Source
r/aspergers•
Kayperion

Any UK resources for people with undiagnosed Aspergers?

Throughout my entire life I have been thrown around therapy on the NHS. Most of which have failed to make me feel better in any respect. Some have even turned me away, telling me that they cannot help me.

I've had several people and two therapists tell me they believe that I am on the spectrum. It makes my entire life makes sense and also helps me understand why the therapy throughout my life wasn't working - they were probably focusing on the wrong thing. I'm on the waiting list to be tested, but I need help mentally with this. I need therapy, but all of the people I try to access won't even look at me without a formal Asperger's diagnosis and I'm really stuck. It may be over a year until I get my diagnosis and I don't know what resources there are for people going through this process. (I'm 20 if that helps)

Can anyone point me in the right direction of someone who can help me come to terms with this?

Posted Oct 18, 2019, 1:40 PM UTC

312
cerkie2•

r/autismuk

3
KayperionOP•

Wasn't aware this existed. Thank you.

1
cerkie2•

They had all the info i needed immediately, even gave me it specific to my region.

2
faceny•

Where in the UK are you located? I'm in Scotland and am also waiting for my diagnosis assessment. We have these sites:

http://www.autismnetworkscotland.org.uk/one-stop-shops/

http://www.autismnetworkscotland.org.uk/#

And check this out (if you haven't already):

https://www.autism.org.uk/

2
KayperionOP•

I'm from the Midlands, I've been shoved on a list about half a year ago and haven't heard anything from them since. My local autism society won't allow you in any of their talks or coffee mornings etc until you have a diagnosis.

Thanks for these, I have found the last link to be quite helpful over the years. I'll check out the Scottish ones too.

2
faceny•

Hmmm. That's not my experience up here. Check out the One Stop Shop link - that was actually my first point of contact. I had no diagnosis (still don't at time of writing) however the people there were welcoming and helpful. It was a good experience. As far as I understand what I've been told I can go to whatever meetings/events/whatever that have been organised even though I'm not (officially) diagnosed.

I'm not sure if the Scottish resource centres can (are allowed to) help you however I think you can't go wrong contacting them just to ask. Send an email (that's what I did) and see what happens.

Best of luck.

2
KayperionOP•

Thank you for your help. <3

1
jtuk99•

There's not really any specific therapies that can help you even with a diagnosis.

Diagnosis is important, it really helps if you can use it in the following ways:

  1. Stop trying to emulate other people's social calendar and abilities.
  2. Stop seeing yourself as broken and in need of fixing through therapy.
  3. Help you identify a career path that suits an Autistic person and your interests.
  4. Give yourself a break if you are a bit behind life goals.
  5. Give yourself permission to ask for practical help with independence.
  6. Request reasonable accomodations if you are studying or in the workplace.
  7. Access a group support such as this reddit or in person.
  8. Learn about Autism and strategies for managing Autistic challenges.

Most of this is acceptance and this comes from yourself rather than what other people can do for you with a diagnosis.

What we really need is a post-diagnosis educational-mentoring-acceptance therapy programme that covers this stuff. Post diagnosis support is lacking and usually focuses a little too hard on traditional therapy and medications to manage anxiety.

2
Radium3y3s•

https://aspietests.org/userdetails.php?target=raads/index.php

1
KayperionOP•

Jesus Christ... I'm a little bit concerned I got 177 when the threshold for ASD is 65.

Probably the highest I've scored on any test in my life lmao. Hope I graduate.

1
Radium3y3s•

The test wouldn’t have anything to do with graduating? Most are highly functional

1
KayperionOP•

Sorry, it wasn't a literal joke.

1