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Change

Billy87

Just a bit of a call for a bit of support

I really struggle with change and I have had a huge change to deal with today

My entire timetable was changed at work with no notice or explanation. id just got into a routine with my old timetable

Also something I was promised at work that I really needed looks like it wont happen

Im not coping, trying to hide it from my friends and workmates and pretend Im ok with it but Im now in bed shaking, having a panic attack

I dont know how to cope with change and I dont know how to cope with trying to function in a normal work envioronment

Help

  • in reply to Billy87

    I tend to resist change vigorously. Partly due to the typical autist aversion to change, and partly due to my excessive demand avoidance.

    When changes are inevitable I find it easier if I can somehow make the change mine... eg: at my last office job I was forced to move desks after years at the same pig-pen desk - I managed to persuade the office manager to create a desk for me in a dingy equipment room (rather than move to the middle of a busy open plan floor).

    In the above case, it was actually a beneficial change for me... but sometimes I will stubornly choose the less desirable option just to assert some kind of control on the change.

    Another thing I try and do when changes are forced upon me, is (assuming I have any juice left in my brain-tank) to take the opportunity to do a massive re-organisation with the aim of preventing the need for more changes in the future...

    In the desk move case, it was a *lot* more effort for me to set up in the equipment room but it was worth it since I would almost certainly be exempt from further office/team re-shuffles (and of course I had a small degree of separation from the noise & bustle of the open-plan office). I also had a massive de-clutter of old documentation, computer parts etc.

    I think for me a small change is as traumatic as a big change, so I try and take the opportunity to simplify when a change is unavoidable.

  • in reply to moon

    My old line manager knew but dont know if my boss does

    Nah it was something for my career

  • I just need some stratagies for coping with change. I feel like when I have to deal with change I become a different person and i dont like it, I dont feel like im me 

  • I went through that years ago, and it feels like the world flipped upside down and it makes you dizzy unable to think straight. No idea when to eat when to sleep or even when to go toilet.

    I haven't got an idea how to deal with it unfortunately. I perservered until I confinced myself that the only timetable that is reasonable to expect to be followed is between you get up and you leave to go to work.

  • I often struggle with change too.

    Billy87 said:
    Also something I was promised at work that I really needed looks like it wont happen

    Is work aware of your autism? Was the undelivered promise to make it easier for your autism?

    Either way, have you communicated the difficulties you are experiencing to your boss or HR?

    If notified of your autism, your employer is required by law to make adjustments under the disabilty act I believe.