Interventions

Interesting, my pyschologist suspects i have ADHD as well, but we havent tested for that yet. But nice to know the names of the meds out there... happy to hear you are having some sucess with your struggles

I appreciate your comments, kindest regards to you and you daughter

Hey Peter!

You're not alone. I know that hearing this doesn't always help but it's true. I was diagnosed just before Christmas and since then feel like I've regressed too. I guess it's just part of the "journey" to find yourself. You have to know you're lost to even know where to begin. It's not easy to escape when locked down either. Struggling is exhausting but it'll pass.

I talked to a professional and I'm going to do it again soon. Found that it was just really helpful to be reminded of different techniques that sound like hard work until you give them a go. 

I haven't been on this forum for long but already people have been really helpful and supportive and not just fake, social media positive. Keep on reaching out. Someone will say something or signpost you to something that just clicks. 

Hello Peter

Thank you for your post. I do not have autism myself but my 17 year-old daughter was diagnosed just before Christmas. I am relieved that she has this diagnosis as it makes sense of all the mental health problems that she has developed but of course they don't go away just because we now know that she is autistic, we just now know what directions to look in for the appropriate help. I do not see freedom for her, or me, but I do see knowledge as power. And I do not mean 'superpower'. Acting on the knowledge is another thing requiring energy, time and often money.

My daughter has also regressed since her diagnosis. She needs time and support to accept and own her autism. It is hers.

What I really wanted to say was that I am not a naturally positive person. I am not 'glass half empty', I don't even have a glass! I get fed up of continuously being presented with positive models for her. She is not Great Thunberg, and does not want to be. The fact that David Byrne has autism does not help her. She cannot relate to him.

Being positive is exhausting and at times just a way for people to deny the difficulties they are facing. Your honesty is refreshing. I am glad that you can write it down. The things that i want to write are too unacceptable, even here, and I am seeking therapy myself to enable me to get them off my chest, move forward and then be able to support my daughter. When I go to bed at night I often hope that i do not wake up in the morning as I cannot face the challenges ahead and I am not the one with autism so how you and my daughter feel is something that I can't imagine.

I hope that you can find a way to be you and feel less imprisoned. I send you strength and energy, not positivity, to find the support that you need to do this. KnotSoWild gives such a great response. I hope this is helpful too.

I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with it. I wonder if talking to someone qualified would help to put things into perspective. They may be able to ask the right questions so you can find answers to as to why you think you're feeling this way.

I can definitely see why it can feel like regressing. You start to see everything through that autistic lens. As someone who hasn't been officially diagnosed, I feel like at times it is a lot to take in. Everything takes on a different meaning now that you know. The diagnosis becomes almost an excuse to surrender to all the struggles, which can make it feel like a prison rather than a liberation.

I hope you can find a way out that's right for you.

Sorry to sound abrupt I didn't mean to imply it was that simple. I know the feeling as I have been copying all my life, but recognise the diagnosis suggests I have to learn to be myself, even if I haven't worked out how to do that or indeed who I am 

Sertraline 50mg. Got it without a diagnosis as my OCD was out of control which was draining on mental health and lifestyle in general.

Try undoing the habit of a lifetime. And then just say “so stop”

Im a surveyor with a specialism in BIM - Building Information Modelling.

so i measure large buidlings to very high accuracies to produce 3D Models of them

Im looking into it... what do you have if you dont mind me asking.

Sorry to hear that, I wonder if you talked to your GP about that ? I personally did and they gave me medications. They were life changing. 

I'm sorry to hear you are struggling, but I also only noticed people seeing the diagnosis as a positive. I was diagnosed just 5 weeks ago and can also feel it is like a prison and regressing into known Autistic traits even more than before.

A name of the condition, doesn't help dealing with it.

You say you are sick of copying, so stop. It's time to be yourself and learn who you are

Sorry to hear you're struggling. Life can be so hard sometimes. maybe give yourself a day off thinking about it and just sleep. Then treat yourself to something nice to eat and go for a walk in the woods sometimes you have to force yourself to do things that will make you feel better even when you don't feel like doing them. Hopefully you WILL feel better at some point. And you don't need to copy the positivity of others - you'll find your own when the time is right. Just try not to give up just yet, because I've only just joined this group and it would be a shame if I never found out anything more about you  I need all the help I can get  What's a BIM surveyor?