I don't know how to find a doctor

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I've been dealing with this issue for over two years now. I'm on insurance finally, and I've recently started seeing a social worker that I was referred to during a physical, for anxiety issues.

My social worker is a wonderful lady who really seems like she cares. She "officially" diagnosed me with issues that I've known I have; general anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder and Agoraphobia. None of that was a shock to me and I was relieved to finally have documentation on it, so people would begin taking me seriously.

But whenever I tried to bring up my shutdowns and meltdowns with her, and how I'm 99% positive I'm on the autism spectrum because of my shutdowns, she brushed it off. She wouldn't let me explain what a shutdown actually was. She assumed that when I talked about those things, I am talking about a panic-related blackout. Like I'm having a psychological breakdown. When in reality my brain just stops working and I begin stimming.

She did give me four referrals for "a complete neuropsychological evaluation", but all four referrals don't take my insurance and cost upwards of $1500. I'm broke as hell and can barely afford food right now.

I've gone through my mental health provider directory and nearly all of it is related to drug addiction or suicidal people.

How do you find a doctor? I'm very, very bad at dealing with this stuff, I feel like a stupid little kid that has no idea what to do.

I am scheduled to see my social worker again in a couple weeks, should I just wait until then and tell her that none of her referrals would help me?

yes. and take your list of providers so she can help you pick one. otherwise, you can call your insurance company and ask if they have a doc with an interest in autism/ adult autism.

Why is your social worker not checking to see that they take your insurance before submitting the referral?

I don't know. This is the first time I have ever seen anybody for mental health issues in my entire life, so I don't know what's normal and what isn't.

She knows I'm on state insurance because I have been going to a state clinic. On my last visit I specifically asked her for referrals and she gave me a bunch of local psychology schools... which are great and I would love to go to them, but since none of the students are certified, state insurance does not consider them professionals.

I have never been referred from one professional to another withough the referring provider making sure that I (or my parents) could afford or wouldn't have to pay out of pocket for the services of the person I was being referred to....it seems pointless to make a referral otherwise. But I guess I don't know what's normal, either.