caro wrote:I am wondering what happens once an autistic diagnosis is given ?
I fear very much being left high and dry, having to deal with a life long and life changing diagnosis.
That's a very good question. This was one of the two reasons for me seeking a diagnosis (the other was for official confirmation of what I'd already worked out myself). I went through hell over getting support after my diagnosis. A long story of incompetence within the NHS, which eventually ended in me being defrauded of nearly all my money and my house, by a 'friend' who wormed his way into my life as a kind of unofficial support worker. The Economic Crimes Unit are still taking statements from his other vulnerable victims. All this because the NHS tried to cut corners with me.
So, be warned in case they play the same trick on you. For over two years they sent me around in circles, ignoring phonecalls, fobbing me off, etc. which added to my stresses and problems - when they were supposed to be reducing them by supporting me.
Part of my bpd means i fear being abandonned. In an ideal world you would expect support and councilling. My experience of mental health providers means i am expecting a diagnosis and a wave goodbye.
Just as they happily abandoned me! Your experience sound pretty typical. I was told by an autism worker that I'd have to fight for the support I was entitled to, but the stress and wear of all that fighting nearly killed me. If you can, get yourself a strong advocate to speak up for you and do the fighting. We're not strong enough to do it alone.
Lack of support is what i fear most. Sometimes things feel too big to deal with alone.
Exactly! Me too! By chance support of a kind arrived in my life, when a friend moved in with me. She too has her own MH problems to cope with, but at least we're not fighting alone. I say 'of a kind' because her spoken English isn't perfect, and her state of health means that I don't always get support when I need it most. But it's so much better than having none at all.
At last I've been accepted for a second assessment. The earlier one did say I had autism, but it was inadequate and worded ambiguously, and an ignorant social worker took advantage of that in order to remove my support worker. This time round I'll make sure there are no loopholes.
I hope you won't have to suffer as I did, but 'forewarned is forearmed'.