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Hi everyone

Paul

I just realised I've posted on a couple of topics but I haven't introduced myself properly.

I'm Paul (m, 49, neuroqueer). I'm currently self-diagnosed AuDHD and trying to get through the GP barricade towards formal diagnosis. They're not making it easy at all. I've also done a lot of reading, talking and listening about autism, adhd and other diagnoses, mainly to try to make sense of the last almost 50 years of my life.

I'm a personal trainer, strength coach and mental health and exercise coach (MHEC) and have been doing this for 9 years in May. I'm currently in and out of burnout due to the overwhelming nature of the job and have had to scale things back a lot in the last year just to preserve my energy.

In my spare time I enjoy playing online games, reading, getting out in the Peak District and using meditation and mindfulness to relax. I'm also interested in paganism and feminism.

Look forward to saying hi on the boards. 

(I typed this in large size and then reduced it down because my laptop screen makes it tiny)

  • in reply to Paul

    I also saved all of the answers just in case Joy  Also made it easier to write things up.

    Hopefully you're sorted now, but I think mine was technically done as a self-referral rather than through my GP if that makes it any easier.

    I believe it can still be done without the childhood part, it's just more difficult to determine because of masking.

    (Hopefully none of that is violating the rule on medical advice)

  • in reply to Paul

    The mini book club sounds fun, unfortunately I don’t know anyone that has the same interests as me in terms of reading. 

  • in reply to D

    Yeh this sounds about right. I've had the same questionnaire sent to me 3 times by the GP. Also had a phone call with a GP who said he didn't have time to discuss 'a problem like that'. Urgh! I'm also not in touch with anyone who knew me as a child so that could be tricky if that comes up.

    I've got the answers to the questionnaire saved on my phone now so I can just email them if I get sent it again. It does seem as if they want to push us into meltdown to prove that we're serious. Pretty incompetent and cruel. I hope the process is smooth for you from here on. It'd be nice just to be on the waiting list but that's proving too difficult for my GP practice to understand.

  • I'm awaiting autism assessment. Not sure the issues you're having with the GP, but I found the initial part of the process to be rather stressful. For example, my first submission was rejected because I apprently used an old version of the form (which had been provided by my GP). I think in the response, they included the correct form, and said a digital version was also available on the website. No link and searching for it didn't come up with anything. Ended up having to get in contact with them. My GP received the same response from the Autism service and decided to help by sending me the wrong form to fill out again. Then the letter said there were 3 forms. One for me, one for someone who knew me in childhood, and another for someone close to me. They only included 2 forms though, and didn't say which form was for who. Just had to figure it out from the questions. Then I think different parts of the form were using different fonts as you typed in answers which irritated me...

    Almost feels like the first part of the assessment is just seeing how stressed you get from the process. All submit now though. Just waiting.

  • in reply to whiteD404

    I'm 49 so definitely not too young. Yes, that's the one.

  • in reply to Paul

    Is that underground....overground wombling free reference? O & U might be too young to remember?

  • in reply to whiteD404

    Hi WhiteD404. My partner and I have a mini book club so we read a couple of chapters from the same book together most nights, since we don't live together. It's fun.

    We're currently almost finishing The Sirens by Emilia Hart, and before that we read Big Swiss by Jen Beagin.

    Our preferred genres are a mix of cosy fantasy, dystopian future, witchy books and light real life comedy. Our next book is So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne and it looks like a funny one.

    My partner is more engaged with paganism than I am, but we both love spending time in nature and we find the nature based religion far more interesting and less controlling than any of the organised religion we grew up with.  It just feels a happier place to exist.

  • in reply to overwhelmed & underwhelmed

    Thank you. I just read your name and heard it in my head to the tune of The Wombles. Grin

    I wonder if we could make a song about autism from that. Slight smile

  • Hi Paul and thanks for the intro, what kind of things do you like to read? Paganism sounds interesting, is this around Druids etc?

  • Welcome to the forum Paul  !