Hello. I hope it’s ok to post here about this.
I’ve been getting more frequent and severe meltdowns since starting work for the first time. I have Autism and I work in a supermarket, it is probably got to be one of the most worst places to work for anyone with ASD but I’ve been under a lot of pressure from my dad to work and one thing led to another and now here I am. I’ve only been there for a week and a half and already I’m feeling so much anxiety and this fatigue that leaves me wrecked by midday and feeling like I am fighting off the flu.
Speaking to my manager and opening up about my Autism, I was unsure of doing this in case she reacted badly but luckily she has been supportive and encouraging – she said I can wear my ear buds if I will find that easier because the noise of the music and shoppers overwhelms me and that I think is responsible for my meltdowns.
I’m back in work tomorrow and feeling very anxious about it already but tomorrow I will take my ear buds with me as I can control the volume of the noise a bit better with them, and I’m hoping this will make sitting on the till and serving customers a bit easier. It’s a lot all at once, making small talk – I just say yes and no mostly – adding up money, asking if they want a voucher etc… Again, not a job I like or enjoy but at least it’s something.
Does anyone here work or has worked in a supermarket? If you have any tips they would be gratefully received. Sorry for the long post and sorry if this is the wrong place to put this – I couldn’t see a careers/work section of the forum.