Published on 12, July, 2020
I have a difficulty in that I've been working in a school as a learning assistant. When I was just doing the two days on voluntary placement I managed, actually enjoyed the work. But now I've been employed full time at the school, which of course I'm grateful for, I get serious social fatigue. I can just about deal with the interactions moment by moment, lesson by lesson (though I'm very much like a person pushing a balloon under water to pretend it's not there). But now I can't deal with any more social interactions outside of work, like all my social energy is going into the priority of work, and I'm concerned that it's going to affect other personal relationships such as with my boyfriend, even my family even though I know they will be ok if I can't attend family stuff. It's getting to the point where I can't see how I can keep this up long term. I'm referred for the autistic diagnostic pathway but have no official diagnosis. At present I just socially burned out and struggle to be with other people because all my social - interactive energy has been used.
Can anyone relate to this? And if so how did you deal with this?
Reading your post was like reading about my life. Im a learning assistant in a college and have been working in that sort of role in schools and colleges on and off for the last ten years. Ive just handed in my notice at work as I am so burned out I just cant do it anymore.
Not sure what advice to give but one thing I would say is I think there is a huge difference if you only work part time. I think the most draining thing for us is coming home from a day like that with all that social interaction and knowing we have to do it all again tomorrow. Thats what makes us shut down at the end of the day. Its a self preservation thing because subconciosly we know we have to recharge ourselves and do it all again tomorrow and we cant face that. Knowing when you come home from a day at work that you have a day off to recover at your own pace the next day might take some of the pressure off. Maybe you could go part time?