Where to get advice on medication

The one time I was given medication for my mental health from a GP was terrible - I asked about side effects and he just said “read the leaflet with the tablets”. That was it. And unfortunately I went on to have appalling side effects from that medication. So I have very little faith in GPs to really give people the time and attention they need. It’s not just their fault - it’s the system etc - it doesn’t cater well to people with complex problems.

I know there are downsides to doing your own research online - but as long as it’s from trusted sites it can be helpful. I don’t know if you are financially able to do this but if possible you could try going Private and pay for advice and help that way? After my difficulties with the reaction to the anti-depressants my parents paid for me to have one appointment with a Private psychiatrist - and even though it was just one appointment it genuinely was helpful and pointed me in some helpful directions. He also recommended a book called ‘self help for your nerves’ by Claire Weekes (I may be spelling her name wrong) which was a book published many years ago about nervous breakdown etc. It’s a bit of an ‘old classic’ - but I really did find it helpful and it got me on the right track to sorting out why I was feeling so terrible. 

I think improving our understanding of what is really happening is the beginning  alleviating our poor mental health. Since then I’ve learnt variation strategies to help me cope with the stresses and stains of life. I find mindfulness very helpful - which I’ve learnt through the Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village. 
I don’t think anything can necessarily make life ‘easy’ for us as autistic people - we are undoubtedly prone to mental health issues. So I think it’s a matter of getting a deep understanding of why we think the way we do, looking at other issues such as our upbringing and the way the society we live in is in some ways inherently hostile to autistic or sensitive people, and finding ways to mitigate the way all these factors make our lives more stressful and exhausting. The situation is complex, and therefore the solutions are somewhat complex - but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot we can do. 
With the limited time a GP has with a patient it’s extremely hard for them to look at our problems holistically. This is why we end up with medication being seen as the first ‘solution’ - but it doesn’t work for everyone by any means, and I think when it ‘doesn’t work’ people can feel a lot of despair and hopelessness. But there’s so much more we can do. Even things like getting a good nights sleep and regular exercise can really make a difference. 
Good luck :) 

The one time I was given medication for my mental health from a GP was terrible - I asked about side effects and he just said “read the leaflet with the tablets”. That was it. And unfortunately I went on to have appalling side effects from that medication. So I have very little faith in GPs to really give people the time and attention they need. It’s not just their fault - it’s the system etc - it doesn’t cater well to people with complex problems.

I know there are downsides to doing your own research online - but as long as it’s from trusted sites it can be helpful. I don’t know if you are financially able to do this but if possible you could try going Private and pay for advice and help that way? After my difficulties with the reaction to the anti-depressants my parents paid for me to have one appointment with a Private psychiatrist - and even though it was just one appointment it genuinely was helpful and pointed me in some helpful directions. He also recommended a book called ‘self help for your nerves’ by Claire Weekes (I may be spelling her name wrong) which was a book published many years ago about nervous breakdown etc. It’s a bit of an ‘old classic’ - but I really did find it helpful and it got me on the right track to sorting out why I was feeling so terrible. 

I think improving our understanding of what is really happening is the beginning  alleviating our poor mental health. Since then I’ve learnt variation strategies to help me cope with the stresses and stains of life. I find mindfulness very helpful - which I’ve learnt through the Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village. 
I don’t think anything can necessarily make life ‘easy’ for us as autistic people - we are undoubtedly prone to mental health issues. So I think it’s a matter of getting a deep understanding of why we think the way we do, looking at other issues such as our upbringing and the way the society we live in is in some ways inherently hostile to autistic or sensitive people, and finding ways to mitigate the way all these factors make our lives more stressful and exhausting. The situation is complex, and therefore the solutions are somewhat complex - but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot we can do. 
With the limited time a GP has with a patient it’s extremely hard for them to look at our problems holistically. This is why we end up with medication being seen as the first ‘solution’ - but it doesn’t work for everyone by any means, and I think when it ‘doesn’t work’ people can feel a lot of despair and hopelessness. But there’s so much more we can do. Even things like getting a good nights sleep and regular exercise can really make a difference. 
Good luck :)