I recently went for one (depression, personality disorder.) I'll be honest it wasn't nice but the waiting before going and whlist there was so much worse than the actual assesment. One thing i will say is if your someone who gets yourself in a state having to wait around in a waiting room for hours then maybe it would be a good idea to phone before hand and see if there running on time.
Also i think it's maybe a good idea to take someone with you for surport. I was dead against this idea but talked into it by a family member. Now looking back i'm glad i was. I didn't anticipate how much i wouldn't be able to voice how things effected me and so on mainly due to the stress i guess and i just clambed up after like 5 minutes and said nothing else. Soooo the desion was made again recluctantly on my part to have said family member come in and speak on my behalf. I hated that, i hated how honest they where being about me, how they where talking so direct and stright to the point about my problems. Something i would never have done. But if they hadn't have came in then things might not have gone as well. Guess point of the story is just be honest with them, or take someone with you that can be honest for you.
As for requesting a mental helth expert to do the assesment. I'm sure i read somewhere in all the rubbish that came with letter that you will be seen by someone that has experince in the given area, (can't remember exact words.)
I'll stop rambling now lol. My PM box is always open. Hope it all goes ok for you.
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