Help needed please

AnneMargaret, please don't despair.  Nomatter how awful you think things are or how low you think you've sunk - someone, somewhere has been there and managed through it.  In fact I think that might be a helpful way to think of your troubles - that you are managing through them, that they will pass.  The tunnel may seem long and unending, but it isn't.  You are still very young and there is a whole life ahead of you.  Think of all the good you can do in the world, and all that you can achieve!  Maybe you are experiencing things for a reason but will only understand that later on? 

I hope your GP is helpful.  If not, try again.  Can you see a different doctor in your practise?  Maybe you need to try a few to work out which one is more in tune with your condition.  Doctors have their favourite subjects and some are more understanding than others.  If you have a diagnosis then they should immediately be on your side. You have a well known and recognised condition.

You sound as though you need to upgrade your coping mechanism from self harm to something more healthy.  It may well be a slow process.  The intensity of emotion becomes so overwhelming that only physical pain will ease it or negate it.  You will have clearly tried other things but at the point of need, nothing else comes close.  There are trained experts in this area who are very understanding.  I hope your GP refers to you one.

In the meantime, try to keep tabs on your state of emotion through the day before it all gets too much.  Build in treats for yourself - walks in the park, trips to the library, bubble baths, whatever and make sure you fully enjoy them.  The aim is to keep the bucket of emotion from overflowing by regularly tipping it out a bit!

Good luck - and know that you are not alone. x

Hello i have autism aspergers . Try and rest try and think of nice things to do like people which ing .do you like coffee ? Has your doctor put you on tablets to help your auitsm? .do you work if yes what do you do if not how do you spend your time on your own. With my auitsm i am on my own all the time i no its hard but there is ways of taking your mind off thinking about it, and there is some help out there take care talk soon

Hi Anne,

The cupboard of despair is a discussion that's been going for a couple of days.

community.autism.org.uk/.../painful-emotions-cupboard-despair

Not sure how relevant it is but there are related problems between depression, despair, low self esteem, hopelessness, autism and, I suspect, your self harm.

Many mental problems stem from people getting hold of extreme, and ultimately unreasonable, thought patterns. People with autistic traits tend to extreme thinking i.e. black and white thinking. So we often end up with mental problems of one sort or another. My guess is that you have fallen into this trap and have got to a position of very low esteem and desperation.

Does that make sense to you?

Thank you for your kind words. I don't know what the cupboard of despair thread is. Sorry. Yes I'm a little desperate. I just need someone to chat to. professionals always told me it was rare for an autistic person to harm themselves like I do. So I'd like so done who could help me understand but I've no idea where to turn. Anyway thank you for replying. Anne.

Hi AnneMargaret,

You sound a bit desparate but wanted to say hello and that you are not alone :-)

Have you looked at the 'cupboard of despair' thread? Does that sound familiar? It might be good for you to read and join in on that thread as I think it might help you work things out. There are also a number of people who are active on that thread so you might get more responses.

I have to pop out for the afternoon so I can't really help any more for the moment. I'll check in later to see how you are doing.