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Diagnosis

NAS77224

Hi all, I've just joined today.

I was wondering whether there are any other ways to try and get a diagnosis without going through my GP? My GP practice is doing the COVID thing in a big way and are not 'into' people contacting them asking to be referred to a specialist Autism person. It is literally only a couple of weeks or so that I stumbled upon Aspergers/Austism Spectrum; and me. A good mate of mine (who is autistic) said I should do some tests so I've done a couple.

Strangely, as a writer, everything seems to make sense now, more than it did before.

I've been struggling and denying since I was a child that maybe, just maybe I was on the Autism Spectrum.

Just wondering whether there are other ways to get a 'proper' diagnosis without going through the usual GP channels.

I'm unemployed and have been on and off for years because I cannot hack people -- at all, and, as for social things -- no way! can't hack any of these situations.

Job interviews? don't even go there. Every single one of them I blow my chances. It's not because I don't want the job, it's just the job hunting process, and the inevitable problems I encounter with interviewers. They don't have a clue, and maybe, nor do I. I have no idea what I should say, do, speak about, dress, act. It's utter hell. If there was hell on earth, than it would be for me at least, the interview process. 

I thought there was something 'wrong' with me, and been feeling this way for more years than I can remember. As a child I had several mental aberration 'events' too. Not proud of them but they just happened. Can't explain why or how.

Meltdowns? all the time! and with the COVID scenario, even more meltdowns. On the plus side, however, I am more than happy not to maintain any eye contact whatsoever. Wearing a mask? not a problem!

But Strangely, COVID has made my world a lot more difficult and hostile for me to navigate through. It has become more overwhelming than any other time in my life. It's just too much.

Before COVID, I could deal with (ish) overwhelming situations with a certain decorum and control. Now? Not at all.

Hope this community can help, and if so. Thank you all, in advance, for even just reading this -- sorry it's so long; an outpouring of raw emotion, I feel.

R

Parents
  • NAS77224 said:
    My GP practice is doing the COVID thing in a big way and are not 'into' people contacting them asking to be referred to a specialist Autism person

    I can understand that they might be inundated at the moment and slower to respond, but they can't be just not "into" it.  I got a referral through my GP during the pandemic.  I wrote him a letter rather than ring for an appointment.  I sent the online tests I'd done plus a list of reasons why I thought I might be on the spectrum together with an explanation as to how I thought it might be affecting my difficulties.  He sent me an AQ10 by post.  When I returned that, he referred.  I assume he fit that into a spare 5 minuets somewhere between appointments.

    That said NHS waiting lists are Looooong!  The wait can be years.  I went with the NAS's Lorna Wing Centre as a self referral.  

    There are indeed other ways to do this but most of them cost.  University students sometimes get referrals to and assessed by their own in-house teams, I know.  Otherwise, you can go private, which means self-referring - no need for a GP, but there are costs which can be significant.

    Unless you have a rich generous uncle or have a lottery win, your best bet is to push the GP.  I would expect them to be slow just now, but they can't ignore you.

  • in reply to Dawn

    Hi there

    Useful I formation! However,

    I went to see my GP Practice today, they were not interested, said that I consider going private because the 'busy practice' has no available GPs or nurses at the moment. This is why I asked on the forum, whether there were any other ways of doing it. Sadly, I can't go private because I'm unemployed. How, if and when I get a proper diagnosis than I can present it to who it needs to be presented to and go from there.

    Thank you, though, for your comments

    R

Reply
  • in reply to Dawn

    Hi there

    Useful I formation! However,

    I went to see my GP Practice today, they were not interested, said that I consider going private because the 'busy practice' has no available GPs or nurses at the moment. This is why I asked on the forum, whether there were any other ways of doing it. Sadly, I can't go private because I'm unemployed. How, if and when I get a proper diagnosis than I can present it to who it needs to be presented to and go from there.

    Thank you, though, for your comments

    R

Children
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