Handhold please, speaking to GP about autism for myself

[Olivegreenstrawberries]

For the last year I have been over thinking about weather I am autistic or not. I have accepted that I have traits but weather its enough to be classed as autistic I'm not sure. I have finally booked a phone app with my GP to discuss it. I'm so worried that I will get dismissed because I can clearly pass as neurotypical since I've got this far in life without it being picked up by anyone. I'm 34.

He is a thorough GP so if I'm going to talk to anyone about it at least I somewhat trust him. But I have no idea what his knowledge of autism is.

I am so nervous and there's a very real possibility that I'll end up saying that I booked the app for something else.

If it was a face to face app I would have brought print outs of the recent online auctions tests I've done, that would have made me feel prepared buy obvs I can't do that over the phone. I feel sick to my stomach. It feels so exposing to tell him about my challenges.

Any support is really appreciated. Thank you

Anyone :(

I’m here! When is your appointment? You are not the first person he will have talked to who wants to be referred for a diagnosis. You’ve got this!

Can you write down a bullet pointed list of what you want to say, so that you don’t forget anything?

Thank you!!

Anytime now, he will call me. Yes that's a good point about not being the first. He has also met my brother who is autistic...quite clearly autistic.
Yes I've wrote down a few things.
I just hope I don't get overwhelmed and cry on the call as it's so difficult to talk when I cry.

How did you get on Olive? Hopefully he has called you by now and you’re not still waiting. That’s good that he knows about your family history. Sending you lots of encouragement

I'm still waiting, ahhh! The doctors closes at 6:30.

Gutted he didn't call. I guess he will tomorrow

Oh that is frustrating isn’t it? I will keep my fingers crossed for tomorrow. I’d probably call the surgery to chase at lunchtime, but that’s just me! Keep us updated

Yeah annoying. I rang again this morning. We'll see what happens. Thanks so much for your replies.

I've had the call! It was.right before I had to collect my son so I've not processed it and not done what he said yet which was to register on a site. He listened and didn't dismiss me. He said once I've registered we should talk again in 2 weeks.

I also mentioned that I'm struggling with my mental health at the mo, not sure if I should have said that in the same call anyway it's done! Can't believe it.

👏🏻🎉 that’s fantastic! I have been checking in all day!

I’m so pleased that he listened to you and I’m really glad to hear that you were confident to share your worries about your mental health. It sounds like he has a good understanding of the next steps

Well done! What are you going to do this evening?

Well I've registered on the site he told me about. I've put it in my diary to make an app in 2 weeks in an attempt to get it out of my mind until then. Easier said than done!

I do feel I have autism too since my child was diagnosed with it and learning more about it. Iv done some online questionnaires and they said I do. How did you start the convo with the gp?