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Later Life Diagnosis & Career Change

GPK26
6 months ago

I have written about my work situation on other posts, so will not go into too much detail here.

Having had a number of health difficulties over the past 3 years with autism being diagnosed late last year, I no find myself out of work since March this year.

I have always worked in IT - something that I have thoroughly enjoyed and been well compensated to afford a comfortable, but not lavish lifestyle.
Now I am at a point in my life where I could potentially have a complete career change, although I really dont know what that could look like.
People say to me that I should do something that I enjoy and all that I have ever known and enjoyed is working in IT (despite it being quite demanding and stressful at times!)
Other things that I enjoy include gardening & photography, but I have no expertise in these things and I dont think that they pay very well.

Whether I look to stay in IT or look for a complete change, I have a number of concerns...

  • As an older person (early 50's) I could find myself to be less "marketable" - I remember my father facing this as a challenge 40 years ago
  • Being autistic (Asperger's) may put potential employers off. Whilst discrimination is against the law, proving discrimination would be very difficult
  • Being autistic + other diagnosed health issues impact my ability to work (eg, I have FND which results in me finding it extremely difficult to get going in the mornings)
  • I am used to earning a decent salary above national average, but not massively

Any advice?
Has any other members gone though similar at the same point in their life?

Parents
  • 6 months ago

    I am in a similar situation. I am 54 and always worked but am totally burnt out. Always worked in electrocics/IT hardware and am currently a photocopier service engineer. When I reach 55 in November taking a chunk from my pension and selling up and totally relocating 200 miles. My wife had MH isues last year and we have both just had enough of our life. She does admin so should easily find a job, I just really don't know what I want to do. I can work for min wage but don't want retail, well not late/early retail. Maybe driving but not courier work. Have never worked in a office, so maybe a coffee shop but I don't drink it so would totally have to learn from scratch. I desperatly want to quit my job, but have no idea about what to do next, you are not alone. What ever it is I am taking a fews months off when we move to sort my head out before getting a new job.

    By the way I had never heard of FND, just googled it. I have massive issues with getting up, I just love sleeping , nobody can 'get to me' when I am sleeping, I can be me during that time.

    Rob

Reply
  • 6 months ago

    I am in a similar situation. I am 54 and always worked but am totally burnt out. Always worked in electrocics/IT hardware and am currently a photocopier service engineer. When I reach 55 in November taking a chunk from my pension and selling up and totally relocating 200 miles. My wife had MH isues last year and we have both just had enough of our life. She does admin so should easily find a job, I just really don't know what I want to do. I can work for min wage but don't want retail, well not late/early retail. Maybe driving but not courier work. Have never worked in a office, so maybe a coffee shop but I don't drink it so would totally have to learn from scratch. I desperatly want to quit my job, but have no idea about what to do next, you are not alone. What ever it is I am taking a fews months off when we move to sort my head out before getting a new job.

    By the way I had never heard of FND, just googled it. I have massive issues with getting up, I just love sleeping , nobody can 'get to me' when I am sleeping, I can be me during that time.

    Rob

Children
  • 6 months ago in reply to NAS65321

    Yeah, I'd never heard of FND before I was diagnosed as having it in December last year. I still dont totally get it, but it seems to be another one of those umbrella diagnoses which can affect different people in different ways - pretty much like ASD / Autism.

    My previous employer has agreed to pay for 6 x outplacement service sessions with a company that specialises in helping ND people find work. Apparently there are companies that are "screaming out for ND people to work for them". I've got my first session tomorrow afternoon.