really difficult when our worlds shrink so much when we try so hard. Are there any of the Nas groups/services  in your area that you could tap into? Some areas have lots and others like here none. 

I know Malabar isn't "working" nor am I but I think maybe others are. You may not be aware but  In the UK claimants for social benefits can be penalised for being fully engaged in social media as it shows that you can mix, have friends, can use technology, can concentrate etc etc Fear tactics! I am even wary of contributing on here. But I have really appreciated listening to you all very much. 

Just my husband and my dad....the rest of my family stopped talking to me three years ago. No friends.

Hello Welly glad you found fb groups you liked the sound of and they will probably offer broader experience and views and more friendships. And Ele it's hard trying to engage family in this.. apart from your husband do you have anyone you can talk to sister aunt or friend? I'm having issues with one of my brothers .. This is the first place I have felt able to talk freely too but in the usual way of things because it's been bottled up Im too intense. The Tania Marshall check list was an eye opener and helpful. 

Hi Welly..

good to hear from you, as always....I know what you mean about the Tania Marshall list....I tried to explain to my husband where my head is at during the weekend....which just resulted in reading out to him Tanya's list.....I don't think he got it, or what I meant....that's the problem of trying to communicate about yourself and what it all means...

glad you are taking notes...and well done for getting an appointment. How long did you have to wait? Are you going solo or do you have someone to support you?

keep searching girl.....and keep in touch

Morning, happy Monday Elephant, and hello quirky friend. I have gone off and joined 2 Facebook groups. I just want to find what I need to know, make friends, not feel like the weirdo, not feel like I have to edit myself, worry about going on, saying too much, be myself, I guess it was me talking about Facebook mostly and I just wanted to say how refreshing this feed is and I, glad I have found you all. My 1st appointment to discuss wether I meet the criteria for assessment is 10th Aug. I'm writing things down in a notebook. I read the tania Marshall link today and cried most of the way through it. I really do feel like my eyes have finally been opened and everything really does make sense, but there's also a worry in the back of my head that medical professionals will say I'm wrong....but I know. I really know that I am autistic! 

well done. We have to be so determined to fight our own corner which is difficult for us. Yes the best thing is to go with lists and supporting information even if you leave it at the surgery for your dr to read then make an apt so they've had chance to read it and look it up. When it came to a second opinion I was prepared to go privately but my gp supported me and in the end the surgery gave me the funding. So stick at it if you can if that's what you want to do. 

Hi Spotty..... you keep getting lost in threads.....but I've found you

sound advice.....I have launched a bet with isthisreal .... who is in her early twenties ...and also contemplating seeking diagnosis..that I will book an appointment tomorrow with my GP and challenge her to do the same....

how are you today Spotty...?