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Career that works with autism, not against it

ElleF

Hello all.

I am struggling with income. I have never managed to have a career. I worked in an office basically doing odd jobs that needed doing and I would cry every day. I then did a photography course and started doing photography, shooting for small brands from home, but I struggled to earn enough money. I then completed a 3 year degree in nutritional therapy but ended up having a breakdown trigged by clinical work. I find working with clients/ patients one-on-one really stressful. I started having frequent meltdowns, then panic attacks and then a breakdown. It is the second breakdown I've had in the last 9 years. I was put on an antidepressant (which didn't help) and sent for CBT (which made me feel worse). Since I graduated at the end of last year I have struggled to find clients and make money.

I don't know how to earn money or work as a nutritional therapist without having meltdowns and panic attacks. I don't think I can go through another breakdown. And my mum says she can't do it again and that I need to sort myself out. I feel like a failure and a burden to my family.

I have tried to find support. I have been rejected multiple time for business support. I can't seem to find any suitable adult autism support - most is high needs, dungeons and dragons and art therapy.  

Is it possible to actually make a living doing things you enjoy? Things I enjoy: working out, health, skincare, being creative (writing, making guides, product photography).

How have you managed to make money/ have a career without sacrificing your health?

Would appreciate any tips.

Parents

  • I think that, in general, jobs that require interaction with the general public, or with many different people on a frequent basis, are very challenging for autistic people. I worked for 24 years very happily in biomedical research, in a group that numbered around seven or eight people (the turnover averaged 3-4 years for PhD students, so not many new faces). However, when I moved to managing scientific facilities in a research institute, and had to deal with many more people on a daily basis, and solve other people's problems, I became much more stressed. The saving grace for me was that I finally got my own office and had somewhere to retreat to.

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  • I think that, in general, jobs that require interaction with the general public, or with many different people on a frequent basis, are very challenging for autistic people. I worked for 24 years very happily in biomedical research, in a group that numbered around seven or eight people (the turnover averaged 3-4 years for PhD students, so not many new faces). However, when I moved to managing scientific facilities in a research institute, and had to deal with many more people on a daily basis, and solve other people's problems, I became much more stressed. The saving grace for me was that I finally got my own office and had somewhere to retreat to.

Children