Psychiatry appointment today

[Neia]

It's sort of comforting to know that anxiety attacks can be part of ASD.

My appointment is in a couple of hours, and I'm trying not to freak out.
God willing it'll go as well as my GP appointment did.

I wish I had chocolate at home

I'm going to ask him to have me assessed for ASD at the hospital. Hopefully he won't be as patronising and prepotente as the other guy was.
Well see...

*P.S.- Is it a Spectrum thing to sort of fear medical appointments, or other appointments where you "want to be good"?

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Good luck for your appointment!

Yep, another anxious ASD person here.

 

[Outdated]

*P.S.- Is it a Spectrum thing to sort of fear medical appointments, or other appointments where you "want to be good"?

Fear isn't the right word for me, what I feel is more angst than anxiety. Wondering if it's another one that will try to read my facial expressions instead of listening to what I say.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

*P.S.- Is it a Spectrum thing to sort of fear medical appointments, or other appointments where you "want to be good"?

I'm generally not scared of medical appointments because I know exactly what to expect, what they might ask me and how I should respond.
I am very anxious about appointments when I'm not experienced in them - like a job interview, a bank appointment, buying a car (never done that, though). It's because I don't know what to expect and feel like I don't have the knowledge to comfortably navigate it. Spontaneity involving other people, yuck.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

It’s situations where we are going to be judged. Anxiety is high. Will my efforts transmit to the evaluator what is really going on? Or will they misinterpret it and really screw me up?

 

[Neia]

I'm generally not scared of medical appointments because I know exactly what to expect, what they might ask me and how I should respond.
I am very anxious about appointments when I'm not experienced in them - like a job interview, a bank appointment, buying a car (never done that, though). It's because I don't know what to expect and feel like I don't have the knowledge to comfortably navigate it. Spontaneity involving other people, yuck.

I worry about how they'll interact with me.

Like today. I was trying to explain why I have trust issues with doctors, and the dude cut me off with "I'm not like other doctors," and brushed away what I wanted to say

Like... Honestly? You refuse to listen to me, but you're not like every other doctor who has done the same?

I'm so mad at him.

Basically, yeah... in his words, I'm probably in the spectrum, but that really ins't important because today autism isn't considered a condition but a set of characteristics. If I want to be diagnosed I'll have to go to a private clinic, and they cut off any support until I decide that I want to comply, or become suicidal.

And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the Portuguese NHS at work.

 

[Outdated]

Basically, yeah... in his words, I'm probably in the spectrum, but that really ins't important because today autism isn't considered a condition but a set of characteristics. If I want to be diagnosed I'll have to go to a private clinic, and they cut off any support until I decide that I want to comply, or become suicidal.

You should book another appointment with someone else, and make sure to tell them that they are the second one you're seeing because the first was unhelpful. And remember your anger and frustration with today's shrink, it'll help you overcome any shyness when talking to the next one.

 

[Outdated]

 

[AuroraBorealis]

I worry about how they'll interact with me.

Like today. I was trying to explain why I have trust issues with doctors, and the dude cut me off with "I'm not like other doctors," and brushed away what I wanted to say

Like... Honestly? You refuse to listen to me, but you're not like every other doctor who has done the same?

I'm so mad at him.

Basically, yeah... in his words, I'm probably in the spectrum, but that really ins't important because today autism isn't considered a condition but a set of characteristics. If I want to be diagnosed I'll have to go to a private clinic, and they cut off any support until I decide that I want to comply, or become suicidal.

And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the Portuguese NHS at work.

That sounds... suboptimal.

And now excuse me, my set of characteristics is telling me to rock in a corner, cry and stop talking because downstairs someone's laughing loudly (joke).

 

[Neia]

You should book another appointment with someone else, and make sure to tell them that they are the second one you're seeing because the first was unhelpful. And remember your anger and frustration with today's shrink, it'll help you overcome any shyness when talking to the next one.

Next one will have to be private.

I'm trying to figure out who will agree to let me borrow money so I can pay for the appointment

The list isn't long, but I do have a few good friends.

 

[Neia]

View attachment 132350

Thanks for the laugh, I needed it.

 

[Neia]

That sounds... suboptimal.

And now excuse me, my set of characteristics is telling me to rock in a corner, cry and stop talking because downstairs someone's laughing loudly (joke).

See... this is one joke that if you hadn't said is a joke, I'd be feeling really terrible for you.

 

[Outdated]

See... this is one joke that if you hadn't said is a joke, I'd be feeling really terrible for you.

I read it exactly the same - oh that poor girl.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

See... this is one joke that if you hadn't said is a joke, I'd be feeling really terrible for you.

I read it exactly the same - oh that poor girl.

That's sweet of you two
For what it's worth, things like that happen often enough. Just not right now, thankfully.

 

[Outdated]

Phone these people and talk to them, it's a centre for diagnosing children but they'll know who's who in the industry and that could save you a lot of running around.

https://certifiedautismcenter.com/directory/niite/

 

[Neia]

That's sweet of you two
For what it's worth, things like that happen often enough. Just not right now, thankfully.

Yeah...
My neighbours like to park their car and "share" their crappy music with the whole street. Others enjoy coming to the empty plot next to my house, and having loud arguments. Then there's the ones who like sharing their singing.

Plus, I hate township holidays here.
Some git thinks it's ok to install loudspeaker all along the main roads, so everyone can listen to the music being played in the fair grounds till 2 or 3 am sometimes.
When they do that there's no earplugs, no sound cancellation device, nothing that will drown out the music. And worse even is that I can actually feel the vibration on my bed, on my body... it's so horrible. I always break down and have meltdowns.

 

[Neia]

Phone these people and talk to them, it's a centre for diagnosing children but they'll know who's who in the industry and that could save you a lot of running around.

https://certifiedautismcenter.com/directory/niite/

Thank you.

 

[Au Naturel]

It's sort of comforting to know that anxiety attacks can be part of ASD.

My appointment is in a couple of hours, and I'm trying not to freak out.
God willing it'll go as well as my GP appointment did.

I wish I had chocolate at home

I'm going to ask him to have me assessed for ASD at the hospital. Hopefully he won't be as patronising and prepotente as the other guy was.
Well see...

*P.S.- Is it a Spectrum thing to sort of fear medical appointments, or other appointments where you "want to be good"?

Don't be "good." Be you. Being good is just another version of masking. Masking around a medical professional is shooting yourself in the foot.

If I hurt, I'll take Ibuprofen or even tramadol for the pain. If I'm nauseous, I'll take some Zofran.

But if I'm going to a doctor, I'll skip the meds. They interfere with an accurate diagnosis by masking my symptoms. The same thing applies to being good for a psychiatrist.