Help, have an apointment tomorrow with community psych nurse

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Help, I have an apointment tomorrow with community psych nurse, but i am waiting for them to phone back!

I guess i should ask them if they have any experience of autism and make sure they don't expect me to behave like rainman as many have said on here? And point out i wanted referred to a psych!

I don't want a home visit as my father is stupid, interfering and non understanding about anything, so I guess we'll have to go to a cafe or soemthing lol!

what do you all think!

Has anyone in the uk went down this route using a communuty health centre which specialises on mental health?

The best advice in my opinion, is to just be yourself.

I wouldn't bring up "autism" if you think that you have Asperger's, just mention Asperger's, and leave "autism" out of it (this is just going by my experience). "Rain Man" is a good depiction of someone with Autism, just not Asperger's (Asperger's has relatively "normal" speech and a lack of the frequent motor mannerisms). Professionals see "autism" as Autistic Disorder, i.e., Rain Man.

If she's a basic cog in the wheel who sends you onto other wheels, she'll look for the stereotypical aspects of Asperger's, the lack of nonverbal cues, the all-encompassing interest, difficulty in reciprocal social interaction--problems with making friends, etcetera.

Ok, thx, so basically just say I think i have aspergers or HFA?

I'd just mention the former, as the latter can mean several different things; that's just me however.

I've noted that when people mention "autism", even the "autism" part of "HFA", the professionals immediately assume the stereotypical, and majority cases of Autistic Disorder/Kanner's Autism, rather than Asperger's, which is one of the mildest forms of HFA (the one where only 50 or so percent of adults are diagnosed).

I don't know your case, obviously, so if you think that you have HFA (socially aloof rather than socially odd, plus all of the other things that come with Autism without mental retardation), that's what you'd obviously wish to seek out.

ok, cheers, I definetly think I am aspergers, so I'll stick to that, thx for your input!

Update, my appointment is now for next month and the guy I spoke with said he has dealt with Aspergers, so hopefully this will be ok!

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Last edited by Sorenna on 27 May 2008, 11:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

Hi Sorenna, I know what you mean, Drs/ psyches have their own exclusive language which they don't like us the layman knowing/understanding, once we learn their technical babble they no longer feel so superior. God bless the internet!

The guy sounded more nervous than me, he was stammering a bit so I got the impression he has had some issues himself, maybe not on the spectrum but he definetly sounded like he has had something!

am have a CPN but she is learning disability specialised [for those who recieve care under the learning disability services],she understands am,autism and high complex needs very well.
am would have said ask if it was possible to have one who is experienced in as/autism/whichever spectrum form that have,before being referred to one,as they might end up sending one who knows only general mental health stuff.
she is one of a team of specialists am have who has to be asked if any changes can be made-nothing can be changed without it being looked at by her first,she can get medication prescribed for am [though cannot do it herself] she can make specialists hurry up their appointments,she has done autism training with the home and makes sure staff know how to deal with any problems that come up and what they could be about,she also helped with getting am the high rate mobility component of DLA though had always been on the high rate of care-the dwp? never understood how autism can affect outside profoundly,and unfairly judge things on wheel chair users/physical problems only.
she is also very nice,and wants am to teach her makaton,it must be the only thing she doesnt know.

they are really good to have,once have got used to them,and they can do a lot.
am would say take some time getting used to them first,if find it too much to take in,or need things introducing to routine slowly.
they should allow the first appointment at least to be about getting used to them/them getting to know self?