Traumatic, but not too negative: psychiatric appointment

[Progster]

One thing I don't get, is that there are some members here from France who say they have been diagnosed with Asperger's. If an Asperger's diagnosis weren't possible in France, then how dis they receive their diagnosis? Perhaps there are some clinicians who use the DSM or ICD in France? One such member is @Ishayel (there are others) who just recently joined - perhaps you could PM this member to ask how they were diagnosed, and by whom?

 

[Judge]

One thing I don't get, is that there are some members here from France who say they have been diagnosed with Asperger's. If an Asperger's diagnosis weren't possible in France, then how dis they receive their diagnosis? Perhaps there are some clinicians who use the DSM or ICD in France? One such member is @Ishayel (there are others) who just recently joined - perhaps you could PM this member to ask how they were diagnosed, and by whom?

Interesting question.

That's why I brought up the possibility of "medical dissent". A professional "underground" of people who choose to defy France's official policy towards Aspergers Syndrome, perhaps similar say to those who in the US may choose to diagnose someone using DSM-IV protocols rather than stick to the DSM-V.

After all, not everyone in every bureaucracy plays by the rules. But even then if so, I can't help but wonder how such a thing is documented in medical records, if at all.

 

[Judge]

I will talk with my husband, but I doubt anything will come out of it, because his mind frame is: you are seeing someone for free and have me there to translate, so why go else where?

What, however he is not doing, is throwing out aspergers.

If it were me, under such circumstances I would be willing to pay the cost to seek a proper shot at a diagnosis across the border and whatever care it may involve after the fact.

Belgium sounds like your best shot. Hope your husband completely comes around to this prospect.

Good luck Suzanne.

 

[granolaturtle]

I'm not sure, but what I discovered about France seemed to be limited exclusively to them. I could be wrong about that, though again I suspect France is exclusive in this instance. I know the Netherlands has no such issues with Aspergers, but that Belgium isn't that far by car for you and your husband.

Worth checking out...besides there may even be an elevated possibility of finding a doctor who speaks fluent English.

Voila:

"Today only 20% of autistic children in France are in school, and often only part-time. The rest are either in psychiatric hospitals, or in medico-social centres, or living at home - or in Belgium," says Sajidi.

Many families are sending their children to Belgium, where it is much easier to set up behaviourist treatment centres."

France's autism treatment 'shame'

The situation in France sounds terrible, like they have a serious ableism problem or something.

 

[Judge]

The situation in France sounds terrible, like they have a serious ableism problem or something.

Seems unique. Yet almost preposterous. As if they just don't want to deal with it. Scary given this appears to be state policy as much as medical protocol. Sort of reminiscent of the former Soviet Union. Which decided to treat political dissent as a form of mental illness, incarcerating offenders in mental institutions rather than prisons.

Are we a sort of national disgrace/embarrassment to France to a point where they refuse that we even exist? Very disheartening.

 

[Ishayel]

One thing I don't get, is that there are some members here from France who say they have been diagnosed with Asperger's. If an Asperger's diagnosis weren't possible in France, then how dis they receive their diagnosis? Perhaps there are some clinicians who use the DSM or ICD in France? One such member is @Ishayel(there are others) who just recently joined - perhaps you could PM this member to ask how they were diagnosed, and by whom?

hello, in france there is diagnosis avalaible. But the best way to get them is with a psy. They may redirect you where to get it.
For me that was a little harder, i have work a lot of time before to get a sick leave, during 3 years.
During my sick leave, got rdv with specialists of the CPAM. And they redirect me to a specialist of autism, at around 200 km from my house to make the diagnosis. ( In the city of Sarreguemines, close to Germany for me).
This was not really handy, but i manage to do it. The result was used to be able to get help in specialised associations, and after all, to be able to survive.
But here, this is really hard, it's a fight every day, because, even with diagnosis, some are always telling you got nothing, 'it's in your head, you got nothing go work like others', so it's even more stressing and even my parents who have left me long time before agree with them, so it's a long fight alone.
Nothing is done to help us here, even to defend yourself or get rights , you can only count on you and some rare people. It's like I was only a parasite. I manage now the only way to get a lot of less stress ( it's killing me atm), to buy an house in a very little village, far for cities, far from people, and live alone or change country.
People are not ready to understand us, nor they can't manage all things with Autistes, and if we were 300 years before, they only burn us as witches....

So, no, the Asperger's diagnosis is possible in France, but really hard to get. You can't try to get one via your psychologist or CPAM.

 

[granolaturtle]

hello, in france there is diagnosis avalaible. But the best way to get them is with a psy. They may redirect you where to get it.
For me that was a little harder, i have work a lot of time before to get a sick leave, during 3 years.
During my sick leave, got rdv with specialists of the CPAM. And they redirect me to a specialist of autism, at around 200 km from my house to make the diagnosis. ( In the city of Sarreguemines, close to Germany for me).
This was not really handy, but i manage to do it. The result was used to be able to get help in specialised associations, and after all, to be able to survive.
But here, this is really hard, it's a fight every day, because, even with diagnosis, some are always telling you got nothing, 'it's in your head, you got nothing go work like others', so it's even more stressing and even my parents who have left me long time before agree with them, so it's a long fight alone.
Nothing is done to help us here, even to defend yourself or get rights , you can only count on you and some rare people. It's like I was only a parasite. I manage now the only way to get a lot of less stress ( it's killing me atm), to buy an house in a very little village, far for cities, far from people, and live alone or change country.
People are not ready to understand us, nor they can't manage all things with Autistes, and if we were 300 years before, they only burn us as witches....

So, no, the Asperger's diagnosis is possible in France, but really hard to get. You can't try to get one via your psychologist or CPAM.

This whole post makes me wish there was a "disability solidarity" emoji or something like that. "Friendly" captures some of what I feel about it not quite the scope of it.

 

[Dorkasour]

Hello! I can't add to much about being autistic in France (I live in America) but I struggle with PTSD and it took me 4-5 years to discuss it with my therapist. It's def ok to take your time with opening up about it.