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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.

  • in reply to Martin

    Thank you for your reply. It nice to know other have similar experiences/ feelings. Those around me don;t understand and have been pushing me to do public speaking and workshops which honestly makes me panic just thinking about it. 

  • in reply to ElleF

    I could never consider a lectureship because of the constant public speaking. I could just about manage the occasional seminar or presentation at conferences, but I would be close to catatonic for at least a day afterwards due to recovering from the stress and anxiety.

Reply Children
  • in reply to Martin

    Interestingly, lecturing and one-on-one lessons were two things I feel that I did very well with when I was a professor. I think with lectures it was not so bad because I essentially had a pre-written script to relatively follow, but every time a student asked a legitimate question I would be severely derailed and stressed out.

    It was assignments, tests, and grading that I think drained me the most. I struggled with giving the students an opportunity to fail, since every time they would mess up I would immediately assume it was my fault for not teaching them properly.