Hey everyone, I have an upcoming assessment an im absolutely terrified u see I ive been pushed around so much to do with depression an anxiety an how I am in general im worried they ain't guna really listen to me like everyone else 
I struggle alot to truly get out how I feel an speak up I just keep thinking im guna fail it all an be laughed at
Totally get all that I feel the same way, but yeh its best to keep moving right.. even if we dont want to
some good days and some bloody awful ones
Me too. When I have a challenging day I look forward to a good one, when I have a good one I know what is on the way.
Well I’m okay but a little uncertain of the future. Day to day I just get on as I always have done, some good days and some bloody awful ones, but I am okay thanks.
Thank you 
hope things are OK with you
I understand a little of how you feel. I hope it goes well for you
I have had therapy in past CBT an i couldn't takenit in
CBT can work well for most autists but it has to be adapted from its original format to be able to be used well by us.
From what I have seen on this site over the years there are few therapists who know how to do this still, and the NHS is one of the worst offenders.
A good tip if you are going to have any sort of therapy / counselling is to interview the person before and ask about their experience with autists and what training they have had on the subject. Anyone lacking in these is, in my opinion, best avoided.
I will have my niece with me for support, I have never been good for opening up an saying exactly how I feel I shut down an think people dont need to hear me I just worry as my doctor or shall I say mental health nurse has been so horrible to me lately over everything an walking into that room next week I think I'll be judged before I say anything I just want someone to believe me an not just brush me off like theres nothing wrong.
Thanks all for your encouraging words an tips means alot its on Wednesday so I'll defo come back an say how it is, but I have had therapy in past CBT an i couldn't takenit in felt like I just wasted his time an he knew it so yeh I always think im guna ruin it all before I start.
You won't have been referred for no reason, so you have a right to be there and be heard.
I struggled with the idea of failing, because it is a test and you pass or fail, right? Except it is an evaluation. The purpose is to help you to understand yourself. Any answer is helpful, if not this maybe something else is your issue. So think of it as part of a journey, take the pressure off.
The people doing it should be understanding. They may try to keep you on topic, I kept trying to steer away, but it is your chance to speak. They will not judge, so you can say the wildest, strangest or most embarrassing things. You might get a raised eyebrow.
They absolutely will listen, that is what they are there for. They want to hear you, the real you.
You are not trying to impress anyone, you don't have to look as if you are coping, look wherever you want and answer truthfully. They only know what you say, they are not mind readers.
It doesn't matter if you cry. Just this one time, say what you really want to say. It may take some courage, maybe a lot, particularly if you have not had any therapy beforehand, but you can do it.
Don't try to guess what they want to hear, or what will give you a good score. It is not so easy and the are looking for more than just what you say. There are many different 'right' answers.
Afterwards, you might also think that you have done too well and seemed too normal, that you wasted their time. But then be surprised when you meet all of the criteria. You can't judge.
You may feel a bit strange, lost or numb after the session(s), you may also feel tired and want to be quiet for a while or just to talk to a friend. It is an odd process.
You'll be fine :-)
I worried too but it will be okay.
From my experience the assessor made me feel as comfortable as I could be, I was worried that I had somehow messed my assessment up but these people are trained to observe non verbal things as well as how you answer questions. Don’t feel pressured, just be yourself.
After my assessment and then my official diagnosis I told them once again how nervous and worried I was that I had somehow messed everything up, I was told that it’s not always about the things you say and that it’s about the things you don’t say.
As others have said make some notes on your experiences and how they can affect you, either forward these on to your provider before the assessment or have them to hand as a prompt. That helped me as I can forget to say what I want to say so at least I knew they had the information which gave me some peace.
You will be fine I’m sure, if you struggle to say what you want to say then let them know this and how it affects you, things like that should help them direct any questions in a different way to help you be at ease.
Be sure to come back and let us know how you found the process (if you want to share) and I hope you find what you are looking for
I have an upcoming assessment an im absolutely terrified
It really isn't that bad so long as you know what to expect ( see https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis/assessment-and-diagnosis/what-happens-during-an-autism-assessment ) and have prepared some notes on what your autistic experiences have been through life so you have talking points if asked.
One failing many have is they "mask" and downplay their autistic experiences because that has been a defencive technique that has worked for us in life. It is best to be brutaly honest and just give them the facts.
A good source for working out what autistic traits are is https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis/before-diagnosis/signs-that-a-child-or-adult-may-be-autistic
I would suggest writing down which of these you can identify with and maybe add a sentence beside each one saying how it affects you. Keep it brief so it is easy to refer to and it can be used more as a prompt to remind you than anything else so it needs to be concise.
With autism being a spectrum condition then chances are you will have some of the traits at different levels of impact. No 2 of us are the same so don't worry if you are not the same as another autist.
You may also find it helpful to take one of the many free online AQ-50 tests which are just multiple choice tests and will be similar to parts of the assessment. This should help familiarise yourself with the types of questions and the multiple test format.
Remember that there are no wrong answers - it is all about helping identify how autism affects you so being truthful is the most effective way of dealing with it.
The assessors are trained to do this process and should be able to out you at ease so don't worry about them being mean or what if you don't reach the criteria for a diagnosis. In some ways not getting a diagnosis could be considered a good thing as it means autism is not causing you major issues with life, but if you do get the diagnosis then it helps you on the path to understanding it and being able to manage it better.
All outcomes are good in that respect.
Thanks for replying an ill take on board what u have said 
Hi there, I’m so sorry you are feeling like this at the moment. I’m sure you will be fine when the assessment comes, just let the psychiatrist know how you are feeling. Struggling to express feelings is an autistic trait I believe so the psychiatrist is bound to understand. If it came to it I’m sure the psychiatrist could do the assessment over two sessions if it came to it, that’s what I got offered but I didn’t need another session in the end. If it helps, make notes so you know what to say at the appointment. I wish you the best of luck
