i've had suspicions of possibly being on the spectrum for awhile, possibly having AS. I've avoided a formal diagnosis because I've been afraid of what that might mean for me in terms of discrimination, but I've only realised now that without a diagnosis, it's much harder for me to get any specific help with AS, people skills, therapists, etc. I've been seeing a therapist recently that I chose because they were gender and sexual minority positive, but they had no experience with autistic spectrum people and I feel as though a lot of my "social anxiety" actually stems from being on the spectrum and it might be difficult for any therapist to treat me without an understanding of the autistic spectrum.
I've also worried about it being a factor in me being discriminated against when I go to adopt a child. I really do want to adopt a child eventually and am already worried that being non-gender conformist already presents an issue as well as having other health problems and disorders. My other disorders involve taking oral medications and injections and I could argue that it won't affect my child raising skills but I was worried that a diagnosis of AS would mean that maybe they wouldn't give me a child or I wouldn't be approved based on having poor social skills.
But I really feel like not having any help with aspects of the social anxiety that I'm having a lot of trouble with isn't working. I really would like help with it and I feel like getting a diagnosis would not only be helpful (I could tell other people who like to tell me I couldn't possibly be autistic to shut up finally) but it would finally put the question to rest, so to speak. I guess if I was told I didn't have it it would also be equally as helpful although it would present more questions than answers.
Any way, I was told at a workshop on Neurodiversity that diagnosis an assessment varies on the NHS by borough. I was wondering if anyone has been living in the London borough of Croydon and could tell me how their services are and if diagnosis is the improved one path-ed process that the gov't has said they want to update everyone on or if the borough is not so fantastic.
Cheers.
