• Replies 7 replies
  • Subscribers 71 subscribers
  • Views 136 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Advice needed: NHS treatment for young adult with Autistic burnout

MikeB

Hi all

My family needs advice from someone who has experience navigating the NHS mental health treatment system where autism is involved.

My 27 year old daughter has been sectioned and in a mental hospital for approximately 3 months. Initially she was diagnosed as suffering from  depression and anxiety but this has been changed to autistic burnout after she was tested for and diagnosed as being autistic. Her hospital seems to have little idea of how she needs to be treated and cared for in terms of her autism despite the intervention of the local NHS Autism Service. Our daughter  was a teacher until earlier this year when she could no longer cope with the stress caused by a lifetime of masking her autism. Her psychiatrist and staff at the hospital seem to feel that she can't be that unwell because she can express herself clearly. At the moment they are trying to railroad her out of the hospital despite her ongoing suicidal thoughts. She has made several attempts at suicide before boing sectioned and while in the hospital. 

We are extremely worried that she will be released before she is ready to cope.

Can anyone offer advice or tell us who can help?

Thank you

Parents

  • Hello.

    Does she recognise what has happened to her?

    This is my opinion based on what I experienced. Some may not apply, everyone is different.

    Having a diagnosis is hard, it causes a lot of uncertainty and confusion. Re-framing the past is not easy and takes time. It is hard to find out you are not quite the same when you've tried so hard.

    Around that age is when it can get to you. Life is finally too much. It got me although not as bad.

    Not knowing what is happening to you is hard.

    You can still appear logical and sensible and emotionless as that is the default setting. Your logic might go awry and be based on some misunderstandings, but it can be consistent and coherent.

    Emotional processing can be erratic and asynchronous. You can discuss things in a completely detached manner then break down later when everyone has gone.

    Not wanting to be seen, or accepting you have a weakness, does not help.

    You can lose perspective and previous problems get magnified. You can loop on them endlessly.

    The main solutions should be removal of pressure, a calmer, quieter environment without noise or stress where you feel safe, regular routines and being left alone. Only being seen by someone they trust to talk to who is calm, supportive and trained. You mostly want to understand,  not so much be comforted

    I expect the environment is not especially calm or reassuring.

    I think the key thing is to encourage her to believe it will pass. It will take time but it can get better. She has not failed, people don't think less of her, she still can have a good life, even if it doesn't seem like it at the moment.

    Good luck.

Reply

  • Hello.

    Does she recognise what has happened to her?

    This is my opinion based on what I experienced. Some may not apply, everyone is different.

    Having a diagnosis is hard, it causes a lot of uncertainty and confusion. Re-framing the past is not easy and takes time. It is hard to find out you are not quite the same when you've tried so hard.

    Around that age is when it can get to you. Life is finally too much. It got me although not as bad.

    Not knowing what is happening to you is hard.

    You can still appear logical and sensible and emotionless as that is the default setting. Your logic might go awry and be based on some misunderstandings, but it can be consistent and coherent.

    Emotional processing can be erratic and asynchronous. You can discuss things in a completely detached manner then break down later when everyone has gone.

    Not wanting to be seen, or accepting you have a weakness, does not help.

    You can lose perspective and previous problems get magnified. You can loop on them endlessly.

    The main solutions should be removal of pressure, a calmer, quieter environment without noise or stress where you feel safe, regular routines and being left alone. Only being seen by someone they trust to talk to who is calm, supportive and trained. You mostly want to understand,  not so much be comforted

    I expect the environment is not especially calm or reassuring.

    I think the key thing is to encourage her to believe it will pass. It will take time but it can get better. She has not failed, people don't think less of her, she still can have a good life, even if it doesn't seem like it at the moment.

    Good luck.

Children
No Data