I think I am autistic.

[AnUnlikelyWorldofInvisibleShad]

I am going to see my GP to see if I can get a referral for assessment. Is this the right way to access the assessment process?
Is the GP likely to ask lots of questions? I don't know what I should be expecting when I go to see him.
If he refers me what happens during the assessment process?

He is likely to refer you if be feels it is appropriate. Why do you feel a diagnosis would help?

No help but i assume so. I too think i may be autistic but i dont know if its worth persuing a diagnosis for me as i can function pretty well. I never thought i was until my sister sent me my nephews autism report (he has severe autism) and i could tick off about 80% of the criteria.

I would say gp is your first port of call and they will know who to send you to unless you can afford a private assesment.

I am struggling with work regularly changing my department I'm in and my shifts. Also I am studying and dont cope well in exams. I think maybe I was able to get a diagnosis I could get a private room to sit the exam in or something.
I also think it might help me to make sense of myself. I have been reading up on autism in adult females recently and it has been like light bulbs coming on in my head. I can see myself in so much of what I have read.

Me too OP

I think I need to try the NHS route first. I suspect private would be very expensive and I probably cant really afford that. I wonder if there are lots of people who think they could be autistic but have never got a diagnosis for one reason or another.

Me too, but I don’t see the benefit of the diagnosis and know some of the assessors in a professional capacity so won’t be pursuing it (although it’d be nice to make sense of myself!)

Seeing the GP is the right way to start the process, yes. They should refer you.

Depends totally where you are on the next steps. In my case it was fairly quick, initial assessment about 3 months after and diagnosis within a year, just. This is unusual though and it normally takes quite a lot longer.

Be aware that if you receive a diagnosis, then usually that's it. There's very little follow-up or anything afterwards.

It took me a while to get used to, but I'm so glad I did it. It's helped with reasonable adjustments at work (small things, but have improved work massively), and I understand things differently now.

Yes GP first. I'm autistic and was diagnosed aged 40.

There are online questionnaires that you can do and take them along as they might help to make a case for a referral.

Depends on the GP what happens next and how much they know about autism and how willing they are to make referrals. Some people have to be quite persuasive to get a referral. Expect there to be a long wait for an assessment.

Have you looked up the AQ-10 or RAADS test?

Howmanysleeps - it's been life changing for me. I used to believe all sorts of negative things about myself - from having a psychotic illness to being useless to not fulfilling my potential. I believed I was mentally ill for years.

To finally know that this is what I've been dealing with my whole life and to have an explanation for some behaviours that I was ashamed of is so helpful.

It’s worth writing down all the reasons you think you might be on the autism spectrum, and take it along to your GP.

I always struggled to cope with work, study (despite being reasonably bright), and relationships. I’m three months into the loooong waiting list.

I would like a diagnosis as my daily functioning is significantly impacted, to the point that I can only really perform basic tasks, and get horribly stressed and overwhelmed even then.

Good luck.

I think I am too. I haven’t decided whether I’ll pursue a diagnosis (need to get it sorted for my children first) but, like @bitheby says, it would be a huge comfort to know that I’m not just a bit of a failure when it comes to socialising and friendships and career and mental health and... and...

I too used to think all kinds of negative things about myself. When I finally accepted that it might be autism it was such a relief. It would explain a LOT about me, going right back to early childhood.

If you're studying, your institution may be able to arrange an assessment for you.

I can see a psychologist the same week I ask my disability advisor, generally.

Not that I see them weekly.

My GP got a bit confused and sent me to someone who gave out coping skills for anxiety, initially.
It worked out in the end.

I would get a private room to sit exams in, if I had exams.
I also get an extension on essays.
And I can record lectures.

Work haven't been as amazing. It took over a year for them to make adjustments.

Where I live (NE Scotland) they won't refer. There is no adult pathway for autism diagnosis. Unless you are either in education or under the mental health team for severe MH problems.

I think I might be autistic but haven’t pursued a diagnosis as imo it would be used as a stick to beat me with in the event that I divorce DH or social services ever becomes involved with my family. If you have DC I strongly encourage you to think about this sort of issue.

What do you mean?

Why would this be an issue for SS

I was diagnosed around 9 months ago now, after looking into it when my daughter was diagnosed and having a million light bulb moments of 'so that's why I do that' etc. It's been helpful to me because now I am kinder to myself. I am able to read my triggers more and take the time I need/ leave places if I am experiencing sensory overload etc. I have no worries about social services / divorce etc, tbh I am a better parent to my autistic daughter because I can see where she needs adjustment and I adapt to her. @AvaSnowdrop I would be interested as to why you think it would be an issue with ss?

Ava, what are you talking about?

Parents with neurological, intellectual or psychiatric disabilities are frequently discriminated against, claimed to be incapable of parenting or wrongly judged to be a risk. Such parents are often afraid to leave abusive relationships for fear they will be discriminated against in child custody proceedings. If you get divorced the last thing you want is for your DH to be able to say “she’s autistic and therefore an unfit parent because of her disability”. There are numerous news articles demonstrating how SS discriminates against disabled parents, for example www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/dec/02/mothers-mental-health-issues-give-up-children

A 6 year old article about something that happened 18 years ago isn't really relevant tbh.

Advising people that SS removes the children of autistic parents is dangerous and it's nonsense.

Go somewhere else and spout your shite, a board where someone is looking for support isn't for you.

If you get divorced the last thing you want is for your DH to be able to say “she’s autistic and therefore an unfit parent because of her disability”

How awful of you.

I'm not even going to waste my time responding to this but I will report you for it.

I am studying through the OU. I've had a look on their website but unfortunately it doesnt look like they offer autism assessments.
I have done an online AQ test and got a score of 49.
I have felt like a failure all my life because I cant cope in social situations, only have one friend, struggle with work and studying. I think if I could get a diagnosis maybe it would help me be kinder to myself.

I have just looked up the RAADS test and I got 33/42.

I think if I could get a diagnosis maybe it would help me be kinder to myself.

It absolutely will, because making sense of things is important.

Please don't worry about the silly posts above, no one is coming for your family and you have no reason to hide from yourself.

I am autistic, diagnosed in my 30's, with 2 autistic children (also NT DC) and so much makes sense now.

Do any of you experience meltdowns? I wonder if you would explain how they affect you. I assumed I have panic attacks even though my symptoms dont actually fit the panic attacks. But I have been reading about meltdowns and it seems in adult women they can present as episodes of uncontrollable crying and not being able to communicate what's wrong. This is what I experience. I start to get a tension in me when its noisy or if something isn't what I expect. Then i start crying and i just cant stop. Floods of tears that can last for an hour or so sometimes and I dont really know why I am crying as I am not usually upset over anything specific. Then afterwards I am so tired and all I want to do is go to bed.