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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

    I think the autism diagnosis may be more useful than you think. I think that the autism may be having a bigger impact on your life than you or your GP realise.

    Your agoraphobia may be more to do with fear of meeting people outside than fear of simply being outside. The definition includes both fear of open and public spaces. Many people with autism become reclusive because they find meeting people such hard work.

    It sounds as though the mental health service may have referred it back to the GP because the GP has the budget for treatment and referrals. The GP is simply wrong to say that there aren't facilities for adult diagnosis. There are guidelines and obligations specific to adult autism that are quite clear about this. Perhaps you could discuss this with the MH team who may be able to put the GP straight on this question. The specialists will be able to advise and help you with this.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    I think the autism diagnosis may be more useful than you think. I think that the autism may be having a bigger impact on your life than you or your GP realise.

    Your agoraphobia may be more to do with fear of meeting people outside than fear of simply being outside. The definition includes both fear of open and public spaces. Many people with autism become reclusive because they find meeting people such hard work.

    It sounds as though the mental health service may have referred it back to the GP because the GP has the budget for treatment and referrals. The GP is simply wrong to say that there aren't facilities for adult diagnosis. There are guidelines and obligations specific to adult autism that are quite clear about this. Perhaps you could discuss this with the MH team who may be able to put the GP straight on this question. The specialists will be able to advise and help you with this.

Children
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