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Opening up about autism at work

Squid

Hi everyone 

I'm new here. I'm currently off work for a couple of months due to general mental health issues. Part of this is that I'm just starting to work through that I'm likely autistic. I've been referred for an assessment by my GP (which will take months to begin) but I know myself really well and I think it's extremely likely that the assessment will say I'm autistic. I've felt that I might be for years but have never built up the strength to do anything about it.

I work in a job/role that really isn't that compatible to my autistic traits but I've masked so long and so well that no one would really know how deeply uncomfortable and distressing it is to me on a day to day basis. This period off work feels like the culmination of me trying to cope for years and years and finally getting to my limit.

I'm really keen that this is a turning point for me where I'm really open with my work about things because this feels like a huge opportunity for me to change my life for the better by finally just being open and honest. But this is also terrifying me and I keep getting stuck on the "but they "know" me as this person so how can I then be like, actually that isn't really me, I've just been incredibly good at masking for a long time" thought pattern.

I'd love to hear anyone's experience of this kind of thing or tips on how to approach it cos at the moment I'm trying to make my way through it without a clue what I'm doing or what I could do.

Thank you Heart️ 

Parents

  • from what I've learn't so far - it's better to be selective who you disclose to at work .  Even those who are autistic advocates in their working life seems to choose when/where to disclose so to me that's saying it's not always a good thing.

    I was diagnosed early this year - so far my manager and HR know at work.  Colleagues and my Clients - I've not told them, yes this means masking but as I work from home 95+% of the time and jump on a couple of hours of online calls a week - that part is more manageable 

    I'm going through process of reasonable adjustment hence need to tell mgr and hr, colleagues less affected by these reasonable adjustments so no need to inform or explain anything to them - TBH I think many wouldn't care so why add that to your mental load ?

Reply

  • from what I've learn't so far - it's better to be selective who you disclose to at work .  Even those who are autistic advocates in their working life seems to choose when/where to disclose so to me that's saying it's not always a good thing.

    I was diagnosed early this year - so far my manager and HR know at work.  Colleagues and my Clients - I've not told them, yes this means masking but as I work from home 95+% of the time and jump on a couple of hours of online calls a week - that part is more manageable 

    I'm going through process of reasonable adjustment hence need to tell mgr and hr, colleagues less affected by these reasonable adjustments so no need to inform or explain anything to them - TBH I think many wouldn't care so why add that to your mental load ?

Children
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