Published on 12, July, 2020
I live in a block of flats and I and most of the rest of my neighbours are having problems with one of my other neighbours.
I may be biased, and I am certainly not an expert, but, talking to one of my other neighbours and reflecting on things afterwards, I suspect the neighbour we are having problems with is also (undiagnosed) HFA.
One of the problems is that, although we are having problems with him, he is apparently convinced that he does not have any problems and we are the ones with problems.
Any suggestions on what to do? (I don't want to go into detail about the problems we are having because he is not here to defend himself.)
Ideally I would like to persuade him to seek a diagnosis but I don't see how to do it if he does not think he has any problems.
The only other possibility I can see is that eventually he does something which leads to him being involved with the criminal justice system and perhaps the criminal justice system can force him to be diagnosed although even then I don't see how you can diagnose someone without their willing participation.
Guess without any details there is not much anyone can say, other than that you can't force anyone to seek an autism diagnosis, and given the waiting times and difficulties in getting assessed even when wanting so, and the lack support even if diagnosed, I can't quite see how this would help at all. The criminal justice system will probably also not force him, quite the opposite, they may not realise it even if that would give him some protection.
But with no details whatsoever, there is no way anybody here could say 'oh yes, someone had the same issue with me and they approached it in this or that way which was helpful or not at all helpful'...
I was similar to my neighbour in many ways until I was diagnosed a couple of years ago at the age of 50. (My neighbour is older.) The main benefit I have had from being diagnosed is greater self awareness which has let me discard most of the negativity and bitterness I had towards life although my local autism hub also persuaded me to successfully apply for PIP which, although it is not a lot, helps.
I accept it is difficult for people to comment in more detail without further details but as I said he is not here to defend himself. I might phone the helpline when I would be able to go into more details.