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arendt
Emu Egg
Emu Egg

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Joined: 12 Sep 2014
Gender: Male
Posts: 1

04 Jun 2015, 8:39 pm

Hello,
Can anyone offer advice on finding a GP that is ASD 'friendly'.
One year ago I received a high-functioning ASD assessment, and what an empowering process this has been. Finally I am understanding difference from a solutions based approach.
I was (mis) diagnosed with bipolar disorder for about 20 years, and as most will be aware, was treated with drug-based therapy.
My assessment was independent of the 'specialists' I have previously received treatment from.
My challenge is finding a GP in Perth (Australia), the GP I have sporadically been seeing over the past 10 years has a strong reputation in the area of depression and variants of bipolar, but is perplexed (uncomfortable) with ASD (she spelt 'Asperger's' on the referral to my therapist...)
I really don't like visiting GP's, yet do realise the necessity (obviously). To access the medicare rebate for Mental Health Care Plan.
Does anyone have any suggestions on effectively finding a GP?
Thank you



B19
Veteran
Veteran

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Joined: 11 Jan 2013
Gender: Female
Posts: 9,993
Location: New Zealand

05 Jun 2015, 6:41 am

It can be very challenging to find a GP with enough time and listening skills, and some knowledge of the health issues that are often a part of ASD. I think sometimes smaller practices are better than the large "industrial scale" ones with lots of doctors and receptionists.

I have found Asian GPs have generally been much better at looking at me as a person with symptoms which need evaluating as a whole, rather than a medical patient with a medical symptom which needs an instant presciption irregardless of the unknown cause of the symptom; the Asiam GPs (mine is Chinese who grew up here in New Zealand) seem to listen much more, often less ageist than their caucasian counterparts too. They seem to think more holistically and that may be a combination of cultural influences in their personal lives in addition to medical training in Westernised systems.