Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi. I’m curious how many of us with autism work or study. I was terrible at school, couldn’t cope at all and was eventually taught at home. I’ve been attempting to integrate in the workplace for the last two years, I currently volunteer every now and then, there is the potential of paid work with this business in the end but it all relies on whether I can stabalise going in to volunteer/work. Generally I go in for a day or two and then I am hit by a wave of fatigue. I suppose it’s a result of anxiety, bordering on the line of burnout because it’s the worst fatigue I’ve ever had. I become so tired I feel dizzy and can hardly stand and then I need to rest and I literally can’t function for days after…
Rest and bed is required but whilst I’m like this I’m unable to properly work and it’s really frustrating, especially as the people I volunteer with have confirmed I could have a work position with them in the end. I tried seeking professional help but that was a dead end route.
Currently I just volunteer every now and then. I would love to do more but I physically and mentally cannot sustain this.
I do a lot at home, mostly hobby projects like writing and working on classic cars but because of this I am unemployed and somewhat reliant on my parents. They support me and help me with my daily struggles but they are older now, and not in the best of health, so it does concern me as to what will happen to me if anything were to happen to them. Though I try not to think about that too much.
I am curious how many here work or volunteer and study? I’ve tried but I can’t seem to nail it.
Matthew,
I've had a cycle throughout my life of working, getting ill, having to quit, recovering and starting all over again. I tried from the age of 17 until my 30s where I was very ill with post natal depression but thought because I was married and my partner earned a good wage that I wouldn't have to put myself through that anymore but they wanted me to have a career and be a parent which was too much for me. I left the marriage and we got a divorce. I tried to work again, it's only ever been part time because too many hours causes me to be ill so I thought I'd try at least 16/20 hours. I got ill again and this time it took much longer to recover. I got a diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder which made sense as to why I was exhausted after work. I've been on benefits for about 6 years and my anxiety is more manageable. I am proud that I know myself enough to know when enough is enough for me. I managed to get degrees with tonnes of extensions to complete assignments. I think if I'd known then what I know now then I may be working and I may have achieved more in my education. My focus now is just to live a basic life and look after my daughter to the best of my abilities knowing that I do try with my life. I have HUGE guilt for not working, I did try - customer service, retail, childcare, administration, reception, volunteering, complaints service, education and optics but the ill cycle repeated itself. :-(