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Appointment with my local Mental Health Team

Undiagnosed4321

I got a letter through with an appointment to see my local mental health team at the end of February. I haven't been given anything to fill out for depression or anxiety so they can decide if Im worth treating. I actually have an appointment with a clinical psychologist.

Im mostly sure from what was said at my GP's appointment, that this isn't going to be for Autism or anything, this is just going to be an initial chat and examine some things - social anxiety, aspergers maybe, any one of the number of different options.

I've been trying to discuss with people around me some of the things that affect me, and frustratingly, many turn around and say, oh, that's normal - many people are like that.

Really? So normal people bite their nails, pick their nose and eat it, pluck their hair, walk round the block twice because they don't have confidence to go into a venue, find it hard to ask questions, find it difficult in a group, find it difficult to approach people, don't have a girlfriend, still live with parents? That's about 1/100th of everything I've got written down elsewhere. Im not getting into the contents of that.

  • One of the problems is that most of the characteristics related to autism (or depression, or an anxiety disorder etc.) are things that are very common - it is a question of degree or extent.

    For example, most people can relate a story where they have misinterpreted another person's intent by failing to recognise sarcasm or pick up on a facial expression etc. (often they make amusing anecdotes) but if it happens constantly, perhaps to the extent that others pick up on it and comment or make jokes about it, that would be unusual.

    A couple of things I have found useful in communicating with professionals is:

    1. Try to think of actual examples where the problem you are trying to describe has occurred (ideally more than one for each problem).  These seem to help them to judge whether your reactions in the situation, the way people responded to you etc. seem typical or more unusual.

    2. Try to think about ways the problem you are having is impacting on your life.  For example, everyone feels anxious sometimes so just saying that doesn't tell them much.  But if you never get to sleep before 3am because you are worrying, or can't go on public transport because you are too scared of sitting next to strangers, or keep losing jobs because you spend too long on tasks because you are so anxious about making a mistake, these would indicate that your anxiety is beyond the levels that might be expected.

    Generally, if you can give them enough context about when the problem occurs and its impact, hopefully they will be able to judge whether it falls within the 'normal' range or not.  Going on to explain why the problem occurs for you - what your motivations and thinking patterns are like - can help if they are struggling to decide between two or more different possible diagnoses.

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    The people around you may be being honest, everyone picks their nose etc (in moderation, privately, not to the point where someone else will have to point it out and make you stop). The people around you may be trying to reassure you by encouraging you not to get worked up about minor issues.

    A big big point here is that if you are on the spectrum you will not have a clue about whether they are being honest or reassuring as we don't have the skill to identify and interpret other people's real thoughts and feelings.

    I will try and reassure you - I think you show lots of signs and have lots of issues that may well be due to autism. You have people around you who are trying to be supportive and help you relax. Everyone needs reassurance but we sometimes struggle to identify when people are just being nice to us.

    It doesn't hurt to be aware of little habits and trying to stop doing them to excess. It also doesn't hurt if you have habits that you really can't stop - there's no point getting worked up about trivia.

    I suspect that you are going to find it hard to get through until the appointment. Try and relax - listen to something distracting (I find that podcasts of radio 4 programs are engaging enough to stop the racing thoughts) and try and simplify what you need to say to the psychologist:

    a) You have real problems with MH and wellbeing issues

    b) you have reason to believe that the root cause of the issues is autism.