Advice for seeking diagnosis again after a poor experience

Support Needed (Kind Advice and Commiseration)

For a bit of background I’m 23 and highly suspect that I have autism. I’m attempting to get diagnosed with autism for the second time. I tried to get assessed for autism previously and the psychiatrist evaluating dismissed all of my concerns and told me I just had social anxiety. His main reasoning being that I was capable of understanding the psychiatrist’s jokes and I made eye contact, even though the evaluation was online and I’m still a bit unsure as to what constitutes eye contact through video call. Almost all of my concerns regarding my sensory issues, hyper fixations and behavioural patterns went unaddressed. The psychiatrist then suggested I go on meds right away and booked me a follow up appointment which he did not show up to. After that the clinic ghosted me completely. That whole experience made me feel terrible for a while and got really down on myself. Like I kept thinking back to the sessions and wondering if I answered wrong or if I’m higher masking than I thought. I wondered if I really was just neurotypical and I was struggling with basic tasks and social interactions because I wasn’t pushing myself enough. I felt stupid and like I was made out to be a liar, if that makes any sense? Like trying to get diagnosed and being “wrong” about what I had meant I one of those people who fake illness.

Luckily my older sibling is quite supportive and wants me to continue to pursue a diagnosis. We’ve now found a new clinic where they specialize in women’s mental health. I’ve scheduled a consultation but I’m really worried the experience will be the same as last time. Has anyone else gone through similar? And if so how are you dealing/ how have you dealt with it?

Posted Sep 28, 2026, 4:33 AM UTC

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