Published on 12, July, 2020
Sorry for first post here being a downbeat and inward-focussed one. This community seems wonderful, having hovered around for a few weeks.
Just need somewhere to offload sense of despair and cruelty of (my particular variety of) neurodivergence. Age 38, recently screened for Autism and beginning the three year wait for assessment.
Meanwhile, having held so much together for years (family, job, voluntary/leisure), everything is falling apart. Past five years have involved admitting vulnerability, making lifestyle changes, and being well supported by those around me. But it's just getting worse.
I thought that by striving and facing every difficulty and discomfort, and trying to hold my own in a world I don't understand, I would become more resilient but it's the complete opposite. I'm fully depleted and have no fight or assertiveness left. It's hurting those around me so much as I withdraw and avoid things and don't communicate properly.
I've sought support through various channels but they're all designed to equip you to face your difficulties, but I'm done facing my difficulties. I've proved I can do it, but any joy/satisfaction from functioning and overcoming difficulty is dwarfed by the miserable sense of inferiority and the giant uphill struggle involved.
People around me ask, earnestly, "how can we help"? I cannot give an answer to this question, as I'm so full of contradictions, shifting perspectives, and internal conflict that, while I'll sometimes contrive to give an answer to remove the awkwardness, the honest one is "I just don't know".
This condition is cruel.
Heeeyyy Boaty. I'm sorry you feel this way at the moment. It's understandable and I do relate.
Lifeis hard,l autism brings a lot of challenges and there's no outside support. It's a gloomy lonely place to be at times. I was diagnosed and after years of keeping my head held high and a strong front I'm feeling the pressure now. It's a heavy weight and I think it's years of masking - finally catches you and hits hard.
But in your case you should be really proud of yourself - you proved you can do it and you have a supportive family who love and understand you and will stand with you during the stormy times.
You can look back on the good days and remember how it felt and remind yourself that your get days like them again.
Keep yourself busy. Do the things you enjoy like Kate said and I think really important, talk to your family when you need to. I know it can seem burdening but there want to help support you when your struggling and feeling low.
I wish my own family were as supportive.
Keep smiling.
You are doing really well and were all here for you as well.
Thank you Sarah this is very encouraging