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SN undiagnosed genetic conditions

This forum is for Mumsnetters to discuss undiagnosed illness.

How to access adult autism diagnosis.

3 replies

Scareypoppins1 · 24/06/2019 14:22

Hi, I was moved to write this after reading comments from people finding it hard to access adult asd diagnosis services.

I'm a student mental health nurse, who also happens to have aspergers syndrome. I was only diagnosed two and a half years ago. It has changed my life for the better, although I hasten to add that diagnosis doesn't help everyone, and that it's a difficult journey.

If you feel that you have traits, there is more than one way to access diagnostic services. Some people go through their g.p. However, if you feel this is not for you, or you have felt that they didn't listen or help, self refer to your local well-being service. Certainly in my area, they cover access to the Autism diagnosis service. You will have to deal with several assessments, which can be upsetting, and you may have a long wait. I had to wait a year from first contact to diagnosis.

I'd also like to say that the law demands a diagnostic service exists in every area in the u.k, so there will be one. They are contactable and can be found online if you need to and can give advice. Unfortunately the downside to adult diagnosis is that there is no support to help you deal with it. Nothing. There are charities but they are overwhelmingly for children. You also may not get the answer you wanted or were expecting, this can be hard to deal with, but it isn't a negative. It means that you've ruled out one possibility and can now go down the next path towards getting an answer.

However, if you feel that a diagnosis will help you make sense of your life, persevere. You'll get there.

OP posts:
Taffy85 · 24/06/2019 18:58

Thank you for sharing this, can I ask what would be the local well being service? I've had a quick google but can't seem to find anything in my area?

Scareypoppins1 · 24/06/2019 21:21

It may have a different name where you are. I did a quick generic search before posting and lots came up.
Well-being is a service aimed at common mental health issues such as anxiety, depression etc, which are not severe enough to need involvement from secondary mental health services such as community mental health nurses.
You can self refer, which means that you can bypass the go if you want. If you can't find this service in your area I would then recommend contacting your surgery to ask about the equivalent in your area, alternatively contact MIND. They really are fantastic and very helpful. They also have local branches around the country. The website is at http//www.mind.org.uk

Mental health tends to be more difficult to access than physical health sadly. The autism act (2009) introduced legislation covering diagnosis services and waiting times, but they still aren't reflected in reality.
I hope this helps you. Please feel free to get back to me if you have no luck down these routes. (I may take a few hours to answer, but I will do so).

OP posts:
Syty · 12/12/2019 08:34

Reading with Interest here, been with my wife for 20yrs since she was 18 (married for 15,yep,im a man) this year her behaviour appeared increasingly erratic and unfathomable as she decided she wanted a divorce (another man on the scene, caught in a compromised position etc), I have now moved on and I am with an amazing woman I met on a dating site (I am still living with my ex and daughter struggling with court, divorce etc.) my new partner is a sen teacher and is just finishing her 5th masters degree which is sen (has 3 others that are all education based) so she knows her onions, well it turns out that my wife is very much on the spectrum! I didn't click as I had no clue asd presents differently in girls so the traits didn't register and I desperately want her to get a fair deal out of this divorce as we have over half a million in equity so I have insisted we use the court to decide the finances but she won't even instruct a solicitor and insists she is "talking to one" and doesn't seem to understand the process properly (she phones my. Solicitor and I get billed every time she gets a letter from them), we have no trust left so I guess I have unwittingly been her crutch for a long time and she is obviously struggling now without my support,i literally only realised she is autistic yesterday which alleviates my concerns she has some underlying serious illness but I'm wondering what I can do for her to help her, tbh she is going to struggle on her own and is quite guillable and naieve and there is no way ever she is going to accept she needs a diagnosis, I have been begging her to see her gp all year as did my mum as we both became aware of her odd behaviour, any thoughts and advice welcome, she has a full time job and has had for 20 years so she would I guess be classed as high functioning

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