Is there any support (UK) for relationship issues, etc?

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Received a letter from PALS who are investigating a complaint I made in September about how I was treated by my psychiatrist post-diagnosis.

They claim he's signposted me to support. Except, he actually hasn't. He mentioned a support group to me, who made it clear "we're not a substitute for counselling, etc". That's fair enough.

He told me to go social services who should give me an assessment and after the assessment, are meant to be giving me help. What help? There's no support at all for my relationship issues, etc. All that's happened after the assessment is that I've been forced to do things I can't do.

It was also clear in the assessment (including what mum said too) that I have issues with communication. I've been offered no help at all with that.

Sadly this is the situation in the UK. Health authorities decide what and if they will follow, even though the Autism Act and the Autism Strategy are law. They may have meetings about it and identify what they need to do, but supplying it on the ground is a whole other matter.

The NAS has stuff on it's website about how a high majority of people believe that social services do not understand autism (I agree). My local diagnostic clinic stated to my advocate that they don't have to follow the NHS NICE Guidelines about an autism care pathway as "they are only guidelines" (not much hope if the NHS doesn't follow it's own guidelines though).

I would write to the local mental health department in your area, officially requesting counselling/therapy, which includes your partner to aid them in understanding your condition.

If you don't get anywhere with that, contact your new CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) and complain. They are GP-led and if your GP is aware of the state of your mind hopefully s/he will be inclined to help your case.

If you need any help finding out how to contact your CCG or mental health department, PM me and let me know your area and I will find out their contact details for you.

Thank you

I've found social services to be useless. I had a meeting with my (now-ex) social worker and we went through a questionnaire together. A friend from the Autism support group was there and had identified some of the issues she knows I struggle with. It was suggested that I have relationship counselling. That was December and I've not seen my social worker since.

I was then seen by someone who is clueless and thinks taking me to somewhere noisy where there are a load of strange people is ok. She the wonders why I refuse to participate.

I've never had any help with my sensory issues either. Not good when two of them can become physically painful. Short of staying inside all day, it's impossible to avoid triggers.

    I have found this to be nearly universally true.

Same. I've needed help from them 3 times since 2009 and have never really received any.

They won't even help ASC children with sensory issues, let-alone adults. I asked my autistic daughter's paediatrician if the NHS supplied ear defenders (hardly a really expensive item) for her for school, and they told me no.