Late diagnosis, burn out and trying to stay in teaching

It has taken me 8 months from my diagnosis to finally come to terms with stuff. I was burnt out, but because the first time that happened was under difficult circumstances it all came back.

You are like a bath tub. You can do things, it is all fine, but each thing fills up the bath a bit. If you keep pressing eventually it is full and overflows.

The problem is when stressed it is impossible to think properly. You lose perspective, things seem overwhelming, emotions go wrong, things seem hard, you are resistant to change, black and white thinking comes in, you life seems bad, you focus on negatives because you are in threat mode.

You need to make some space in the bath tub. It takes some time to get the level down. This is why you can feel fine but easily fall back into the same problem with Judy a simple request.

Does it get better, yes. But it is not easy.

The accommodations are about slowing or stopping some of the things coming into the bath tub. Rest and doing a bit less is about emptying some of the tub to increase capacity.

What accommodations you need will be up to you. Mostly it is a out reducing sensory input, and reducing pressure on yourself. Automate what you can, bills, emails etc. stop doom scrolling, ignore with for 2 weeks, learn to say no, consider so excercise. I have a rowing machine, I have realised it is whole body stimming, it regulates me so well. I can't believe I never noticed.

Stop alcohol. It feels like it works, but you crash harder the next day. Consider cutting caffeine for a few weeks. Try to be hydrated.

Journal during the day, not evening. Get things out. Get them in words, not vague ideas going round I your head. It doesn't matter how daft, don't judge, just write it down. You will see patterns. Your views will swing around based on what state you are in. (This will stabilise eventually). In the evening watch something low demand, or read, gave low lighting. Try not to think at night, you get sucked in (I know it sounds impossible). 

Have lots of quiet time. Try to go outside, in the garden or something non stressful. Try to keep some human contact, e.g. a coffee shop so you see people but don't have to interact. I keeps the world real and stops you being housebound, even if you are just grateful to come home.

When you spiral try to remember it is temporary and will pass.

Make sure you have enough vitamin D, are hydrated and eat less carbs (it works).

2 weeks is not much time, but you can make a start.

Once you can think clearly, which is in the mornings to start with, you can start to make plans. Do not decide anything when in overload mode. Just note it and then park it.

The biggest thing for me this week was:

Diagnosis is supposed to be regulating not dysregulating. Don't focus on what is wrong. Nothing is wrong. You are just sensitive, process slightly differently, overloaded, and struggling.

When the bath tub is more empty, you can do the things you want. You can't be happy when the tub is full and you are in threat or overload mode.

Hi Carly_26,

Welcome to the Online Community, we hope you find it a supportive place! 

Your experience will resonate with a lot of people here who have experienced similar post diagnosis. Diagnosis can bring up a lot of conflicting emotions and can feel overwhelming, it can take a while to process. 

Here are some resources that may help: 

 Understanding Autism

How will I feel after receiving diagnosis? 

Support Following Diagnosis 

Identity 

Support at Work 

Reasonable Adjustments At Work 

Making Friends 

Burnout 

We hope some of these help! We hope you find the Online Community a space to ask questions and process at your own pace. 

You've got this! 

All the best, 

Katrina Mod