How do you approach your GP for a diagnosis?

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So much depends on the individual doctor....Daniel's experience gives me hope - and it's much easier to just say what you think it might be (as long as the doc has a reasonable amount of humility). I guess it's a bit of a lottery if you don't know the GP's personality in advance.

I like that phrase you mention, "what do you think?"

I wouldn't pussyfoot around the issue. Clearly state why you are there. If you do not mention AS specifically, they will not know to refer you to a specialist and might waste time (months) referring you to general mental health services, which are not equipped to deal with AS. It is not your job to cater for professionals' issues with you appearing assertive or well-informed.

Whether your GP is able to refer you to a local clinical psychologist specialising in ASDs and who can diagnose adults is a postcode lottery: some regions do not have such a professional. Assuming you're in the UK, in this case, you may be referred out of area, which can lead to struggles obtaining funding from your local Primary Care Trust. A supportive GP is essential in such a situation. If at all possible, I strongly advise to go private.

no it is 'not our job' but we are dealing with people, here.

What does mean?

Dear OP,

I agree with everyone else.......

In my experience, a GP will either embrace your theory and investigate at least, or laugh in your face.

I came from the backwards direction. I have had past serious mental health issues and have had years of hospitals and therapy. My behaviour was so erratic that some obvious signs were overlooked. Therapists where so focused on managing the symptoms that the core got missed to a degree.

I ended up back in therapy at the end of 2007 at the end of a lengthy hospital stay. Mt psychologist was the one to bring it up after observing huge inconsistencies in my previous dx's. The core behaviour had shifted over the years after working very hard to resolve it and I was left with the fundamental issues. Bit like the parting of the curtain to view the entire vista, if you get what I mean.

I told her I thought it was ridiculous, until she asked me about my family history. My cousin had LFA and 2 of my fathers cousins have AS. I still thought it was ridiculous, but she said "read about AS and tell me what you think" so I have and my stomach feels like it has been falling out the bottom of me for the last 3 months. I was dx 3 months ago. The "familiarity" is astounding.

My advice, write a thesis on why you have it, based on DSM criteria. If you are older, make adjustments to the criteria. Write about what you have learnt to deal with situations, developing coping strategies, what you experience d as a kid and so on. A psychiatrist cannot ignore logic or the possibility of it. My Psychiatrist is this way. He questioned the original dx from my psychologist only because he does not see me as often as my psychologist and that is what I told him. I said "You cannot deny it exists until I have all the evidence. Speak to my psychologist". And if she says it is AS with backing, he will be inclined to believe her. They are both shrewd intelligent therapists. He still wants me to be tested for ADHD(inattentive type) so be prepared to be tested.......in more ways than one.

This has taken a long time to come to the fore........a 36 year old woman with excellent learnt social skills that is completely burnt out to the point of complete lack of function, is unlikely to have a good time of it(Me), but I am glad that my psychs are on the ball, and ultimately trying to help me live a more authentic life and stop pushing me beyond my cognitive endurance in therapy. IT is amazing how different the direction in therapy is and how much better I can understand where they are coming from.

Ask your GP for a referral to a good psych.......but if you are having issues with dealing with stuff, a psychologist is also a must.

Take care and good luck,

Mics

One other factor to remember is that physicians in family medicine practice are the gatekeepers to the specialists. A significant portion of family medicine is the judgement call about when a patient should be referred to a specialist and when a patient should be treated outside of that system.

Because specialists tend to be in limited supply, it falls upon family medicine practicioners to ensure that only cases with a demonstrable medical need are getting referred. It is incumbent on you to have an honest discussion with your doctor about what your symptoms are and what your needs are.

"I need a referral to a clinical psychologist for an AS diagnosis," will likely not cut it. However, "I am experiencing the following problems (X, Y and Z) that are having significant impacts on my daily living. I need to understand where these are coming from and I need help developing strategies to cope with them," suddenly puts your issues into a framework where the doctor can then figure out how to get you in to see people in a position to help.

Well in my case I just spat it out - something along the lines of " I had been talking to a counsellor about some personal problems and the possibility that I may have Asperger syndrome. Thsy do not think I have it, but think it is important to find out." The doc didn't think I had it either, but gave me a referral

I've always had good experiences with doctors in regards to them not dismissing my symptoms, or even claims.

You see them because you're having "symptoms", so you can in the least explain the symptoms you're experiencing to them, rather than say, 'what do you think is wrong with me [by just looking at me]?' If you have a really sore shoulder, you tell them, and they then look for causes of a sore shoulder; it might be simply muscle related, or it could be something serious like referred pain from a burst spleen. It helps them if you tell them why you're there, seriously.

It doesn't matter what the disorder is.