Do you work?

I work in a office building. I'm one of three women and a man. My job is to answer the phone and use a computer, my day consists of me typing, speaking on the phone and engaging in conversation (help!) with my work colleagues. My friend April who works next to me is really nice and I think she knows there's something different about me because she seems to give me a sort of comforting smile a lot of the time. Work is hard, every day I spend ages making sure I look right for work and change my clothes and redo my hair about fifty times before I finally leave. When I get to work I spend the day feeling anxious because I know I'll have to engage in workplace communication, either work banter or one of my colleagues will ask me if I have a file or if someone called. This sends me in to a massive brain shutdown moment where I spend the next ten minutes trying to think and communicate at the same time, which results in me not finding the right words and just sort of babbling like a baby.

Working is difficult, mostly because of the amount of things I have to do. Focusing, communicating, being out of my safe zone and *shudders* office meetings where I sometimes have to stand up and talk to my colleagues as well as our boss... Usually after a meeting I end up throwing up in the bathroom and have a mini panic attack.

Does anyone else here work and have similar problems to me?

Parents
  • Hi, I am a lorry driver, I drive artics doing night trunks. Most times things go well, unless like tonight, they tell me I’m going somewhere different, I feel sick, have a headache, shaking inside, starting to feel upset and a bit angry. I haven’t been diagnosed yet, but I’m pretty sure I’m autistic, I have no idea how to cope with these situations 

  • Hi there that's tough - a big part of controlling my anxiety is planning ahead and preparing. It would really challenge me having to change the destination like that. Not sure what can be done apart from using any self-soothing strategies you have - mine are things like listening to music, eating chocolate, playing with sensory things.

    At the moment I have some calming medication - Propanalol - a beta blocker. It helps a lot. When you get diagnosed you should be given some information about coping strategies. There's a lot of information out there - the best often seems to come from people who are actually autistic. Hope your night goes OK. 

  • Hi Sunflower, I made it through the night, once I got to my destination and did a trailer swap and knew I was heading back to base, I was fine, now maybe I won’t feel quite so anxious if I get sent there again. Once I get a diagnosis, I will see if there are any meds I can take while driving. I hope you are having a good day:)

  • Sorry to hear things were difficult but it is good that other people are aware and understanding. One the hardest  things is to make time for soothing, relaxing activities. It seems like self indulgence and yet it seems to be a vital strategy for living a contented life. The Christmas shutdown is very close now. Glad you are thinking about ways of unwinding. 

  • I had a big meltdown last night, I thought the transport staff were going to run for cover, they sent me to that new place again, but told me I was collecting a 50ft trailer instead of a 40ft one, well I thought my world was going to end. I explained my problem to the transport staff the other week, so they understand when I kick off.

    Been thinking about the sea, think I need to do some fishing soon and unwind, can’t wait till the Christmas shutdown.

  • The sea is very soothing. We can get to a nice quiet beach in about 45 minutes. 

    When I worked nights I'd get to bed around 7am then my mum would phone up at 11am and say "aren't you up yet?" That's like calling someone at  3am! In the summer I would sometimes sleep outside in the garden during the day. 

    Hope tonight goes OK - thinking things through in advance is what lots of us seem to do! I think things over again after they have happened too (no wonder my brain is tired!) 

Reply
  • The sea is very soothing. We can get to a nice quiet beach in about 45 minutes. 

    When I worked nights I'd get to bed around 7am then my mum would phone up at 11am and say "aren't you up yet?" That's like calling someone at  3am! In the summer I would sometimes sleep outside in the garden during the day. 

    Hope tonight goes OK - thinking things through in advance is what lots of us seem to do! I think things over again after they have happened too (no wonder my brain is tired!) 

Children
  • Sorry to hear things were difficult but it is good that other people are aware and understanding. One the hardest  things is to make time for soothing, relaxing activities. It seems like self indulgence and yet it seems to be a vital strategy for living a contented life. The Christmas shutdown is very close now. Glad you are thinking about ways of unwinding. 

  • I had a big meltdown last night, I thought the transport staff were going to run for cover, they sent me to that new place again, but told me I was collecting a 50ft trailer instead of a 40ft one, well I thought my world was going to end. I explained my problem to the transport staff the other week, so they understand when I kick off.

    Been thinking about the sea, think I need to do some fishing soon and unwind, can’t wait till the Christmas shutdown.