Please can anyone help. I have approached the GP surgery a number of times now regarding difficulties I have been experiencing and my wish to seek an assessment for aspergers syndrome and ADHD by a specialist in these areas. I have had several professionals advise me to go for a formal diagnosis as I have been seen to display traits of both conditions and records show that I experienced these difficulties in childhood. My eldest daughter has also been diagnosed with ADHD and Aspergers and my other daughter is also undergoing assessment. I have already been diagnosed with OCD, social anxiety and depression. I believe these conditions are a result of undiagnosed and untreated ADHD and Aspergers. I also have a diagnosis of dyslexia which is often associated with ADHD and Aspergers. I feel there is plenty of evidence that it is well worth while me seeking this further referral. I have had to explain to several doctors and other professional that my personal and work life is being affected.
I feel I am at breaking point having to keep explaining myself and I am finding the appointments at the surgery humiliating in terms of the constant questioning as to what difference a diagnosis would make to my life. I did not feel the GPs at the surgery were helpful in supporting my wife and I when we sought assessment for our children and I am experiencing the same difficulties now I am seeking help.
During previous appointments at the surgery, I have been informed there are no appropriate service to assess for adult autism/adhd. On my behalf, my wife contacted the National Autistic Society, I was informed that this was not the case and there were in fact specialists within the area. I have also spoken with other adults who have been diagnosed within Derby/Derbyshire. I therefore made another appointment to discuss this further. A referral to the path finder service in Derby was made. During this appointment I requested that the referral was for a formal assessment for adhd/asd.
I was seen by a consultant psychologist. Whilst the appointment was helpful in some ways and enabled me to continue with further therapy sessions with my current therapist, the consultant informed me that he does not believe in ADHD in adults and therefore he would not be assessing me for this condition. During the course of the appointment he advised me that I had a number of autistic traits, however he felt that a diagnosis would be nothing more than a negative label. He then went on to diagnosis me with OCD, social anxiety disorder and clinical depression. I am very dissatisfied with the difficulties presented in seeking formal diagnosis.
I am seeking diagnosis to help me and my family have closure on some of my past difficulties and to continue gaining insight and treatment where necessary in order to move past the difficulties I have experienced due to lack of support, assessment and diagnosis. I attended the GP surgery again to request a referral who specialises in adult adhd/asd. The thought of another appointment and the possibility of lack of action caused me a great deal of anxiety. I persevered with this yet had to leave the appointment without a referral. Following a writen letter sent byself and over a week wait, I was innformed in writing that I would not be referred to this service and the assessment I have recieved was adequate to my needs. I wish to be referred to Dr Simon Taylor in Chesterfield to be able to finally get an appropriate assessment and get the closure I have been seeking. Please can anyone advise me on what I could do next.
