Published on 12, July, 2020
I feel like I'm the only one!! Life is hard, I get stressed, I have severe anxiety and many phobias, as well as a degree of OCD. But I'm not depressed and my mood is mostly stable. I have had meltdowns (we just called them tantrums back in the day), but they blew over and I recovered quickly. I just follow my routine and interests and keep on an even keel. I don't work, which probably helps, and am single. I was diagnosed before my sense of difference really hit me, and I was late to develop awareness, or really care about being different.
I receive a lot of support, which helps.
I suffered from depression for many years - up until I got my diagnosis. That showed me what the root of it was. I was depressed because I couldn't 'fit in' and had other problems, and didn't at the time understand why. The diagnosis gave me that understanding. Since then, my mental health has improved. Pre-diagnosis, I took SSRIs on and off for years - but they just made me feel doped. They're not really formulated for autistic neurology, though. I take no meds at all now. I have thought about investigating something for my ADD, though.
That's interesting what you say about the SSRIs not being formulated for autistic neurology. Would that be the same for other meds such as painkillers? I find that painkillers do nothing for me other than give me tummy ache. I also had SSRIs in the past and they did nothing either.