Was wondering if anyone else has these dual diagnoses, or knows anyone who has both, and what can I do to try and be more normal?
I am very lonely, and I had hoped psychology sessions would result in me being more social.
That door has shut in my face now.
I have this ASD 1 diagnosis which is new now as I was diagnosed as an adult, and there has been no real guidance on what next.
It irritates me now, because I am aware of the complex difficulties in certain social situations due to autism, and I try to compensate but it’s hard work.
Before I never really noticed these problems, but now I know the signs and issues, looking back at my life I feel full of anger that this was not picked up given that I have been in services since I was 16
I tried wrong planet website, but I cannot get on with the forum software
I have been suspected of having ASD but never really fought to get it checked out.
They also thought I had ADHD but that diagnosis was overturned. It was simply the diagnosis every maladapted kid got in the 90’s because it was convenient.
I am however convinced I have at least a touch of autism.
I got pushed by my psychologist to have an assessment, and the usual waiting list is 2 years. I got seen in 3 months, which I thought ok good.
Then they diagnosed me with it, and I was recommend a self help book, which is now in the bin - and the autism specialist was supposed to be on a call with my pdoc but didn’t bother.
The psychologist said as her argument for being tested that it would inform her treatment. She then told me just before she retired that her techniques would not work with someone who has ASD, and all the stuff we had worked on was never going to go anywhere.
My case manager says that autism in services is a ‘hole’ that exists in support. I just don’t think it’s good enough. I told him that what is the point of diagnosing people with these things if there is no support or treatment.
@Pikasaur I know you may want answers, but an official diagnosis if you live in a country with a public health system is patchy at best.
They also recommended me to go to a charity for people who’re adults with Autism, but their waiting list was so long they didn’t put me on it
Im not diagnosed with either but I’m lonely too. So lonely that I’m beginning to believe in a spiritual world and spirits. I hope that’s not a slippery slope to psychosis.
In my honest opinion, diagnoses are just categories of symptoms lumped together that tell doctors how the best way to proceed is.
That’s why diagnoses change as new symptoms are discovered, and why so many keep being mis-diagnosed.
Two people can have the same problems, but those problems can have different causes and different solutions.
And I’m wary of pushing for an ASD assessment, because if I move back to Scandinavia at some point, it will make it harder for me to get accepted for medically transitioning.
The earliest being on the spectrum could have been dxed was, as opposed to more severe classical autism,1992 when Asperger’s became an official dx in the UK.
I’ve had zero extra professional support since being diagnosed with Asperger’s. Not that there’s much can be done when, due to the gross incompetence of your previous mental health trust, you only get a dx at 62 on moving to a new area.
Before I moved into supported living I was incredibly lonely, I wouldn’t see anybody for weeks. Best thing I did was move here. I’m under Intellectual disability services and they are good, better then generic mental health services. In Nottinghamshire there is a ASD team/ my old pdoc specialised in ASD as well as Intellectual disability and I was diagnosed with having Autistic traits. I don’t believe I’ve had a assessment for ASD though.
It may be as much about not having the breadth of vision to look beyond the mental illness. A serious case of overshadowing. I do know from years online that those psych patients later found to be on the spectrum have often had a history of hostile/negative treatment from mental health services.
I too was dx with Autism as well and that is where it began and ended for me. I was dx by a psychiatrist who does wonders for children but as an adult on the spectrum there are no resources or coping mechanisms to be taught or if there are I haven’t been made aware of them. It has been lonely and frustrating. I have read materials and educated myself. I think that comorbidies exist between the two diagnosis. I also was just diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder and found out that almost everyone with it is found to have some psychiatric symptoms or illness with psychosis. Primarily women who get is diagnosed with bipolar disorder (me, me, me) and then later diagnosed with schizophrenia or autism or some sort of dissociative disorder. Very interesting to me. The brain is and always be fascinating to me.
I personally wonder what kind of therapeutic support actually exists specifically aimed at autism. Like seriously. Not just general talk therapy but specialist autism talk therapy. What would they teach one? This can just as well be a rhetoric question if no one knows
There are more resources/funding for people with Intellectual disabilities. I’m under community Intellectual disabilities team. They are good. I have had the same community nurse for 5 years and he’s pretty good. When under them they don’t discharge you and the care is more holistic. I heard under the CMHT team even if you have a serious mental health issue such as SZ/SZA they are always looking to discharge you to your GP’s care.
I get my support and care from an independent support company. I get 31 hours one-to-one support a week and there’s 65 hours support shared between 5 other people. We have night staff. The house is just a ordinary residential house I share with 3 other people with ASD and intellectual disabilities. the people here are more on the low functioning ASD side. Classical autism, ie, noise sensitive, repetitive, behaviour difficulties and intellectual disability. The level of support that requires 24/7 staff. I don’t know why they moved me here as I’m the most ablest.
