Help! Are there any women in this Community with ASD

I know Malabar isn't "working" nor am I but I think maybe others are. You may not be aware but  In the UK claimants for social benefits can be penalised for being fully engaged in social media as it shows that you can mix, have friends, can use technology, can concentrate etc etc Fear tactics! I am even wary of contributing on here. But I have really appreciated listening to you all very much. 

My god that's depressing Misfit, I'm not surprised you are cynical!  One of my whole body shaking crises was when I went to try to sign on for jobseekers allowance so that I could get housing benefit and leave to be on my own, long time ago now.  they took one look at me and told me to go and see my GP, I did and got a sick note "anxiety and depression", then got passed on to those awful assessment people who of course said I wasn't sick enough to get benefit, so I never got a penny and never got to leave.  I think I pretty much went to bed for a month, certainly didn't have enough oomph to appeal and no support.  I'm still here and given what I now know maybe that's a good thing.

Having not painted for most of twenty years after my MA I found artists on Instagram and thought 'I can do that', so I started drawing and posting my efforts, it's changed now but was small and friendly to begin with.  My account grew and I sold a few pieces but lots of people comment (in a nice way) and I felt obliged to answer them and be friendly but I increasingly found I couldn't answer and I'm still stuck like this and can't even paint at the moment.  All I want is to make my art and have a small income, but I always run into the brick wall because I can't find a way to sell it that doesn't turn me into a basket case.

. The benefits system is an incredibly traumatic place to be for sure, keeping your head down is the only option.  All we want is to have a chance at living a productive and balanced life but sometimes it seems impossible.

My god that's depressing Misfit, I'm not surprised you are cynical!  One of my whole body shaking crises was when I went to try to sign on for jobseekers allowance so that I could get housing benefit and leave to be on my own, long time ago now.  they took one look at me and told me to go and see my GP, I did and got a sick note "anxiety and depression", then got passed on to those awful assessment people who of course said I wasn't sick enough to get benefit, so I never got a penny and never got to leave.  I think I pretty much went to bed for a month, certainly didn't have enough oomph to appeal and no support.  I'm still here and given what I now know maybe that's a good thing.

Having not painted for most of twenty years after my MA I found artists on Instagram and thought 'I can do that', so I started drawing and posting my efforts, it's changed now but was small and friendly to begin with.  My account grew and I sold a few pieces but lots of people comment (in a nice way) and I felt obliged to answer them and be friendly but I increasingly found I couldn't answer and I'm still stuck like this and can't even paint at the moment.  All I want is to make my art and have a small income, but I always run into the brick wall because I can't find a way to sell it that doesn't turn me into a basket case.

. The benefits system is an incredibly traumatic place to be for sure, keeping your head down is the only option.  All we want is to have a chance at living a productive and balanced life but sometimes it seems impossible.

I also enjoy arts and crafts but only on a personal level. Over the years I've sewn, knitted and crotcheted mostly giving away as gifts. My current creative outlet is colouring books. I found my old crayons and paints and my sister teaches art so she got me some new ones too. It is absorbing and I end up with various results some I'm pleased with but don't necessarily manage to keep within the lines but it is fun. Are there any art charities you could sell through? Maybe Nas could take on a new mantle and have a members etsy. Oh! Etsy that's another outlet to sell art. 

I found a really helpful website called Benefits and work. They know the ESA and PiP and show you step by step how to fill it in and what to include in different circumstances. Many people have been helped by them. You do pay a subscription but it's worth it. You can also get help to fill the horrendous forms in through your council's welfare rights. I had a lovely lady who came to help me and we made use of the Benefits and work information too. I'm currently on ESA in the group where they leave me in peace unless they send other letters which make me anxious. And basic Pip. I did have a period of time ( over a year just lived off savings ) when I didn't get anything at all as I couldn't face signing on after I went to horrific tribunal. But Sally made me have another go and with her help I got it. My Pip check up is happening at the moment and keep wondering when the ESA one will be. They make you live in fear which is counterproductive. 

Could you feel able to show your work in the Open Studios? Share a space and Put your work with someone else's sometimes they have a few people's work together in a hall so you don't have to be there.. . and it's only once a year or more as locally the artists sometimes open another couple of times in a group. It's closed now but we did have a gallery presenting local artists work then the gallery presumably got commission.. have you got anything like that near you? I.e. Let someone sell your work for you.. ?