Talking to your GP about AS

I once again bow to Longman's ability to put it into words!

I've always had issues with pills. The only thing they've ever achieved for me is to 'dull down' the me that is me, and I've hated it.

As I understand from previous postings you already have the diagnosis. So you are concerned about what to ask for in a GP surgery.

Write down what things are real up front problems, but also think about each of these. GPs don't seem very well informed about AS, and some are too quick to offer pills, which may be unsuitable. For things like that you need a specialist. So have a think whether what you want is a referral rather than the GP offering a quick fix.

If you are having sensory overload all the time, and suffering from it, there is medication they can prescribe that reduces the impact - BUT it is a leveller and might subdue your responses to everythuing including your coping strategies.

Temple Grandin in "Thinking in Pictures" has a section "Believer in Biochemistry" She suffered hyperactivity and panic attacks and was prescribed Tofranil which resolved things for her. She goes on to discuss the medications. Tony Attwood in "The Complete Guide to Asperger Syndrome" has a section  on medication in his chapter on understanding and expression of emotions, in which he is cautious about drugs to reduce things like anger because what they do is reduce the energy that drives the reactions, but doesn't take away the underlying emotions.

If you only have sensory issues or anger or panic attacks some of the time, you might be wiser to avoid a medication that levels you off all day, but takes away a lot of enhusiasm and energy that might be doing you good. But I think you need specialist advice, so get the GP to refer you to an autism qualified specialist for medication.

Similarly with coping strategies or social difficulties, try to get a referral to someone with the expertise rather than just the GP thinking of a pill that might work.

A GP probably won't be able to treat your ASD related problems - you need to be referred to mental health services who have the specialist understanding of ASD and its consequences. You should try and persuade the doctor of two things. Firstly that you have real problems - anxiety and depression are real illnesses that can really benefit from treatment. Secondly you need to try and show why you think that it is autism related - write down a list of things that you find hard - e.g. do you get into big misunderstandings and diasagreements or do you have few friends etc.

Drugs tend not to work very well on people with ASD and many people on the forum have found that they manage better when they understand the condition and have learnt strategies to deal with the world.

Good luck, the GP is the first step to getting access to the help that you need.

Hi again Mark

Is it that you're seeking an asessment? If you are, you need to start by telling your Doctor what you think and why. The symptoms you describe are very familiar to me, they're quite common amongst us, so try to mention them all. They should be able to refer you for suitable assessment. I had to wait a year, but others have much shorter waits and I think it's just a geographical lottery.

There are no medications that can help with the ASD, it's a 'condition' not an illness, but if you're also feeling particularly down your Doctor might offer you some anti-depressant. I've never yet taken any medication that did me any good, but the diagnosis worked wonders. Go with whatever you feel that you need right now.

The ASD can't change, but the way that you feel about it certainly can!

Good luck