Struggling to find a way through

I'm thinking of trying to place another ad. Asking "Are you self-employed? Earn a bit of extra money, no experience necessary, learn on the job." That way I could attract any self-employed people, not just carers. I think you may have hit the nail on the head, there's a shortage of carers, so maybe taking someone on who isn't in that line of work and training them would be a way forward.

Getting carers now is extremely difficult as there is such a national shortage. 
if you can get social services then they have an obligation to provide care, but they also struggle to find enough carers for the demands.

somehow your post has to be very attractive, either convenient or extra benefits to get someone 

I've joined as well.

Thank you. That's a very well written article. I applied to join AuttConn.

Hi, You might find this article useful:

https://queenofthedrowned.com/2019/05/26/resources-for-burnout-recovery-featuring-the-autistic-social-network/

Well I just gave the video you provided a go and I really like it! Thank you. My neck, fingers and shoulders feel a lot better. I need to do something like this regularly as I'm someone who sits down at computers and watching the TV far more than average. You're a great asset to the NAS forum. 

To an observer, Tai Chi and Qigong are the same thing. Indeed Tai Chi is is the Taoist descendant of Taoist Qigong - as opposed to Buddhist or Confucian Qigong. Taoist Qigong has a 3,000 year history, I think I’m right in saying Tai Chi has a 600 year history. I suspect it depends who relates the history.

I initially learnt Qigong and Taoist meditation from a Chinese academic at a nearby university about 40 years ago.

Even though I don’t believe in the theory of meridian lines and chi, I found that controlling my breath at the same time as thinking about pushing chi around my body, helped me meditate. Just concentrating on my breathing didn’t occupy my mind enough and I was too easily distracted.

Here is a video of Qigong warm up and exercises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ9qM6G6l6g

So Tai Chi, Qigong or yoga, I don’t think it really matters. Learning the movements and the correct time to inhale or exhale, seems to be key.

Yes, curtailing salt intake is a good idea.

What you wrote there makes a lot of sense. I tried a yoga class last year but that particular one I didn't feel welcome at. I shall try to give another a go soon.

What are the basics of Qi Gong? I'm not even familiar with that. I understand it's a martial art, so is it somewhere along the lines of Tai Chi? There aren't any Qi Gong classes here though, I had a check.

I stumbled upon something else while I was looking for answers online. Lower salt intake could help lower anxiety as salt places stress on the kidney and heart and highers blood pressure. I got chips from a chippie for lunch and always usually have salt, didn't this time and actually did notice a difference.

Thanks for the info, I will give it a think. Congratulations on getting your degree, by the way.

Me too! As someone with ADHD I've found studying in small chunks, such as writing a couple of sentences whilst I'm waiting for a pan to boil, is really effective, so HE is well suited to people with our needs as you don't have to try and concentrate for long periods. With the OU you can access the same support as a bricks and mortar uni if you want to, including regular face-to-face study days and tutorials. 

I think you've edited your post and you were initially worried about ESA? The Turn2Us info page (link below) suggest some ft students are still eligable. If your not, on top of your loan you'd still be entitled to support including PIP, housing and council benefit etc so you needn't be worse off. Plus you'd get a lot more out of this including career opportunities.

The needs assessment report from the Disabled Students Allowance also provides fantastic evidence for PIP applications or renewals. 

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Full-time-students-and-benefits/Can-full-time-students-get-Employment-and-Support#guide-content

Like most autistic people I have had problems with anxiety. Because I wanted to stop taking SSRIs, I decided to search for other ways to reduce and control my anxiety levels.

The first thing to learn is that one can have too little anxiety as well as too much anxiety. It is a question of equilibrium. Just this realisation can be empowering in your attempt to curb excess anxiety.

The next step is to recognise the physical symptoms of anxiety and to work on them.

Social exclusion also activates the same neural circuits as physical threats, so it is good to work on meeting or corresponding with people that you feel comfortable with.

Impaired or reduced senses of self and agency are quite common in the autistic community, this contributes to our susceptibility to anxiety.

To address the the physical symptoms of anxiety - increased heart rate, shallow and fast breathing, muscle tension and increased body temperature - meditation, yoga, qi gong and tai chi all involve regulation of these symptoms. Physical exercise and a balanced diet also help considerably. Some people use mindfulness techniques.

Joining a yoga or qi gong class can lead to meeting some people you may get along with. Many people attend these classes for help with mental health as much as physical health. These exercises also involve breathing techniques, so if you find meditation difficult, you can at least learn to control your breath this way. Learning to control my breathing has been perhaps the most helpful lesson. It takes practise, but is definitely effective once it becomes automatic.

Another technique I use is a form of visualisation. I place a small statue in front of me. I study it intensely for a few minutes and then close my eyes and try to visualise it in all its detail. I keep at it until I can recall it accurately. I then turn it 90 degrees and do the same. Eventually, I am able to see it in my mind’s eye as if I was viewing it in a VR application. Obviously I don’t do this all in one sitting, I keep at it for once or twice a day until I achieve my objective. Whilst I do this I practise my abdominal breathing. This means I am sort of meditating at the same time. Increasing one’s working memory is useful as it is an important component of executive function and consequently motivation.

Joining an autistic support group and meeting others who have similar life experiences is helpful. It doesn’t automatically follow that because someone is autistic that you will get on with them. It may take time to find someone you feel at ease with enough to open up and discuss the day’s trials and tribulations. There may be NT fellow classmates at a yoga or qi gong class who are equally as easy to get on with. I have found video chat with people who have the same life outlook useful. It reduces anxiety if one is able to talk about anything.

If you are self conscious about going to classes, there are videos on youtube that demonstrate yoga or qi gong. This way you can learn the basics and feel less of an amateur when you do start classes. Just remember that the movements may be slightly different in the actual class.

Self help helps improve one’s sense of agency and a concomitant improvement in confidence helps with anxiety.

I do have links to youtube videos of qi gong, and to the neuroscience and philosophy behind these ideas. If you would like them, either post and ask for them, or pm me. This post is quite long as it is.

Hi, Roswell. Sorry to hear you're struggling. Have you tried calling the NAS Helpline? They might be able to give you some advice on getting support: http://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/about-us/contact-us.aspx 

Not sure I can handle doing Open University. I have attention deficit disorder, I struggle to apply myself without people with me.

The Action for Aspergers looks good.

I'm concerned that a care package hinder your progress more than it would aid it. You say you'd like to go to university and at the age of 32 the world is your oyster still and you have lots of options. For example, I studied a masters degree through the OU and have very limited interaction with my coursemates and tutors. If you completed an on-line degree, whilst working on your anxiety, you could be in a graduate position and have a lot more money in just 3.5 years time (if you started a course in Jan). Plus, as part of the degree, you'd likely be entitled to study skills support, plus autism mentoring through the DSA to work on how you feel around your behaviour due to being autistic, e.g building your confidence in regards to your needs with eye contact. 

Action for Aspergers is a counselling service that may be able to help you now. They work on a donation-based system meaning you only pay what you can afford.