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 :)
You might have AS, and as I don't know you and all we have to go by on this forum are words, I can't really say what I think because I have not met you. However, I am sceptical, and to be really sure you need to see an autism professional who may or may not diagnose you as being on the spectrum. There are other conditions that can mimic AS, and before I got diagnosed I was very aware of this and did not even go on any forums or join any groups because for all I knew I did not really have Aspergers. Of course you are very welcome here as a partner of someone with AS and in your own right as someone who is questioning themselves and who may or may not have AS, but you have to be careful and self-diagnosis is dodgy. Remain open-minded (however hard this is) until an official diagnosis.
The reason I am sceptical: finding it easy to may friends, as you put it, does not suggest AS at all, because the core AS symptom is always difficulty in making friends. It might be you are just shy and a bit eccentric or 'geeky', and this on its own can simply mean the slightly 'odd' side of 'neurotypicality' (I am playing the devil's advocate).