I have finally managed to put in an online triage form at my GP surgery to talk about the possibility of being referred for an autism assessment. A GP is going to call to talk to me tomorrow but I don't even know what to say. They said in the meantime can I send them any online tests I have taken but I can't find a site that lets me download my AQ results. Does anyone know of one? Does anyone know what I might be asked and how to prepare for the phone call? Thanks in advance.
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
I hope you don't mind me replying we haven't actually spoken but I had the answer to your question and thought I'd chip in.
This site allowed me to download a PDF when I did it in January I hope the same is the case now. Apologies if not
Do autism quotient but I also suggest you do cat-q which is how we camouflage our symptoms almost as a survival mechanism, it's on the same level as masking. Also any of the others you are curious by. The more information the better for them. Good luck and hope the appointment goes okay
"It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit"
-J.R.R Tolkien
There were so many pages that I just printed out and scanned the score and the explanation. Hopefully that will be ok for now. Sometimes when I take screenshots they are too large to send by email even when I change them to jpg.
I'm really worried that the GP will ask me lots of hard questions and I don't feel prepared or in the right headspace to try and prepare.
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
for prepparing, idk about you but for us we do really horribly with vague, open ended questions and do better with specific questions. if you know stuff like that, you could plan to say so up front. or just know that you may need to ask them to rephrase or reask questions if you need.
edit to add - also maybe just have a bit prepared about like, why you think it would be important to be assessed and what the diagnosis would mean and or help for you.
otherwise besides printing out the online tests, it sounds like you've done what you can to prepare with so little information on what to expect.
Please do not give me virtual hugs unless you are only using the hug function on threads. Thanks.
You can't always keep it separate.
This is happening, this is part of you.
I think it went ok. He had lots of specific questions to ask and said he would send an e-letter today. I didn't know they had to ask for funding for the assessment to be done so I don't know if they will agree to fund it. I just really don't want anyone to contact the CMHT but I know they will. No one at the CMHT will be on my side so then maybe the assessment team won't be on my side.
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
I just got a call from the GP surgery saying my autism assessment referral has been rejected and my needs are best met by the CMHT. I was not expecting that at all. My needs are not being met by the CMHT. I do feel like there is something going on with me that isn't explained by my MH diagnoses. I don't know what to do now. They must have contacted the CMHT and been put off. Does this mean they don't think I have autism or should I try for a private assessment? I don't want it to look like I'm trying to fit myself into something that isn't true for me. I'm so confused, now I really don't understand myself.
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
I’ll reply to this properly tonight Lindsay, but just wanted to quickly say I’m so sorry. I know how much bravery it took to even ask for one, so well done!
I'm really sorry the referral didn't go through, and what a stupid reason they gave! From what I understand there's been a general push all through the UK for referrals for ASD and ADHD assessments to be rejected as NHS services are underfunded and overwhelmed, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve the answers an assessment would provide. Also there's no reason the CMHT couldn't continue to support you alongside whatever autism provision you might be offered.
If you can face it and are able to afford it, I think a private assessment would definitely be a good option! I don't know how it works where you are, but it may be worth doing some research first and finding out which providers would work alongside NHS services to make sure that any diagnosis made would be accepted on your NHS records.
I'm sorry you're having to jump through so many hoops, it's not fair.
'It's an impossible choice ... I'll just have to hope that when I flip the coin it somehow explodes and kills me.'
"You're not scared of climbing mountains. You're scared that you can't make them move."
Thanks, Lio. I'm really not good at fighting for myself. I feel like if I sought out a private assessment the CMHT would judge me because this referral has been rejected and I don't think the CMHT are supportive of me trying to get an assessment in general. I feel like I am just somehow going to have to accept this. To never feel understood by myself or other people. To always be questioning and pushing things away. I don't even feel able to say I have autism based on self diagnosis or peer recognition. We could be wrong. I actually feel broken and incomplete.
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
I will talk to my CPN when I see him on Friday and see if the CMHT were the ones who put the assessors off and maybe think about a private assessment. I'm just so terrible at fighting for myself and worrying what other people think of me.
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
Lindsay, I think I had about 4 assessments throughout my life, the last one obviously diagnosing me. There is also a lot of people in Scotland (and I assume the rest of the UK) that are being turned down as adults for diagnosis because they’ve ‘coped’ up until now. Its a really broken system, but I wouldn’t let that put you off because a diagnosis could potentially make things much easier for you.
Did you have a look at Autism Initiatives? Is there a one stop shop/help centre/whatever near you?
Thanks Ali. I did look at Autism Initiatives but there's nothing near me. I just feel so defeated. Maybe with some time I'll be able to try again. I'm so sad. It's hit me hard and I feel like a fraud. I wasn't expecting to be shot down so quickly, I thought they'd at least send me a questionnaire or something and decide what to do from there.
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
I got a letter today that had been sent to the GP from the assessment people saying they got a report from my psych and that I am having ongoing and intensive input from my psych and CPN (I wouldn't say it's intensive) and I have long standing mental health concerns and was admitted to hospital this year so given the mental health complexities their MDT decided the CMHT are best placed to provide input and they don't feel it's appropriate to consider an autism assessment at this time.
I don't really understand because MH issues and neurodevelopmental disabilities are separate things and can occur together.
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
