Is this a forum where I can get help with sensory overwhelm in my workplace?

I don’t have any answers but it’s a great question and it’s given me some ideas. In AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) they have a national/international telephone service set up which you can call 24/7.  I would find this very helpful (for us) because often it just takes an understanding person to say something to me and I at least snap out of the catastrophic thinking and I’m able to get a clearer perspective. I’ve read the other replies and I’m going to the links provided now and read some more. 

Julia wrote:

This is an EXCELLENT document - thank you so much. It makes some excellent points about the need for order in meetings and avoiding background smells in the environment.

With the background smells issue you could maybe get (or the company to get) an ioniser device to purify the air and keep odours to a minimum, and or you could use an essential oil to smell and keep the old smell buds pleasantly occupied, with desired states of mind enhanced ~ calm, serene, clear or whatever suits you most.

I get my essential oils from a place called Niel's Yard Remedies, but as as long as the oils are natural and organic you cannot go to far wrong really. If you are a novice to essential oils; be careful not to sniff too many testers mind you ~ gently does it and all that.

I am glad the document is of use. It is a shame the document is not more widely known about.

Good luck with improving your situation.

This is an EXCELLENT document - thank you so much. It makes some excellent points about the need for order in meetings and avoiding background smells in the environment. These 2 points alone challenged me on Monday during a number of meetings, but I managed to cope with the support of one colleague in particular who REALLY does understand and empathise with my feelings.

For me it looks quite challenging reading, but I have colleagues who would find it easy to read as they're used to this type of document.

You might find something of help in the TUC's document 'Autism in the Workplace':
https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Autism.pdf

How would a helpline be able to judge what is happening if they don't hear from everyone involved?

Does your employer have some sort of employee benefit that provides a confidential help line to staff? The way these things usually work is that an employer pays some cash every year to a third-party provider. Any staff who call the helpline receive a listening ear and confidential advice/support.

Your employer should not get any information back from the provider which would allow any individual to be identified, but there will be aggregate statistics reaching your HR department on some sort of regular schedule. Something along the line of "50% of your staff have called the helpline in the last 6 months, asking for assistance with their mental health" (hopefully that's an exaggeration, but you get the idea...)

I heard about Brain in Hand - would like to learn more. I have had my Holistic Workplace Assessment the other week which was very good. Some recommendations which are already helping, many more to come. Had to book another for my background noise issues. But no-one mentioned anxiety relief in times of crisis - I thought my VRC would provide this (as my last one did). Now I realise he will not - even I if I am in a "meltdown" situation !! Could this BIH help calm me down?

With regards to the workplace, perhaps a different approach would help. By this I mean workplace disability training; as an example, have a look at the Adjust website (https://www.adjustservices.co.uk/).

My local NHS provides telephone and f2f counselling and has autispecialistssts. Your GP would have the details if this exists in your area. I'm about to start a new post and am getting the Brain in Hand app funded by Access to Work to help me cope

Hi Caretwo,

Found a group of interest on the first link you kindly provided - a Lambeth Social group for Adults with Autism, so I am enquiring to learn more, in the meantime I've liked their Facebook page and followed it. Sadly they don't have a "group" on the site, so it looks like everything I'd post or say in reply would be public, so hesitant to do so. But I already belong to a private group on FB for women with Aspergers - they help me but can't always be there when I am in "crisis" of course (no-one person can,, I realise).

The second service says it's a family support group - my family are not at all interested in my request for diagnosis, nor in its outcome. They continue to treat me as before (which is fine). There was a time when I couldn't communicate with my sister at all (due to my inability to listen and talking over her) - and a diagnosis then would have helped explain that it really was unintentional. But I have improved massively in my anxiety and so (with the occasional "blip") we communicate just fine now.

Work is the main place where I am sometimes unable to explain myself to my manager. My colleagues sometimes understand a little (or are at least compassionate) but my boss doesn't want me to talk to them, distracting them from their work and also because it may upset them to see me upset. Best to have someone impartial anyway.

Any further advice for "crisis support" welcomed - ideally from an autism perspective. But I do realise I can (if necessary) call Samaritans (tho NOT suicidal) or one of the other helplines. Not sure if my EE plan charges for those calls.

Julia said:

Is there a service who can provide telephone counselling on an ad-hoc basis for adults with Aspergers to cope with workplace stress?

I do not know of any such service but you may find something on this web page:
http://www.autismlinks.co.uk/support-groups/group-support-scotland/adultaspergersfamilysupportgroup

HI Julie, I have to take anti anxiety meds. Years ago past bosses didn't really care about my quirks, as I'm very good at what I do but now, I can't hold a job without the meds.

This website is a good start.