To wonder if doc was right

[Tevion28]

So I do have difficulty knowing if somebody has done wrong by me at times.
I am under the mental health team as I feel there is something wrong with me and possibly its been there since childhood.
I was thinking about autism and have asked for a referral to be assessed.
Recent conversation with my doctor I felt he was a little off with me asking what difference a diagnosis will make to me at 51 years of age how it will change my life etc. I tried to explain well it would be nice to know whats wrong and help me understand myself more and he just kept asking but what difference will that make to your life. I kept trying to explain that things don't come naturally to me and I have difficulty processing my thoughts and trying to explain that I'm finding it difficult to cope with everyday life to which he said lots of people have the same problem and I am coping I have xoped for 50 plus years. Do you think he was correct to speak to me like this as I felt like saying hut your not with me everyday to see what's occurring.

I think he was right to get you to think about it. A diagnosis is not a magic bullet. It may help explain why you are as you are but you still need to develop coping strategies to help you function better, which you can do without one.

I think it's a fair question. Autism doesn't have a specific treatment and you can try coping strategies without a diagnosis.
Asking you to think about what a label will do for you before you're referred is appropriate. And if your answer is that knowing either way will help you understand yourself. That's fine, but I think you do need to be able to answer the question.

A diagnosis at a younger age is a gateway for extra support that isn't available/appropriate at your age. I understand the need for an explanation of what is actually "wrong" but it isn't what you need to help you manage. You can easily go to therapy and state that you have autistic traits and work from there.

A diagnosis at any age is a step in being able to understand who you are and rationalise life experiences.

I am mid CBT now and the topic has come up of me seeking a diagnosis, I don’t know if I have the energy to go through the process but I fully get why people want want confirmation

I guess so but how to explain myself I am getting very agitated as soon as I try to relax or sleep with shouting out, swearing, talking mumbo jumbo. I don't understand it

@BabyRace

A diagnosis at a younger age is a gateway for extra support that isn't available/appropriate at your age. I understand the need for an explanation of what is actually "wrong" but it isn't what you need to help you manage. You can easily go to therapy and state that you have autistic traits and work from there.

I disagree. Things like autism and ADHD often have co-morbidities such as depression and anxiety. So you can treat the depression with SSRIs, and the anxiety, and even have CBT for the anxiety, but you're not actually treating the root cause.

The root cause is the autism/adhd, treating the symptoms is well and good but knowing why they're there is useful in creating a treatment plan and coping strategies.

Additionally, things like autism/adhd, especially in women, have a habit of causing low self-worth "why can't I just do x like a normal person", well, because you've got a diagnosis of being neurotypical, stop trying to hold yourself to neurotypical standards.

Otherwise you're just asking for impostor syndrome and feeling like you're making excuses without a diagnosis.

The fact that you asked for some sort of. assessment shows that a diagnosis was important to you. He should not have been so dismissive of you.
I know a woman who got a diagnosis and it was a relief to her to know that certain difficulties in her life were not her fault but the result of her condition and she was able to find strategies to help her
In

I feel like I'm struggling and drowning and finding everything loads of effort. I also have a obsession with food outside food, binge eating etc everything is wrong and troubled abt me.

Can you afford a private assessment ?

There is no practical support for adults with autism so if you got a diagnosis then you'd be on your own from there.

I looked at prices for a private assessment and it's £1700 I can't do at this moment in time

I have asked for a referral to a physiatrist but its not happening the doc says I'm under mental health and that's it.

I was diagnosed in my 40s and I can say absolutely that it does make a difference. It doesn't just explain my past but it allows me to be kinder to myself. To explain why certain things happen and most importantly to ask for adjustments if I need them. Yes, I have got by my entire life without adjustments but something very simple can often make a huge difference to me.

Also my GP told me I could not possibly be autistic becaue of my too secret a la mumsnet hobby! They are not the professionals, unfortunately for NHS they are often the gatekeeper.

@Tevion28

I have asked for a referral to a physiatrist but its not happening the doc says I'm under mental health and that's it.

Speak to the mental health team, they will be much more help than your GP.

Mental health nurse spoke to a physiatrist on the team and they have wrote to my gp to change my antidepressants and to put me on something for the agitation but this doesn't address what the problem is.

@BabyRace

A diagnosis at a younger age is a gateway for extra support that isn't available/appropriate at your age. I understand the need for an explanation of what is actually "wrong" but it isn't what you need to help you manage. You can easily go to therapy and state that you have autistic traits and work from there.

I disagree with this. Knowing I am autistic has literally been the key in helping me 'manage'.

meltingappointment
I agree I'm going to say do I not need an assessment face to face with somebody.

What medication have you been prescribed? Do they have a working diagnosis?

Okay so apparently I have a mix of anxiety and depression but I feel there is something else going on. Nurse after phone assessment said that from some of my answers I could have asd but she can't say for certain.
She and the psychiatrist have wrote to my doctor giving directions to xhange me from citalopram to serialise and to give me promethazine for the agitation

Fgs that should say sertraline

The GP will be reluctant to refer you for diagnosis if you do not feel that the possible autism is impacting negatively on your life or a diagnosis won't help in anyway, it wouldn't have a positive impact on your life.

This might help you explain to your GP why you think you might be autistic, why you want a diagnosis and why it would help you:

www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/diagnosis/pre-diagnosis/adults

There is also a link in it to the NICE guidelines for GPs for diagnosing and managing autism (what your GP should do).

Thanks I've had to fill out a a multi questionnaire before he can refer and they will either accept or refuse the referral based on my answers

I had exactly the same response when I asked my doctor about ADHD which I’m convinced I have and possibly autism as well. I was mid 50s at the time. “What do you want a label for at your time of life?”

I don't think the dr is wrong for asking these questions - I work with children with SEMH needs in schools; it makes sense for diagnoses to be sought when they're young and are struggling to cope in order to make things easier going forward and dealing with challenging situations/changes which come with approaching adulthood.

I have depression, and likely ASC/inattentive ADD. I'm also nearly 30. I have coping strategies. If I were younger, I'd seek a diagnosis. As it is, I personally don't think it's worth it.

However, for you it might be worth it. A dr asking those questions doesn't mean they'll refuse a referral.

CounsellorTroi
It's almost like it's too complicated a subject for the gp.
Main reason I'm.pushing now is because of the agitation its awful and I go into moods alot

Has anybody on here had to fill out one of these questionnaires before getting a referral