Struggling with Autism Related Anxiety in Work

Contact your union. Or contact ACAS for mediation (with the threat you will take them to an Employment Tribunal). Ring ACAS and ge tthe ball rolling.

Employment Tribunals are based on precedent. And a precedent was set last summer involving an autistic worker who was denied their reasonable adjustments:

https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/npower-autism-discrimination-employment-tribunal/

As such you could claim constructive dismissal and disability discrimination.

The other thing that keeps me sane when Im working is going to the gym.  I do it most days.  Even now I do it most days.  If you want to improve stress, do some exercise every day.  if you go for the gym, one with a good punch bag is very useful.

You need to sort your attitude to the work thing.  Getting totally stressed isnt helping you.  Aidie's advice on withdrawing from the fight is correct at times.  I often withdraw from conflict or when I just need to do something else, not just at work, but at home too.  I can choose not to, but when I go its like an atom bomb, so better to just walk away and calm down.  No matter where you work, you will probably always suffer from this issue.  On average their is always one person who is going to cause you grief.  Avoid them, ignore them and complete whatever work you are expected to do.  At the same time if you need to escalate to someone above them, do so.  You do have rights, but everything is give and take.

Wish people a good day.  Do it for everyone.  Smile. Be happy.  Nothing annoys people more than the person who is always happy, especially when their own lives are going to hell.  Revel in your happiness.

Honestly i could give you a bunch of stuff you could do that would allow you to turn the tables on your line manager and make their life a living hell, but negative energy doesnt help you in the long term.

Alternative advice

avoid solicitors, they are expensive and may solve next to nothing. YOU HAVE A JOB ! well done ! enjoy that as much as possible. use it as your launch position.

Temple Grandin in her book states on her section about employment "You cant use Autism as an excuse " she stated (para-phasing )" your boss is your boss, u have to do what u are told, they want sometimes, that why they are the boss "  This woke me up a bit and makes me reflect on how lucky I am to have a job. No my job isnt perfect things irritate me all the time. 

Withdraw from your fight. Sit in your work get good experience, pack out your CV then secretedly look for a new job or a sideways move within your employer. It appears, You, like me, created more and more stress for yourself. I have left many jobs only to regret my foolish thought processes/decisions.

I am withdrawing from all my fights and struggles ( mainly due to reading Zen, Tao, meditation, "The Art of doing Nothing").

I had one of my adjustments refused, but one accepted.

The answer to your anxiety is to stop listening to the internal dialogue  of thoughts ) in your head telling you to do this, to do that, people are talking about me, why is he staring at me etc etc. ( very very difficult to do ). Dont do "grasshopper" thinkin I was prone to that as well.  mindfulness meditation attacks/weakens these thought process.

I have reduced my anxiety and am now mentally stronger than ever. So can you.

plan B

read up on mindfulness ( how to do it daily in work, and formal mindfulness meditation - tip: everyday without fail). Teach your co workers when you get good at it.

watch youtube videos on formal mindfulness meditation ( guided ) and do it

It takes weeks, months, for mindfulness to work, but it does work. 2 Years later I am getting very good at meditation.

I, for example do a meditation ( eyes open ) at lunch time right in the middle of my office ( 10 minutes ). sometimes I do it twice. Last week i did it at the dentist with great results.

You are not alone - there are thousands of autistics working away struggling to survive,,,  you have to succeed to prove we Auties can do it, that is your mission !

maybe this isnt what you want to hear, please forgive me.

yes they should give u your adjustments but sometimes they dont ( i am learning to accept things i dont like -very hard ( Acceptance) )

but I do thank Temple Grandin. she presents a very different view from everyone else which is inspiring.

feel free to ignore or reject  everything I have said :)

You doing great  build on it 

I genuinely wish you all the best

aidie

Of course if stress becomes unbearable looking for an alternative employment is a good idea, but if you are in highly action state looking for work and starting a new work might be even more anxiety provoking. Consider how you would cope with that and the possibility that you could just implode  and not being able to work.

Involving a solicitor is also likely to make your situation unsustainable, your employer might decide to push you out and things will affect your mental health even more..

Seeking a mentor is indeed the most promising idea. Where in the country are you?

Could you expand a bit more on the reasonable adjustments that were refused. Is there a reason why Access to Work did not recommend them?

Be prepared to walk away from the job if it is having a severe impact on your mental wellbeing.  Its probably not what you want to hear.  But if having a job requires you to take meds to cope with having a job, then  it probably isnt the right place for you.  Sure you can force the issue with tribunals and soolicitors, but I can guarantee that down the line someone will make your life a living hell until you leave.  I've been in the same position many times and fought it only to then have things start happening, like all the air in my car tyres was let out, which also happened at the same time the cctv on site wasnt working.  I had peanuts left in the locker room (ii have a nut allergy), someone was smearing peanut butter all over the office at one point and I trigger on touch and smell, as well as consumption.

I involved all and sundry regarding the situation, but in the end had to leave.  I suspect I am blacklisted somewhere as any joib I have applied for in that industry I have never managed to get to interview stage rregardless of qualifications, where as before the problem I was being actively headhunted.

So be aware of the possibility of fallout if you do  push it down a legal route.  Obviously it also depends on the company.  Mine was a national supermarket.  I do something different now and I have a zero bullshit tolerance.  If I start getting any grief off anyone, I quit and go find a different contract.  Life is far too short to waste time on fighting things.  But as ever, YMMV.