Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi everyone. I received a high functioning autism diagnosis just over a year ago (at the age of 36) and have been dealing with understanding it ever since.
I have been having regular sessions with a clinical psychologist at my local mental health hospital as as well as the diagnosis I was also told I was suffering from depression and anxiety.
A large part of our chats revolve around my concerns about getting back into employment. She has mentioned, as have I read online so many times, that employers love people on the spectrum who have crazy attention to detail.
This is when I feel like a fraud. I make stupid mistakes all the time, I lose focus on longer tasks and flip flop between interests. In my previous jobs I was able to do really technically complicated things like software development but made silly errors and was unable to do simple data entry into a spreadsheet. This theme has followed me since primary school.
Today I accidentally came across an article saying that it is common for people on the spectrum to also suffer from ADHD and it then listed the common symptoms of ADHD. I tick an awful lot of them.
What I don't understand is how can someone on the spectrum, who are supposed to have incredible attention to detail, also have something like ADHD where they continually make silly careless mistakes - I don't see how they are compatible.
I'm going to raise this next week at my next session - it very complicated as I am, as far as the diagnostician and the clinical psychologist I've been seeing, autistic. But as I say, I often feel like a fraud and before I start looking for a job openly stating that I'm autistic, only to say "oh, but I don't have some of the really useful attributes", I want to make sure I fully understand it.
Does that make sense? Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Hello all those interested in adhd.. the women’s adhd Palooza is due soon it’s similar to but not the same as the adhd expo. There is usually very useful and practical information offered some of which crosses over with asd so useful perhaps to a wider audience than those who know they have adhd. Here is the link http://adhdpalooza.com/
Just to bring this back to your attention.. the Palooza starts on Monday with itinerary already available. It’s an invaluable resource.
As some of you will know I am a podcast user.. there are several about autism and also adhd my latest one is Michelle Chalfont The adult chair which talks about ways to handle our emotions. After Christmas she sent emails everyday for a month to encourage journaling ( I haven’t read all the emails yet let alone do the journaling) and oddly enough I am receiving a daily journal for one month from a practioner of the Alexander Technique.. So even if we can’t find resources in our area there are things of interest online.
Even if you don’t have adhd there are usually practical solutions and advice on a range of topics and I have been encouraged the last 2 years by the Palooza ( and even though it’s directed towards women you chaps out there might find some of it helpful too as Linda says in the intro).