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Why Get Diagnosed?

Boggart

Hi,

I'm an adult (31), female, and I think I might have mild autism. I wanted a diagnosis, and the mental health team (with whom I'm involved for anxiety) gave me the AQ10 questionairre thingy, on which I scored 8/10, but when I took it back to my GP she said something like that they don't really have any facility to diagnose adults and it wasn't that important anyway- I should focus on my other health stuff. I have severe anxiety, complete agoraphobia (I don't leave the house at all except for tests / specialist appointments at the hospital), and emetophobia, and digestive problems for which I've had an intestinal bypass- that's what the specialist appointments etc are to do with. 

I like my GP a lot- she's been very kind to me helping with my physical health problems, and very understanding about the anxiety stuff. My previous GP was nothing like that, so I really appreciate her. I do not want to make her mad at me, or get her into any trouble at all, but I'm a bit disappointed I can't get diagnosed. 

I guess I'd just like some advice- what should I do? What would you do? Is there any way I can press this without making my GP dislike me? Or is it best to just drop it? Does getting diagnosed make any real difference to your life? Does it help with studying / benefits / would it affect the treatment I get for anxiety? I'm already signed off sick, and I don't know if I really need any support for the autistic traits- they've always just been part of my personality, but I'm not sure how much the anxiety is tangled up in it, or whether that matters at all for treatment purposes? I might be completely wrong, anyway- I might just be an oddball and not autistic at all! I have a lot of the traits, but certainly not all of them. I guess I just got a bit of a bee in my bonnet about it and I'd really really really like to know. 

Parents
  • Former Member
    Former Member

    As CC says, your experience has a lot in common with our own. Welcome to the club!

    the main reasons for getting a diagnosis are

    a) so that you get the mental health treatment that is appropriate to your problems. If the MH team have done a questionnaire and are treating appropriately then you have perhaps achieved that goal? Understanding the ASD would be a key element in tackling your anxieties but otherwise if your are getting specialist MH help then the GP need not get involved in that too much?

    b) so that you can get the reasonable adjustments in work (from the Equality act) and any other things that your condition justifies in terms of benefits and assistance.

    c) the insight into your own condition so that you can help yourself.

    I've gone through this and have to say that the main benefit to me has been the last one. With a diagnosis you can read the right books and stuff to help get you on a better track. Everyone is different and your difficulties and priorities may dictate that b) or a) are more necessary.

Reply
  • Former Member
    Former Member

    As CC says, your experience has a lot in common with our own. Welcome to the club!

    the main reasons for getting a diagnosis are

    a) so that you get the mental health treatment that is appropriate to your problems. If the MH team have done a questionnaire and are treating appropriately then you have perhaps achieved that goal? Understanding the ASD would be a key element in tackling your anxieties but otherwise if your are getting specialist MH help then the GP need not get involved in that too much?

    b) so that you can get the reasonable adjustments in work (from the Equality act) and any other things that your condition justifies in terms of benefits and assistance.

    c) the insight into your own condition so that you can help yourself.

    I've gone through this and have to say that the main benefit to me has been the last one. With a diagnosis you can read the right books and stuff to help get you on a better track. Everyone is different and your difficulties and priorities may dictate that b) or a) are more necessary.

Children
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