Frustration!

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Had appointment today to try and start sorting out my problems re navigating outside/orientating. Developed into a thing about social inclusion. I said I was quite asocial and not very proactive in engaging with other people. I said though that I would like to be able to interact better if a situation arose where I needed to. She couldn't grasp that. I mentioned the problems with social interaction-initiating conversation and making small talk. At that she went on about anxiety as though these problems are solely related to anxiety. I had a hell of a largely unsuccessful job trying to get through to her that anxiety is one thing , but initiating conversations and small talk and being unsure of social rules something else. She said small talk was just about having a script to follow . Made it sound as though it was all just a minor issue.

anxiety is not a minor issue

Agreed anxiety isn't a minor issue. The frustrating thing was that she was incapable of seeing it was not just a question of anxiety .

I don't fully agree with her but if you take anxiety out of the equation it gets easier. Small talk is difficult for some made worse by anxiety , without the anxiety you don't care you can't make small talk and are fine with not saying anything.

Agreed anxiety makes it worse. The whole thing about worrying if people think you are rude . It probably helps not to give a s**t. Not being good at small talk is no more a heinous sin than putting the jam after the cream on a scone.

She even questioned in so many words the social care help my stepdaughter has arranged for me to get . Basically indirectly hinting that only the physically disabled need such help .

What I'd give to be able to not give a s**t I envy psychopaths in this respect.

It seems like that guy knows absolutely nothing about autism. It seems like he only cares about the paycheck.

No the brain’s Wiring and interconnections between neurons are different so conversation esp small talk and socializinv is A DIFFICULT FEAT

My son’s autism therapist (v experienced and knowledgeable about research ) told me they found that the genetic pattern / ‘mutations’ lead to entire patterns of varying sequences ... like it’s PHYSICALLY different. It’s not just ‘anxiety’ or ‘all in our heads’

What a dumb person you have to put up with.

The problem is although I have autistic traits(not sure about at a fully diagnosable level) it's never really been recognised by any mental health team . I did drop the A word into our conversation but she didn't take the bait. The thing is I don't see how helping me to navigate my way around outside better has to be tied in with my becoming more of a social butterfly any way. Then again 'social inclusion' is the big mental health services buzz phrase. The more you socially interact/want to socially interact the more well/less ill you are seen as being. You are also seen as being more of a model patient/service user if you do.
Yes I struggle to know how to interact and would prefer to be able to do so better if in a social situation, but I'm not champing at the bit to be proactive in the process/going out of my way to get involved with people.

She very much went out of her way to minimise what I was telling her . After I had mentioned autism and nvld she pointed out I came over as quite easy to talk to . I told her it was because we were talking factually rather than making small talk. She did later say that some people find it easier to talk to a mental health professional one to one than they would necessarily someone else. I told her I only really felt comfortable talking with family or some mental health professionals and people with mental illness.