Neurodiversity thread - for all MNetters who are neurodiverse - ASD, ADHD, Dyspraxia and more.

[FaithAscending]

Welcome one and all to the new thread. A safe haven for MNetters who identify as neurodiverse, diagnosis or not, and those waiting for assessment. Links available in recent threads. Newbies welcome. We just ask that you introduce yourself

Ratty that made me chuckle :)

My only diagnosis is depression, which I think is accurate but obviously it's massively influenced by my (probable) autism.

I'm having a bit of a crisis at the moment. I've mentioned all the bloody time a couple of times on here about how much I'm struggling right now. I'm crying quite a lot. In the past, when I've felt like this, I've been to the doctor and been prescribed ADs and they've helped.

This time, I'm already on ADs. I'm trying to figure out whether upping the dose would help at all or whether this is less a depression thing and more an Aspie burnout thing. My GP here seems next to useless, as well, which doesn't help. When I went the other day for a review she asked how I was coping and I said not very well and she just asked again like I'd given the wrong answer and prescribed the same again.

BDH ah yes the old 'Here's some meds go fix you. They're not working? Shall we give you more of the same? A higher dose?' Have you had counselling at all? I find meds help but only counselling gets to the roots of my issues and lets me move forward.

Me too ratty

bdh I find I have to increase the dose of ADs every winter... been on 3 different ones, most times I started over winter and then the following winter had to increase. The 3rd time I dropped down again in spring as I think it must be the winter months affecting me. It worked except I really need to increase again now, but don't want to because of baby. Obviously YMMV but it's worth considering a temp increase to get you through?

Polter, I keep wavering over what to do in terms of a diagnosis. If I wait, DH should be getting a pay out for being hit by a minibus next year (early March, I think) and I could use some of that money to go through a charity like AFA for an assessment.

But, that means feeling like I'm doing nothing about it for the next few months or more.

However, since my GP told me she'd discussed it with her colleagues and there's 'no service for adults' to get an assessment in the area I'd need to fight to go through that route. Obviously, I know there legally has to be a service but I'd need to explain that and then convince her I needed an assessment and then wait for a referral etc.

It's more stressful and might end up taking just as long, if not longer.

BUT, I would at least feel like I was doing something.

Faith, no, I've never had counselling. The closest I came was getting 'talking therapy' when I was first diagnosed with depression. That was awful and I ended up saying I felt better just so I wouldn't have to go back and it meant the depression got much worse until I eventually moved and changed doctor and felt able to go back again.

BDH have you had routine bloods done got things like thyroid and vitamin D? Also if your GP is just adamant that there's no service, could you contact your local adult LD team to see if they know about services/assessments for adults instead?

X-posts. I don't find talking at length ('person-centred') counselling that helpful. I'm working with a 'well being practitioner', it's CBT type approach but not strictly CBT. Mostly I'm challenging negative thoughts and how they escalate.

Crohn, it might be a seasonal thing and increasing might help. I just don't want to go through the fuzziness I get when I first start taking ADs if it won't help, you know?

Bdh, have you tried a light bo? It helped me stave off mage depression last winter. I'm coming off my anti D's because I can't take the side effects anymore. Plus I think investigating if I am actually AS may help more than any anti d does. But I will be using the light box again to keep the vit d up

Faith, the 'talking therapy' I had was CBT based but it felt so impersonal. Basically, after pouring my heart out (and I understand better now why that was so hard/draining for me but I tried so hard to be honest because I wanted to 'get better') I was handed a booklet to fill in at home. All the speaking I'd done seemed utterly pointless because the guy was obviously just going to go through exactly the same motions regardless of what I'd said. It felt quite humiliating.

Then, the booklet itself was so obvious and basic. I kept thinking, 'if it was this easy, I'd have cured myself by now.' It was all stuff I'd found myself with all the googling of depression I'd done before going to the GP in the first place.

I know that was one bad experience and probably nothing like what might be offered by all sorts of different professionals but it completely put me off anything talking-based treatment wise.

Polter, that's very kind of you. I did use it to try and find what's in my area but I get so confused by the different area cut offs and one that came up seemed to be for assessing children so I gave up.

I'll PM you and maybe you'll have more luck.

Light box *

DH has just arrived home so I'll probably go and chat to him for a while before bed but thank you so much for all the support and I'll be back on in the morning.

Sorry totally messed up there. Was trying to say have you tried a light box for seasonal depression? I've found it really helps.

Im coming off my anti-ds because as use I can't take the side effects anymore and will definitely use the box again.

I also feel that my depression may be helped if I get diagnosed.

Can I ask a random diagnosis question?

From what I've read, the diagnostic tests require a close relative - most likely a parent - to be part of the process. I have three issues with this

1. My mum is dead
2. My dad would have no idea

3 the idea of ANYONE being able to hear what I am asked, and the answers is utterly unacceptable. There is not a chance I would be able to talk with anyone there. This is utterly non-negotiable.

Did anyone get a diagnosis without having anyone with them?

I didn't involve my parents. My Mum died 9 years ago...I know about her perspective anyway. I was labelled as 'naughty' as a child. I don't think I did much intentionally but hey ho. My Dad worked long hours and I don't think he'd have the answers to the questions. I didn't feel comfortable involving him at the time. He did provide childcare but I didn't tell him until the day of the appointment about the ASD. He has been great about it but took him a while to get his head around it. So my assessment was based purely on my history and my presentation during the assessment.

Thank you, Faith - that's really helpful.

No problem Sweary, I'm glad to help!

BGH I've heard good things about light boxes and daylight bulbs so might be worth a try. I've thought about giving them a go myself.

Can anyone recommend a good article about masking? Preferably one that might carry some weight with the school. I've got a meeting with DD's class teacher & head this morning. I've been trying to get across to them how much she is struggling with school at the moment, but I don't think they believe me as she 'seems happy' at school.

Ooh, I think I have that somewhere! If only I hadn't just moved house! Will see if I can dig it out, thank you :)

Erin sounds awesome.