Hello, I'm Neia, and I think I might be on the spectrum.

[Neia]

Next time you go there, rock from side to side.

It's like they do expect us to act like that.
But then, if we show signs of anxiety and start fidgeting and playing with the hems of our clothes, or the strap of a backpack (other forms of stimming), they'll just discard that as "being nervous". Some might even tell us we don't need to be nervous.

I'd like to see some of them on the other side of those desks, trying to convey something to their doctor, and being told by them that they are wrong, that what they feel isn't real.

Just a couple of times, so they could learn.

 

[Boogs]

Well I can only speak of the UK's health service, but even the most basic health care has been hollowed out so much over the last decade or so (although it was already in a downward spin) they struggle to provide that. To expect them to then train up GP's and ancillary staff on autism and provide funding for new services is unrealistic, they can't provide proper cancer services any more, as for autism? Ha!

My current position on the waiting list for a first appointment means I have another five years to wait. Assuming it doesn't degrade further which currently is highly likely to put it mildly (frankly I don't expect to ever get anything by the time I'm head of the queue). Many doc's are so over worked and under resourced over here, the poor sods struggle to help with the simplest of ailments. While it feels personal to us, it's a sign of social/political disfunction, and every member of the electorate is responsible, not the people we (badly) choose to vote in, blaming the medics is misdirecting our ire (I speak only of UK, no experience or knowledge of elsewhere).

Without re-investment in health services (which even our current 'socialist' gov is most reluctant to do) any boost to autistic services at all levels will come at the expense of other failing sectors - cardiac treatments, asthma services, mental health services (illnesses, that is), cancer treatments, etc etc. All life effecting and life threatening. How does anyone balance that?

The problems are societal, the symptoms appear in the failure of services. Minorities are mostly the one's who notice. and/or suffer for it, which is the nature of service cuts - it's the cut's that impact fewest people, as they may vote the other way next election (and when the cuts start effecting majorities you know things are bad!).
The money to do all this has always been there, it's just been incorrectly (misanthropically) redirected to private personal and organisational fortunes.

 

[FayetheADHDsquirrel]

@Neia I do rock back and forth when sitting and side to side when standing in place quite often. Maybe that is why I got diagnosed after only one appointment. I don't recommend altering ones behavior during an exam though. A diagnosis doesn't seem like it would feel very validating if you only got it because of putting on an act with behaviors that you never really exhibit in your day to day life. Also, if another condition would actually be a better fit, it would likely go unnoticed. Maybe try a different psychiatrist that is not basing their conclusions on outdated criteria.

 

[Mono]

Hey Neia,
I'm 42 and was officially diagnosed 10 years ago. I don't really know how to quote you from multiple pages, but I too recognize a lot in the things you mention. Smells are probably the biggest issue for me, but mostly food (especially meat, there will be no cooking in my house!) and manure. I do like the smell of gasoline though, if that makes sense My doctor also said I wasn't on the spectrum. He's not my doctor anymore. I knew I was on the spectrum and didn't let anyone deter me from my search. Hope you too find what you are looking for