I screamed mental health services down on many occasions, complete meltdown! Result lots of anger and frustration and still no help... waited over a year for assessment so I think what you have been told is pretty much correct as to waiting time. But let them know your waiting, ask them often about the status of the waiting list and convince them of urgency.
I asked my psychiatrist for a diagnosis, as it was not his expertise he could only write that in his opinion I had aspergers. That letter helped me a lot, showing it to anyone where I was going for help. They took me much more serious. Try something like that for yourself until you get something more permanent. Good luck
The cmht said they reffered me 4 months ago to get assesment of ASD and only now they write to me saying it is a 8 month wait that is 4 month wasted it is not on and I am going to see the manager at my GP surgery on friday and say that I am not copping well at all and that my GP and the CMHT is reffering me to places but then I need to wait ages to get the right type of support I am so fed up with this and if the Pratice manager doesn't do nothing then I will take it further with a advocate and complain to the NHS I need support and I need it now this is not acceptable at all considering how I am
It does seem to be pretty standard but it is also truly awful. Mental health is dealt with as a cinderella service that does not get sensible resources or priorities.
However, there is not much to be gained by sitting there and bemoaning the state of the nhs when there are things you can do and services you can call on.
I would agree with SOI about reading and understanding about the condition. I would go further and
a) treat yourself seriously as having the condition. Try to understand and challenge the tendencies that ASD gives us. Try not to say "I can't do X because I have ASD" Sometimes, doing X will be harder for us but it may still be worth trying to overcome your disability rather than giving in to it. Please listen to Claire Cunningham on this podcast www.bbc.co.uk/.../b04n611c Claire is an example of someone who does not deny their disability but does not let it stop her getting stuff done and having a fulfilled life.
b) treating yourself as a normal human being most of the time and trying to do what normal people would do. ASD is a part of us but it is not all of us. We are capabale of being rational, capable of love, capable of being happy and sad just like everyone else. Try not to let the ASD or any other problem take over your life.
