Katy H.
1/5
I had a difficult experience with the mental health nurse and psychiatrist I was seeing. While both were kind, they unfortunately lacked the necessary training to manage more complex cases. Their understanding of autism was outdated, particularly in relation to high-masking females, and they seemed unaware of the latest research on the subject. The mental health nurse, in particular, appeared to struggle in his role, even making up his own narrative by misrepresenting my words. These fabricated stories were then used as a rationale for not providing me with a diagnosis.
Additionally, my mother was unfairly judged based on assumptions about her undiagnosed ADHD, which were entirely inaccurate, and these judgments were then used to dismiss my experiences and concerns. One of the most frustrating aspects was how my special interests were minimized. Rather than recognizing them as a core component of my autism, they dismissed them entirely, failing to acknowledge the intensity and significance these interests hold for autistic individuals.
Throughout the process, it seemed that they were more focused on the possibility of ADHD, even though I was seeking an autism diagnosis. They appeared unable to consider that it is possible to have both. I was told I might have ADHD, and then, in the final assessment, informed that I might not have that either. This felt like another way to dismiss my concerns. Despite being informed of my worsening mental state, they provided me with no support, and I found myself sinking into a deeper crisis, even becoming suicidal and experiencing a profound identity crisis.
Moreover, I was never given the results of my ADOS assessment. Instead, I was told that I had laughed during the session, and this was used as evidence against my autism diagnosis. It was suggested that autistic people can't laugh, which was not only inaccurate but also dismissive of the complex reasons an autistic person may laugh, such as mirroring others to manage anxiety in a social situation. A more informed professional would have explored this further. This experience also felt particularly ableist, as I know a diagnosed autistic individual who is a comedian, and this completely contradicted the conclusions made during my assessment.
In addition to the above, I was told that I was very anxious, then later told I wasn't anxious at all, only to finally be diagnosed with mild social anxiety. This felt dismissive of the real and ongoing struggles I’ve faced with communication and social interactions, which have been clearly indicative of autism throughout my life. It felt like a quick dismissal rather than a thorough evaluation.
I would not recommend this service to anyone with complex issues, as they clearly lack the specialized training needed to provide accurate diagnoses and meaningful support.
I'm currently seeking a second opinion with a much better service with more up to date training and better knowledge of current research on female autism.
