Upcoming mental health appointment

Goosey,

I'm thinking of you today,

Ben

Hi Sparkly thank you so much x

That's so sweet of you and I really do appreciate it :) 

I've already written down a few things like progress I've made to tell them about I'm hoping it will go really well ^^ 

My Dad always sits in with me he's really nice like that.

Hi Kate :) 

I'm really sorry about your son and that they wouldn't be more understanding in helping support him.

I think they should do video or phone appointment if that's what you find most helpful after all it should be what helps you most what they use

But weirdly they seem to make it more complicated and uncomfortable than it should be even when they know that it affects you bad :/ 

I'm sorry for your son how is he now? 

I hope things are better for him.

It's great that your therapy has been working for you. I think I've got PTSD as well it's horrible isn't it :( 

I'm glad you have a good therapist who is understanding of your needs.

Thank you for your kindness I'm hoping it will go well on Monday :) 

I'm feeling really positive at the moment x

I just want to say that I hope your appointment on Monday goes okay for you Goosey. I'm glad your dad will be with you for support. 

Hi Goosey,

This has been an issue for too. My son was having phone and video appointments with his therapist but then they wanted to move to face to face as things with the pandemic had changed. But my son hates face to face appointments, and to physically get to the place they wanted to hold the appointments was very difficult for us too. But they insisted that in the very near future they would have to go face to face. Anyway my son couldn’t cope with this, and for that and other reasons he’s decided to stop having therapy altogether. 
I had therapy for ptsd earlier this year from a different provider - it was all done over the phone and it was really good. I think they should offer both - depending on the needs of the patient. 
I totally agree with you that there is a need for targeted/specialised mental health services that meet the needs of autistic people. Our needs are often different - and a lot of services just don’t get that. 
Good luck for Monday - I hope it goes ok. 

Yes I'm told that to

I'm glad you're still here you bring a lot to this community so that's definitely a good thing ^^

Nope!

But I'm still here and people say that's a good thing, so... :/

Thank you so much Ben :) 

That's so kind.

I hope you're having an amazing day ^^

Thanks Roy! :) 

I'm so lucky to have him! He's really understanding and supportive and tries his best to help understand my situation

He always sits in with me during my appointments I really appreciate it x

Thank you I'm hoping it will go well.

Interestingly though I found being in hospital extremely distressing I did feel that most of the nurses there were really understanding and supportive

If the mental health services I'm with were like that there wouldn't be a problem.

I hope things are ok for you now!

I know right I thought the exact same thing!

Not a lot of knowledge or understanding of autism and the eye contact thing is something you hear about all the time

They know about my autism but a bit like my mum I feel they don't really believe it. I'm lucky to have my Dad as well because he gives me so much support and understanding x

Autonomistic said:

Sadly that has been my experience in the past and my trust in mental health services has been completely destroyed. Rather than trying to help they look for 'evidence', which can and will be used against you

I am so sorry this has been your experience! Virtual hugs! X

This is also quickly becoming my experience. I'm thinking soon I'll stop involvement with them because they aren't helping.

I'm finally starting to feel better and more like my old self so if I can get rid of them and stick here and with NAS then I think it will be a lot better for me :) 

I hope it goes well for you Goosey, I'll be thinking of you.

Ben

Hi Goosey, glad you have your dad to help.

Goosey said:

Like there ask me why I'm not making eye contact "are there voices telling you not to make eye contact??"

I think they need some training with understanding autism, a lot of autistic people don’t like eye contact, that doesn’t make us Schizophrenic.

That voices comment is pretty bizarre. I don't think the mental health people I've seen have understood autism that well, but they've never suggested anything like that (although it is just standard practice to ask if you're hearing or seeing hallucinations). 

Good luck anyway. I've seen... a lot of psych people over the last 3 weeks and they've mostly been okay. Unfortunately not as great as the regular hospital people who were happy to find me quiet rooms and turn lights off. 

the voices? ...it sounds like they are trying to push schizophrenia onto you lol

Their questions about eye contact sound extremely concerning. There is such a lack of knowledge about autism in mental health services and it needs to change. If you stopped a random person in the street and asked them about autism they would probably mention lack of eye contact. It really is basic stuff!

They should also be allowing reasonable adjustments and that includes offering appointments by video call if that works better for you. Why wouldn't they allow you do have the appointments in an environment where you are more comfortable and find it easier to speak, it makes no sense 

There is some good guidance on this website about requesting reasonable adjustments from mental health services:

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/seeking-help/asking-for-reasonable-adjustments

On that page there is a link to this document, which your mental health 'professionals' would do well to read.

https://s2.chorus-mk.thirdlight.com/file/24/asDKIN9as.klK7easFDsalAzTC/NAS-Good-Practice-Guide-A4.pdf

Goosey said:

NO! I have autism which they know but it feels like they try to catch me off guard and make me confess to something which isn't even true :( 

Sadly that has been my experience in the past and my trust in mental health services has been completely destroyed. Rather than trying to help they look for 'evidence', which can and will be used against you  

They clearly do not understand autism but what is far worse is that they do not even try to understand.

Goosey said:

Personally I find this forum and going out walking much better for my mental health

I absolutely agree. I no longer have any contact with them and those things are what works for me too.

I look forward to those days will be good for everyone with autism when more people are trained in it and understanding

HMO said:

It's weird though, they should be offering alternatives if the situation lends itself to it. 

100% agree!!!  

Personally I find this forum and going out walking much better for my mental health

I think though the appointment should go well as my therapist has lowered my meds as I'm doing a lot better :) 

Omg why would they say about voices in your head that's really messed up! Fast forward to the days there are more mental health professionals available that are trained in ASD & ADHD!! We really need to be understood

I'm glad that you have him, and I hope it alleviates some of the anxiety.

It's weird though, they should be offering alternatives if the situation lends itself to it.