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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

mental health day centre

19 replies

jenk1 · 22/09/2005 12:14

ive got a letter to say there is a place for me tomorrow afternoon.

Dont know what to think about this.

On the one hand im glad im getting support and help for my AS, but on the other i feel - idont know how to say it--erm a bit sad

i dont know why though

im also a bit worried at what i will have to do at the centre or questions they might ask.

I know im being silly just needed to get this off my chest-ignore me!

OP posts:

macwoozy · 22/09/2005 12:25

Just wanted to say good luck jenk1, I'm sure it'll be O.K once you're there.

coppertop · 22/09/2005 12:27

You're not being silly at all! Good luck for tomorrow. xx

Original poster

jenk1 · 22/09/2005 13:45

thanks guys

OP posts:

Original poster

jenk1 · 22/09/2005 14:49

just had a visit from my hv and a family support worker.
The support worker is going to come every week and help me with things like doing my shopping cos i never go out on my own and spending time with dd and interacting with her cos i struggle doing this.

I asked HV about day centre and she said they will asess me tomorrow to see what further help i can get, dont know what that means but at least its a start and i seem to be getting somewhere now after years of frustration.

On another note i had a medical the other day for DLA.
The doctor was asking things like "what day is it?", and "count backwards from 20".

i couldnt believe it, my illness is mental health related and he sat and asked me questions like im thick
How can you perform a medical properly on someone with a diagnosis of aspergers?
Its beyond me.

OP posts:

Original poster

jenk1 · 23/09/2005 10:23

well todays the day.

I feel very anxious about it and couldnt sleep last night for worrying, it will probably be allright though just me being a worrywart,

Wish i could talk to my family about it but i cant, they dont accept my diagnosis and change the subject when i bring it up so i know they definately will not agree with where im going today.

OP posts:

macwoozy · 23/09/2005 10:30

jenk1, is there anyone that could go along with you, just for a bit of moral support.

ScummyMummy · 23/09/2005 10:31

Very good luck, jenk1. I hope it's a helpful experience.

Original poster

jenk1 · 23/09/2005 10:41

no not really, dh has to look after the kids as my lot arent very forthcoming about minding my children, he,s going to drop me off though and pick me up so thats steadying my nerves a little

OP posts:

macwoozy · 23/09/2005 10:47

I often worry about things when I'm not sure what to expect. Good luck, and let us know how it went on.

Original poster

jenk1 · 23/09/2005 14:07

what was i saying about my family?
well my sister has just been round and i had to tell her i was going out-she asked where so i told her.

She doesnt beleive that i have a mental health problem and told me so.

That sort of thing just makes me feel worse, i think she says it to make me feel better but it doesnt.

Why cant the people closest to you accept you for what you are?

why dont they acknowledge my difficulties are part of AS and not just "do you not just think that you are a bit depressed"?

It makes me very sad

right got that off my chest its time to go now!

let you all know how i went on later

thanks for the support

OP posts:

coppertop · 23/09/2005 21:18

How did it go today, Jenk?

Original poster

jenk1 · 24/09/2005 10:22

it went really well.

its a centre for people with a wide range of mental illnesses, autism,aspergers,schizophrenia and depression, there are other people there with conditions such as mine although i didnt actually meet any yesterday as it was just an asessment.

I get my own social worker who will tailor make a program for me and the first thing they are going to do is enroll me on an anxiety course because(i not admitted this on here before) i never go out of the house on my own.
I get panic attacks in supermarkets or places where theres a lot of people, so i dont have much of a life at the moment-but not for long!

im feeling really positive about it, and, when i got home my mum phoned me and i went round and we had a chat. i told her that its important to me that people accept me as i am and dont try to change me.

She broke down and said she does accept that i have AS but that she,s finding it so hard cos my ds has only just been diagnosed as well as me and we have thought that my dad has it for years and also my sister has bipolar.
We had a good cry and a hug and the ice has been broken so i feel really happy about that.

so its been a good day really
thanks for everyones messages of support-it really helps

OP posts:

macwoozy · 24/09/2005 17:35

Well that's a big step forward that you mum finally accepts your diagnosis. Do you think that she might feel slightly guilty that she didn't pick up on your problems when you were younger? Perhaps if you recieved support and help as a child with AS, you'd be far able to cope with the diffulties you're experiencing now.

Several years ago I had a few panic attacks myself and so know how terrifying they can be. It does sound really promising that you're able to attend an anxiety course, I'm sure that in time it will really help you overcome your fears about going out in public on your own. Just imagine how much it'll change your life. Good luck

Original poster

jenk1 · 24/09/2005 17:41

yes i do think that she feels guilty because yesterday she said that when i was a toddler i was terrified of noises like the wind howling so i think she wishes it had been diagnosed earlier but thats not her fault it was 30 odd years ago.
As parents its awful when you get a dx for your child, you have all these emotions and i have to remember that im still my mums child and that she is grieving like i have done for my ds.
i know i felt terribly guilty when my ds was dx,d back in april because when i thought back ALL the symptoms are there, sensory issues etc but ive come to terms with it now and its not my fault its just the way things are and my mum will feel like that in time.

OP posts:

Lillypond · 24/09/2005 17:46

I'm glad it went well jenk. It must be horrible for you if you're not going out much.

Hope the anxiety course helps and glad that your mum is accepting things now.

Original poster

jenk1 · 28/09/2005 22:18

well i had my first counselling session today.
i arrived 20mins late (i,d told them that i would be) and walked into the room with 7 people all sat down in a circle.

i though "oh no what have i let myself in to?"

but they were very welcoming and all introduced themselves.

when it came to me and i said my names XXX and i have Asperger Syndrome the room fell silent for a few moments and then the questions started!

but it was really nice there are people there with worse problems than me and i felt very relaxed and calm.

I can visit the centre whenever i want for arts and craft sessions YIPEE-CARD MAKING!
Free yes Free massages,relexology,swimming-its brill i cant believe it im dead chuffed!

so i came home quite happy and feeling very positive

OP posts:

mummytosteven · 28/09/2005 22:24

jenk1 - hope you don't mind me butting in - but re:diagnosis with AS as a child - I have been told that any child with AS born before 1980 was highly unlikely to have been picked up by the system and diagnosed. so if your mum had spoken to HV/GP, IMHO you would not have been likely to get a correct diagnosis anyway.

(I'm interested in this as there's a possibility I have mild AS - had some very confusing and inconclusive discussions about this with a clin psych I was seeing last year for OCD).

Original poster

jenk1 · 28/09/2005 22:32

my mum didnt ask for a referral when i was little as my parents just thought i was a bit of a shy timid quirky child.

my parents dont agree with psychologists etc, ive had to do it all on my own with critism from the rest of my family.

its only spending time with the child psychologists with ds that i picked up on things that were similar with me as a child.

OP posts:

macwoozy · 29/09/2005 09:08

Jenk1 great about the meeting, you must have been a bundle of nerves when you first sat down and spoke. Good on you for going through with it.

I imagine a huge amount of people were not diagnosed 20-30 years ago of an ASD. My uncle for one, he's now got to be around 50, but he went through his whole childhood with his family members thinking he was just a very strange child. In adulthood I remember being fascinated with his unusual way of talking, his numerous tics, his inability to make eye contact, and his lack of understanding of what to do in social situation. Unfortunately he ended up on the streets until he was finally sectioned, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.(Not saying that autism has a connection with schizophrenia) His family blamed it on his mother having died when he was only 5 and his marijuana taking in his teens, I suppose with knowledge about autism not being so widespread they were unable to see the signs, it's only been since recieving a diagnosis for my own ds that I can see similarities.

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