In the wake of overwhelm.

About a week ago my wife booked a Thai restaurant for a Christmas meal, the table was booked for four people, it’s well known that I really dislike eating out and struggle with it.
Anyway as the date got nearer the thought of it all was occupying my mind constantly, yesterday led to me becoming very distant and not talking much. My mind reads it as, “we know you struggle eating out,  but we have booked this and don’t ruin it.” I also felt that I was more the driver as the only person not drinking alcohol.

We arrived at the restaurant, it was very busy and noisy, it’s a pub with a Thai restaurant attached, the amount of conversations going on at once was unbearable, it was hot and there I sat not saying more than 4 words all night, it felt like a film where I’m frozen in time and watching everyone else act as normal.I managed to get away at the end to go and warm the car up. 
One of the reasons I went for an autism assessment was because different family members said I shouldn’t say I’m autistic as I hadn’t been diagnosed with it, obviously I know this attitude is wrong. I now have a diagnosis and still don’t get treated any better.

Last night left me totally overwhelmed, today I just feel dysregulated and totally exhausted. Sorry for the vent, I just have nobody outside of this community who would even try to understand.

Parents
  • So sorry you had to go through that, sounds truly awful and I know the lack of understanding from people around you makes it even worse. 

    Anyway as the date got nearer the thought of it all was occupying my mind constantly, yesterday led to me becoming very distant and not talking much.

    I would 100% be like this too, only to be drowned in «what’s wrong». If I don’t say whats wrong, the question will continue until I do. When I say what’s wrong, «I’m stressed about about tomorrow and am just trying to cope», I am sure to be met with «just chill», «relax», «it’s gonna be ok», «it’s gonna be fun». That just makes it way worse. Not only do they take zero consideration when dragging me to such things, but they can’t even «allow» me to have my natural reaction to it. No. It is not going to be ok. It is going to be stressful the day(s) before, the day of, and the day(s) after. No amount of «chill» is gonna change that, or will ever. I do not control this reaction. It makes me so sad and angry. 

    One of the reasons I went for an autism assessment was because different family members said I shouldn’t say I’m autistic as I hadn’t been diagnosed with it, obviously I know this attitude is wrong. I now have a diagnosis and still don’t get treated any better.

    I’m so sorry to hear this, and sadly I can relate. It is so incredibly painful. Just a basic understanding from those close to you, it really can not be too much to ask. 

Reply
  • So sorry you had to go through that, sounds truly awful and I know the lack of understanding from people around you makes it even worse. 

    Anyway as the date got nearer the thought of it all was occupying my mind constantly, yesterday led to me becoming very distant and not talking much.

    I would 100% be like this too, only to be drowned in «what’s wrong». If I don’t say whats wrong, the question will continue until I do. When I say what’s wrong, «I’m stressed about about tomorrow and am just trying to cope», I am sure to be met with «just chill», «relax», «it’s gonna be ok», «it’s gonna be fun». That just makes it way worse. Not only do they take zero consideration when dragging me to such things, but they can’t even «allow» me to have my natural reaction to it. No. It is not going to be ok. It is going to be stressful the day(s) before, the day of, and the day(s) after. No amount of «chill» is gonna change that, or will ever. I do not control this reaction. It makes me so sad and angry. 

    One of the reasons I went for an autism assessment was because different family members said I shouldn’t say I’m autistic as I hadn’t been diagnosed with it, obviously I know this attitude is wrong. I now have a diagnosis and still don’t get treated any better.

    I’m so sorry to hear this, and sadly I can relate. It is so incredibly painful. Just a basic understanding from those close to you, it really can not be too much to ask. 

Children
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