Advice needed on my first diagnostic appointment please.

Is there any chance you can speak to your GP, explain the situation that you can't afford to have a 'sick day' but you also don't want them to know about a potential assesment just yet and could he/she authorise a letter to say you have an appointment. Or perhaps your GP could arrange something with the mental health team because it's completely unfair of them to be so rigid about their appointments.

I thought about this but the earliest we're allowed to leave for appointments is 4pm, and we need proof such as an appointment card or letters from GP. I'd rather keep my referral letter private right now.

I have already lost 6 days annual leave frojm being off with stress. If I'm off sick again I'll now lose 3 days pay  thanks to the stringent 'Payback scheme 'which I can't afford to do.

Is there no way for you to take the morning or afternoon off work when you would be having the telephone appointment? Just tell your workplace you have a dentist or doctor's appointment or something.

Thanks! This sounds like great advice. I will bear it in mind when answering any questions on paper or verbally. I will definitely request a psychologist , 'insisting' isn't one my strong points. I'm so rubbish at this sort of thing!

I don't know anything about this style of diagnosis, but I can tell you this much - GAD7 is an assesment form for General Anxiety Disorder, PHQ9 is a screening form for mental health disorders, and IAPT stands for 'Improving Access to Psychological Therapies'.

So it sounds to me, and this is only a guess, like they're trying to screen you for a whole load of things, some of which you'll probably have some signs of having (even if you don't actually have them).

Probably because they've still got the "A person with autism can't possibly work" mindset.

But I could be wrong.

Keep this in mind, particularly when answering any mental health questions (don't lie, but think carefully about what they're trying to ascertain by the questions they're asking (a classic example of this is if a psychiatrist asks you "do you hear voices in your head?" (or even just "do you hear voices?"!) - the obvious, logical, answer to this is "yes" - but to a psychiatrist that means 'schizotypal or worse' - but, of course, the vast majority of 'normal' people have an 'internal dialogue', and hear their own voice, and sometimes the voice of other people, like their mother, in their head all the time - but they're not schitzotypal, they're normal)).

Oh, and insist on seeing a psychologist that is trained in the diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

So the next step towards diagnosis is a letter from The Mental Health and Well Being Service telling me I need an assessment by telephone with one of their practitioners.

I have already said several times I am unable to make appointments or take personal calls at work but this appointment is for an hour between 3-4pm. I will have to ring back and go 'all around the houses' yet again explaining my work situation.

There is also a questionanaire to fill in before the appointment.

 The questions are multi choice , the headings for each section are as follows.

IAPT;PHQ9;GAD7. None of these questions seem to relate to Aspergers, mainly regarding anxiety, phobias and my social and economic status.

Has anyone else encountered this mode of diagnosis?

shoekitten said:

I just went to whoever my GP suggested, he didn't seem exactly sure where to send me. 

Mine wasn't either. He admitted that. He's a trainee and told me he'll discuss it with his trainer and will get back to me. He did originally say something about DRC (?) in Southampton, which is quite far from me.

You can get a second opinion if you wish.

I just went to whoever my GP suggested, he didn't seem exactly sure where to send me. I have taken this test numerous times and always score 39 .

You're right, I should have printed it out and taken it with me.

I will definitely do this when I see the next 'expert' on the conveyer belt.

Thanks!

Shoekitten,

If you think you have AS you need to see a psychologist, not a psychiatrist.

Also have you seen the Adult Autism-Spectrum Quotient screening test?

It's a simple set of questions (about 50, iirc), and once you've done it you can work out your 'autism quotient' score - which will tell you whether your belief that you have AS is likely to be correct or not - it's might also be usefull to take a print out of the results with you to a psychologist.

The test can be found here: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

So I finally had my first diagnostic appointment while this site was down. The psychiatrist was young enough to be my son.

He asked about work, my past and present relationships, my family background. Then declared I'm suffering from anxiety and mild OCD, suggested I take some pills "to make me feel better" and cope with the bullying at work.

Obviously I resisted ,I am not broken and pills won't fix me. He eventually relented and said he's refer me for cognitive behavioural therapy which I've agreed to.

Still waiting 2 weeks later for referral letter. :-(

Hi
Im going through diagnosis too and was just as scared as u for my first appointment I also really struggle with face to face appointments, i sat down with my family and wrote down everything i needed them to know and even gave them a copy which they thought was great
I would defnitly recommend taking someone with you its a big help especially a parent because they know more about you're early years and development.
At least now you have the time to get all your notes together.
Good Luck I hope it all goes well.

I think that's very bad of your employer to refuse you time off, could you get the time off unpaid or take a days holiday?

It must be very disappointing to now have to wait even longer for your appointment but try and use the time constructively and positively by preparing for it as much as you can. Plan what you need to say and write it down, keep a notebook with you so if you suddenly think of things you can jot them down there and then. Take someone with you on the day for support, perhaps give them a copy of what you want to say and ask them to tick it off as you go through the appointment so that you are sure you've covered everything.

Good luck.

I have just been told I can't have time off work for my appointment. I have rescheduled for the beginning of May which is the next available appointment. So disappointed! I have been psyching myself for this so much.

I have just been told I can't have time off work for my appointment. I have rescheduled for the beginning of May which is the next available appointment. So disappointed! I have been psyching myself for this so much.

How do I explain why I think I have AS, and why I need a diagnosis? It's so hard to put into words. I have difficulties with face to face interviews as it is. This appointment is so important. I hope I can finally make sense of my life so far and why I've had so many problems.

It is more of a chat.  I've taken my son to one and it is not intimidating once you are int there.  I was nervous beforehand too! 

Bring someone with you! You'll be asked why you think you have Autism, your school life, friends and family. (because there's a genetic link, apparently)