Published on 12, July, 2020
So basically I've just returned from my first appointment at my local community mental health centre after being referred by my GP.
I felt that the conversation I had when there was very broad and didn't really take into account any wider points, specifically more related to Asperger's. The majority of the question were about the social side of things, which I understand is obviously a big part of AS, but other characteristics affects me too and make life difficult.
All in all we spoke for only 15 to 20 minutes before she concluded I don't have AS, that I have social anxiety and depression and tried to pit me on a course of anti-depressants. She said she'd book me another appointment to see her in 3 months, and one to see a psychiatrist about the social anxiety. I declined the medication, not least because I'm not depressed, but also because I am put off by side effects and such.
I understand how social anxiety can be very closely related to AS, but I feel she didn't listen to or pay any attention to the other characteristics and such that are covered by the umbrella that is AS. Obviously some days I feel 'down' about things, but it's very far from being depressed and I feel as if they've just made an extremely quick decision in trying to offer me anti depressants before fully understanding everything.
Should I just continue and go to the appointment in 3 months, and the one with the psychiatrist, or should I go back to my GP and try and get referred to someone else who may pay more attention to me?
I probably should've mentioned, I'm 20.
Thanks for any advice/help :)
Hi Dave,
It can be very difficult getting a diagnosis and it is often a very long process. I have been through ths process myself, and I was diagnosed in 2009.
I got referred to the mental health team by my GP for OCD and multiple anxieties/phobias, particularly around contamination.
First of all I saw a Psychologist. I told the psychologist about my life long problems making friends, fitting in etc. She told me this is all because of my OCD. But I knew it was not just because of OCD, because right from a very young age (since preschool) my parents knew I was not a typical child. My parents themselves strongly suspected I had AS. So I asked for a referral to a psychiatrist, a very old psychiatrist who was on the verge of retiring. She claimed I could not possibly have AS because I 'interacted too well', and she diagnosed me with social anxiety and 'neurosis', a strangely old-fashioned label. She never asked me about why I thought I had AS at all during the whole interview.
I asked for a second opinion. The next psychiatrist thought it was possible I had AS, but could not diagnose me as he was not qualified to do so. But he took a life history, wrote it all down, and referred to to the NHS adult autism diagnostic centre.
I waited just over a year until I was seen by the centre. I saw sveral different autism professionals and my parents were behind me all the way. I provided an old Ed Psych report from when I was 10, which was highly indicative of Asperger's syndrome, and recommended a statement of SEN, but this was not followed through by the school.
I was finally diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and got the vital support I needed from specialist support workers. I have since come a long way, am more confident, and less afraid of many things, although I still have a degree of OCD and still get very anxious from time to time.
So you just have to really fight to be heard I am afraid.