Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi there,
Just wondering, does anyone else feel as though there is zero support out there? I have searched and searched including on this website and it just seems the only real support is for children, parents/guardians/carers of autistic children or severely autistic adults. I am high functioning autistic with a diagnosis in the past couple of years. It feels as though no one cares. Once I got my diagnosis there was zero follow up at all. Nothing. Is it not the people who have always struggled through life and never known why that need support? Of course children and severely autistic people need support, but it feels as though high functioning adults are completely left behind as if because we are high functioning we can cope on our own. I have been completely and utterly lost since graduating university with no direction and no purpose. I am one of the 88% of adults with autism who are out of work, but there is just no support to help those 88%.
I feel like I am slowly going insane and no one seems to care or want to help.
Am I the only one?
Sophie
You're right sadly, for those of us in the higher functioning end, apart from getting concessions in work, if you're one of the ones lucky enough to find a supportive employer to give you a job in the first place, then there really is nothing. I don't count CBT as support, because it seeks to alter our way of thinking when there is nothing wrong with our way of thinking or being. We just need reasonable adjustments & acceptance in life. Post diagnosis support for kids is largely zero too unless the parent is prepared to fight tooth & nail for it. When I got my first child diagnosed I wrongly believed that the dx was like a golden ticket to help & support. How wrong was I? It was just one huge fight in a lifetime of fights to get them the best life outcome possible. Anything better than mine is an improvement!