Obligatory introduction time.
I finished reading Neurotribes seven weeks ago. Did some further reading, having gone down the Google rabbit hole. Became increasingly convinced I'm autistic. My partner agreed, so I made an appointment with my GP for a discussion.
Which was yesterday. He was initially sceptical but after twenty minutes, he was convinced too.
The Psych services in my area are chronically understaffed so all appointments go through triage, and if you've had treatment, you have to wait three years before you can get another referral, unless you are in immediate danger. My GP doesn't want to waste my 'ticket' on a referral only for an autism assessment, in case my mental health starts crashing again and I need the referral for other reasons.
I'm okay with that. I've had the validation I needed from my GP, with his unofficial diagnosis. Like he said, I'm functioning very well at moment (got general anxiety syndrome and depression), so let those in trouble NOW get the limited appointments.
Today I have been incredibly happy, and relieved. Finally, I can believe that all friendship disasters I've had aren't because I'm a bad person. I've spent forty-four years (I'm 48) thinking there was something wrong with me, something horrible, and now I know there isn't - I'm autistic.
Different, not wrong, or horrible, or inherently unlikable.
Yeah, so stupidly excited. Most of my friends are autistic - maybe that should have been a clue?
I finished reading Neurotribes seven weeks ago. Did some further reading, having gone down the Google rabbit hole. Became increasingly convinced I'm autistic. My partner agreed, so I made an appointment with my GP for a discussion.
Which was yesterday. He was initially sceptical but after twenty minutes, he was convinced too.
The Psych services in my area are chronically understaffed so all appointments go through triage, and if you've had treatment, you have to wait three years before you can get another referral, unless you are in immediate danger. My GP doesn't want to waste my 'ticket' on a referral only for an autism assessment, in case my mental health starts crashing again and I need the referral for other reasons.
I'm okay with that. I've had the validation I needed from my GP, with his unofficial diagnosis. Like he said, I'm functioning very well at moment (got general anxiety syndrome and depression), so let those in trouble NOW get the limited appointments.
Today I have been incredibly happy, and relieved. Finally, I can believe that all friendship disasters I've had aren't because I'm a bad person. I've spent forty-four years (I'm 48) thinking there was something wrong with me, something horrible, and now I know there isn't - I'm autistic.
Different, not wrong, or horrible, or inherently unlikable.
Yeah, so stupidly excited. Most of my friends are autistic - maybe that should have been a clue?
