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Where next if NHS assessment isn't available?

dunk-in-biscuit

Hi folks, this thread has probably been covered hundreds of times but can't see it.

After cautiously self-diagnosing myself with Aspergers and backing this us with the online tests and lots of reading I headed to my GP to formally ask for an assessment. As usual, what fell out my mouth while there wasn't exactly convincing but his realistic opinion was that due to lack of resources (or lack of willing) I was not going to get an assessment in Cumbria if I was not of school age. Now I can knock a few years off my age by shaving off the beard but the receeding hairline is a bit of a give away - so I think it is safe to say this route is closed.

I've been (thankfully) offered CBT to beat back the depression and social anxiety but understandedly they won't touch the aspergers with a barge pole.

But heres the rub......having started down the road I know I won't be able to move on until get some form of "answer" that makes sence of who I am. Self-diagnosis is fine but I could just as easily convince myself donkies only have three legs!

Have any of you any experience of how you gain certainty (and peace) about being on the spectrum in the absence of a formal assessment.

Regards Dunk

Parents

  • Did you go and see your GP in the end? I've been debating it all trying to work out what's best. I tried to explain some of my concerns to my dad and he just said I am who I am and I don't need to label it. But he doesn't understand the problems it causes and the way I feel about myself and I think I will be able to accept myself much better if I knew the reason and I get problems at work with it too and It's be best to be able to explain to my supervisors when they ask why I'm not talking and in a mood, when I'm not, I just don't have anything to say. Also i think I would stop beating myself up so much when I struggle with social situations. I know i felt better about me struggling with maths when I was finally diagnosed with discalculia, I think I'd feel the same with this.

    The main concern I have with a diagnosis (apart from the obvious difficulties with trying to explain my problems to a GP which is the hardest thing to do and they don't listen or understand me or whatever) but what about driving, I'm wanting to get driving lessons, I've always thought I would struggle with gears and things because I'm not good with sequences. So Ive put it off for all these years, but this year I got a scooter and have been all over on it and I'm fine, there's no gears but I'm sure I could learn it if I tried, I'm clever enough and there's some really thick people who drive, so if they can I'm sure I can. But what if DVLA say I can't have a driving licence at all. I live out of the way here and there's hardly any public transport, it's really bad!

Reply

  • Did you go and see your GP in the end? I've been debating it all trying to work out what's best. I tried to explain some of my concerns to my dad and he just said I am who I am and I don't need to label it. But he doesn't understand the problems it causes and the way I feel about myself and I think I will be able to accept myself much better if I knew the reason and I get problems at work with it too and It's be best to be able to explain to my supervisors when they ask why I'm not talking and in a mood, when I'm not, I just don't have anything to say. Also i think I would stop beating myself up so much when I struggle with social situations. I know i felt better about me struggling with maths when I was finally diagnosed with discalculia, I think I'd feel the same with this.

    The main concern I have with a diagnosis (apart from the obvious difficulties with trying to explain my problems to a GP which is the hardest thing to do and they don't listen or understand me or whatever) but what about driving, I'm wanting to get driving lessons, I've always thought I would struggle with gears and things because I'm not good with sequences. So Ive put it off for all these years, but this year I got a scooter and have been all over on it and I'm fine, there's no gears but I'm sure I could learn it if I tried, I'm clever enough and there's some really thick people who drive, so if they can I'm sure I can. But what if DVLA say I can't have a driving licence at all. I live out of the way here and there's hardly any public transport, it's really bad!

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