Health care and lack of support can be damaging for autistic people.

[@DarranCrosswell-z7h]

I have had so many issues with the NHS, they either have no idea hiw to 'deal' with me or just don't care. We do need to speak out against it because it is horrible.

[@JamieFoster-o8q]

The NHS is a mess. I've been more damaged by them than anything being neurodivergent could ever do. We need to call this out and campaign for them to understand us more because as it stands, we really are not understood... I don't think it is purposeful but it is definitely there and highly prevalent.

[@TanwenWF]

So much of this is familiar to me. Thank you for openly speaking about this. I have given up trying to explain away and justify the behaviour of the vast majority of NHS staff. It comes down to human decency at the end of the day. But the gross misunderstanding of autism plus no real desire to even follow their own policies is the also a massive problem. Mental Health services seem worse than most departments, in my experience. In fact my autism and ADHD diagnosis has actually been used almost as excuse not to offer me any actual support. They just want to refer me on, despite the fact that their misdiagnosis, drug treatments and ‘care’ has significantly impacted both my mental and physical health. I definitely have complex trauma around all medical issues. I have found a therapist who is neurodivergent themselves and I try to only really discuss my thoughts with other neurodivergent people now. We can support each other. You support me Jason - every time I listen to you - the validation alone is just so refreshing. Thank you again for this frank and honest video.

[@OneAutisticPerson]

I've spent most of my life trying to avoid the NHS as they failed me and disturbed me so much in my teens with misdiagnosis and just generally unpleasant behaviour. I obviously have had to have more to do with them recently and I am shocked at how bad they are now (I didn't think it could be worse than before). An update on my discussion with my GP regarding my CPTSD diagnosis. He was lovely and very apologetic but categorically told me I would not get a therapist that had knowledge of trauma and neurodivergency...he said it like it was a really complicated dual training expectation until I pointed out the stats and he conceded that it really shouldn't be that complicated. He said that I would still need to jump through MH services hoops and may have to compromise. I pointed out to him that language like 'having to jump through hoops' shows how bad they are - why should we have to jump through hoops for a service we need and pay for? I also said that compromising on my care will mean I have compromised and potentially damaging and dangerous care, which I got little to bo response to. I know that I will 100% end up diverting my care to private but I am going to go through the NHS process first (maybe I will be pleasantly surprised 😆) but ultimately it gives me the context to campaign and share some very much needed feedback to the NHS. I am so glad you find my videos supportive, that is all I do this for, to share my experiences abd blab on about my new special interest and hopefully help people along the way and hear other people like me tell their story too. I'm the same, I verbally only share with other neurodivergent people these days, it's safer and more productive...and I don't have to mask, which these days is much needed.