Chris Packham

[ArmaY]

After watching Chris Packham’s Autism Documentary on TV some of what was said resonated with myself.
I’ve always felt different, I’ve never made friends easily but would love to fit in more easily. I often feel overwhelmed and can’t find the right words to say how I feel. I love nothing more than sitting on my own upstairs after work, chilling out and spending time thinking and processing thoughts.
How do I look into the possibility further? Where do I go with this?

Some info here

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

I'd recommend reading the book Women and Girls with Autistic Spectrum Disorders by Sarah Hendrickx. It's based on interviews with lots of different autistic women and girls, so you get a really wide-ranging idea of what autism can mean.

I was diagnosed by Sarah Hendrickx. Make an GP appointment and be firm in your request for referral. Then, read/research. You may have a long wait.

I cried and sobbed watching the 1st episode. I saw myself in the lady, but am too overwhelmed to begin the process of going for a diagnosis.

I saw myself in the young girl. Such an interesting programme.

I went to the Gp armed with a list of my "significant deficits" as they so helpfully put it in the diagnostic criteria. organised into three categories, it was more than a page long. (so fucking autistic)

Visit your GP and ask to be referred for assessment. The wait will be 2-5 years depending on your location.

I mentioned to my GP a couple of things I was 'wondering' about after an appointment for something else. She asked if there was anything else I wanted to talk about, (which is a bit of a rarity with GP's) so I braved mentioning that I was struggling to maintain friendships due to hating the phone, that I was struggling with showering due to sensory issues and that I was the only person I know who liked lockdown. I didn't really think I'd get a referral, but I did, and I was assessed within 4 months (Greater Manchester). The assessment was with Axia, who Sara Hendrickx is connected with.

When I did the online tests (that anyone can do) I didn't score as autistic and that put me off asking for a formal assessment for ages. I would say just ask your GP and give examples from childhood and any present difficulties. Hopefully you will get a referral, and whatever the wait time, you could be on the path to knowing one way or the other.

I did the same (mine was 4 pages of A4 and a few results from online tests like the AQ). I was diagnosed at the CLASS clinic(Cambridge) over 10 years ago and the person doing my assessment did note that the form I'd filled out, all of the multiple choice questions had notes next to them (along the lines of "depends on the situation", "more info needed to answer"). I go into so much detail on things, and massively over-explain everything, it comes from being misunderstood so much. Even with DH I go over and over things to be certain he understands what I mean/what I'm talking about (even when it's a subject he's got no interest in such as coding).

Yes my forms were covered in written notes as well. @camelCase