Published on 12, July, 2020
I’ve worked in hospitality/customer service the whole of my adult life and always struggled, My recent autism diagnosis has made me realise how detrimental pushing myself to do this job is to my wellbeing. I have a meeting with work tomorrow to make reasonable adjustments - I’m on a zero hour contract as well and barely getting by with benefits. My mood is so slow and anxiety so high at the minute I’m struggling to do anything. I’ve applied to some remote jobs and disability benefits but feel like a failure. I’m just so tired of pushing myself to do things like this when it’s so stressful for me. I’m not sure what adjustments can be made or to go off work sick? Just feel so guilty because I love working and don’t want people to think I’m being lazy. I feel lazy by not working but I’m struggling, and rent and bills are so high.
I am a secondary school teacher. I work with some autistic students, and loads of NT students too. For an autistic person it sounds like hell - noise, lights, stress, but I seem to love it. I know when I get my downtime, in the holidays, and knowing you get the summer off has a real youthful romanticism to it.
I could not be an electrician as my fine motor skills would let me down. Some days tieing my shoelaces requires multiple go's.