Last year I was diagnosed with autism as I had been referred by my mental health team. I have had years of trauma and domestic violence and mental health issues. I only had to wait a year for the autism diagnosis so that was good.
After the assault I was referred to the local domestic violence team. Not Womens Aid. I had a domestic violence advisor who was ringing me every week. A MARAC meeting was held about me. The advisor said prior to this maybe I could some support relevant to my autism.
After the meeting was held the advisor didn't ring me back. I became very upset and rung her. After this call, she never spoke to me again.
When I rung the service find out why, I spoke to an awful person who had no empathy who told me I was taking away time from domestic abuse victims and I should ring mental health services in a crisis. I kept trying to explain that the advisor had promised to help but had then stopped contact and this had affected my mental health.
I spoke to a manager who seemed to mock me by saying I was looking for a 'dream' I was only trying to explain what the advisor has said regarding autism support.
I then had to stop all contact with the service. The man who assaulted me was charged and a court date was set for months later. The whole time he was on bail he was contacting me, manipulating me, until the court when I felt I could not give evidence and he was found not guilty. I had no one to turn to and completely isolated. I felt like he at least would come back and not abandon me.
After he was let off the abuse became worse and it ended up where I was at his house and I couldn't take anymore and ended up pushing him over and the police were called.
This was a couple of months ago. My mental health has been awful, I am terrified of loud noisies and men, I can't leave the house and now I cannot sleep.
I actually had another call from the same domestic abuse service after the final incident. A woman who rang me out of the blue and didn't introduce herself, and had no clue about how getting a non molestation and how it works now. I had got a non molestation order myself and the NCDV solicitor was really professional. So I had complete trust in them. But again the domestic violence service had no clue and gave me information that was not even up to date.
AIBU to feel completely let down by this service and that they are failing vulnerable people.