Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi all,
I won't tell you my life story. Basically, I've felt out of place my whole life. I'm now 33. Diagnosed with emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder a decade ago but never agreed with the label because I never had a fear of abandonment. I don't know what that means, because I prefer to be alone. Ever since I was diagnosed with that it's like a black mark on my health records. It's an awful label.
Anyway I finally have been referred through right to choose. The only problem is I do not have any one who can be my informant. Literally no one. I don't have a relationship with my parents, reasons I won't go into. I was bullied at school and had no friends and as an adult I choose to isolate myself. Its just easier that way.
I was hoping an assessment would give me answers. I've suspected autism for years. Recently I've felt constantly burned out and overwhelmed, just reaching a point where I can't cope with working, going to the shops and everything. Every single day is a sensory nightmare and it's got worse with age. I have got adhd too, which isn't helping stuff I think. I feel I need to go part time for my health but I just can't afford it.
Anyway I've gone off topic. I understand it might be hard to get a diagnosis without any evidence or any informant, and I don't have any school reports or anything either. I literally have nothing. I'm feeling very overwhelmed and defeated to he honest. Why is it so hard to get a diagnosis? Right to choose is my only option because I can't afford private but it seems it would be a waste of money anyway.
I do not want to put myself through an assessment if it would be impossible to get anything out of because of a lack of evidence and I'm thinking of cancelling the referral altogether.
It is not like they need evidence of courtroom, legalistic levels about your childhood traits. I was 59 when I was diagnosed with only a frail 90 year old aunt, that I did not want to bother, left alive. My own reminiscences of childhood were quite adequate for diagnosis.
I was diagnosed with only my own input- they can do it, as long as you're able to recall some things from your childhood. They often need much less third-party/childhood evidence for a diagnosis than you might think, especially if you're able to describe your own experiences well as an adult.
Thank you. I will email them and let them know. Sadly I don't remember much of my childhood but I remember some.
Thanks, but I am worried that this will make it harder to do a thorough assessment. I will give it a go.
Hi, don’t worry, I’m 55 and had the same problem. I emailed the NHS team and explained I didn’t have an informant. I was told to leave those sections of the questionnaire blank and an assessment could still be carried out. You are the best person to remember your childhood. A good assessor will find what they need to know.
If you cannot provide an informant they should just skip that bit, it doesn't mean they can't do the rest of the assessment it just means they can't rely on any long term 3rd party observations.