Published on 12, July, 2020
I have suffered from significant depression and anxiety for the last few years, which came about due to the treatment I endured by a former employer. During this period I have struggled to get any help from mental health services at all - I am just passed from one service to the next and none of the professionals appear to understand me due to my autism. All I keep hearing is 'well that's not my area' or 'I don't specialise in that' when I ask to see someone who can treat my mental health problems and understand my autism. When I asked if adjusted CBT was available in my area (such that is appropriate for someone with autism), the answer was a straight no. Further, I get 'well we can't guarantee the same person would see you all the time, could you cope with that?' and 'well you're going to have to have a degree of flexibility and willingness to change and obviously that is going to be hard for you given your autism.' In other words, mental health services are very negative about my autism and they are unwilling to understand how it affects me because they only deal with the mental health side of things.
A few weeks ago I had a very difficult episode with my ongoing mental health and I ended up in hospital as a result. This led to me being referred to CMHT once again. Then yesterday, following a visit to my GP where I unexpectedly found out my referral to CMHT had been rejected (which nobody cared to tell me about), so I spent 6 hours chasing around 4 different mental health services because each was saying the other should be seeing me and communicating with me about what is happening, only to be ultimately told following another assessment that CMHT is the most appropriate team for me and I will be re-referred to them. Added on was the fact that if I wanted to see someone who would understand my mental health and my autism, then I would have to go privately because CMHT don't have these services.
This all just seems like utter madness to me, and it has been going on like this for years - nobody in mental health wants to deal with me because they don't understand the autism, but then services for autism say that mental health is not something they deal with. Why, just why, isn't there somebody, somewhere, that can understand both?! As my autism is a fundamental part of me, then I believe it is imperative that anybody assessing or treating my mental health understands it and how it affects me. If they can't do that, then I don't believe they can help me as they can't even begin to understand my thinking. What do you guys think? Am I being too demanding here?
Hi I am also having trouble at work, despite a report from my psychiatrist, to my employers, having had a panic attack yesterday and being advised not to rely on antidepressants as I have been on them for eighteen years. I am also on a claims casual basis, not a contract and my job is likely to end in mid July, I still suffer from stress and anxiety and feel the lack of support at this present time. The next time I have a crisis I will be referred to Social Services not the Mental Health team, but we as ASD people do need mental health support as well. I also have to care for myself, having no carer and at times life can be tough, so I feel for you in your situation.
I find that the advice from the National Autistic Service was great in dealing with my own mini meltdown at work, go to a quiet place, which I do at lunch time, breathe and relax which also helps with anxiety, stress and panic attacks. I think there are a lot of overlaps with mental health and autism. I am against those who want to empower people by withdrawing any type of psychological support by stating it's just another form of seeing the world. Yes it is but some of us need support and the recent Government would love to cut more funding from support services. Those who advocate that autistic people should be treated the same, don't realise that some of us on the spectrum really struggle as someone who may have hearing difficulties or poor eyesight and stating that everyone is on the spectrum annoys me immensely because anxiety and stress is what I have to cope with everyday and it does not improve as a woman going through the change of life, when hormone levels are affecting me too. In an ideal world we would all accept neuro differences but we don't live in that world yet.
I lost my cool more than once too at these places when I was still in the UK. I wrote a letter of complaint to an MP when still living in the Midlands, unfortunately after moving the MP was on the wrong side. I never thought it would just keep on getting worse in the UK.
That’s clearly where I’m going wrong - I don’t go to pubs, so I don’t find the fellow knitters! Interesting point regarding going deaf, I’m now wondering about that point myself...
I know a lot of young people who knit, mainly medical students and trainee psychologists who meet in a pub, a bit uncomfortable for autistic ears but it's worth it at times. Sometimes I wonder if I grow deaf in my old age like my Nan, will I have less sensory problems and be more blissful and calm?
Bardic Poet said:sometimes my colleagues can be more frustrating than the kids and then I loose it.
Oh, I recognise this scenario (I’ve coached sports to children for a long time, and the problems I’ve faced in those jobs have never come from the children...). I think it’s great you’re being a role model for the children, autism and all.
Glad you’re finding groups outside of work, my sports are my only social life but I enjoy them greatly and they’re a good stress-reliever on particularly tough days. I’m unable to do them currently as I’ve had surgery on my knee, and I have noticed the effect it has had on my mood. I knit too and recently started cross-stitching as that can be a good mind distraction, though I do get some odd looks from my peers when I say I’m knitting something (as most people my age don’t know how to knit)!
Yes that's the advice I was given by the 'Occupational Health', part of the CMHT team and I have started doing that. In the meantime I am building a life outside work which helps with the autistic support group, knitting group, etc and have already contacted National Careers Service. The specialist career service for autistic people only support those who have a care assessment and as I'm coping reasonably well according to the psychiatrist, I don't qualify. I have a had better two days at work, and am standing my ground, I always go back and never run, Although the children are very challenging I have a love for them, although it's too much at times. So I just have a breather when I feel like screaming, as most teachers and go back. Being a teaching assistant is very rewarding but stressful, especially on our estate, with a large number of neglected kids, who may be on the spectrum themselves without knowing. So sometimes being an autistic TA is a positive role model for them, despite the occasional bad days. It's good to talk to those with a diagnosis and encourage them but sometimes my colleagues can be more frustrating than the kids and then I loose it.
That’s the problem with the job centre, they won’t let you only apply for jobs that are suitable for you given your autism, which only adds more stress and loss of confidence in work. They don’t seem to understand that the wrong working environment can lead you to a complete mental breakdown. Therefore I can totally understand why you went back to your old job. As I say though, whilst you’re working there don’t give up on looking for something that would suit you better (by your own means, and not through the job centre of course).
Well last year I did leave my job after eight years at working in the same place, I was fifty one then and I went for eighteen interviews, lost my cool at the job centre numerous times which made me seek an autistic diagnosis. I still did not get a job after eight months and by that time my GP had doubled my anti-depressants, I was under the care of a psychiatrist and the CMHT, whilst I awaited a diagnosis. In fact the diagnosis made me go back to the same job, especially when I was bullied at the Job centre, threatened with sanctions and would have to do shelf filling for nothing even as an intelligent woman. The job I am in now, may be hard and stressful, but I had more panic attacks in the job centre than I do in the school. It was an answer to a prayer when I went back, I am now fifty two and am growing stronger each day. If someone with epilepsy, asthma or diabetes can manage then I will have to learn to cope. However I am still looking for a job but as I tell my colleagues it may be tough but it's unbearable on the other side of the fence, where the grass looks greener.
Bardic Poet said:Well it was even worse claiming JSA and signing on at the Job Centre and the thought that I will have to go there again if I don't get a contract is even worse than my present situation.
Yes I can imagine - I would never cope with that which is why I’ve never done it, even when I was out of work for a period...I didn’t need the extra stress. I was lucky in the sense that I still live with my mum (I’m in my early 20s) and I had savings at that time, so I could choose not to claim JSA. Indeed, we do live in uncertain times, but do keep searching for a job that would suit your needs better, because it can really make life a lot easier. I was out of work for about 18 months following my unfair dismissal by my former employer, and my mental state was such that I thought I would never cope with work again, but after a great deal of selective job hunting I found the right position for me and it’s helped me so much in building back some confidence within the workplace and keeping my anxiety under control whilst there. It’s not easy to find a good employer, but it can be done, so don’t give up trying.
Well it was even worse claiming JSA and signing on at the Job Centre and the thought that I will have to go there again if I don't get a contract is even worse than my present situation. I think it's the uncertainty getting me down but we live in anxious times.
Yes, it’s very hard to manage these difficulties on top of work. For me personally, finding a supportive employer has done me the world of good, though I still have days when I really struggle in work and the mental health problems caused by my former employer haven’t abated as yet. I’m glad you have found some techniques to help you manage your anxiety in work, just make sure not to push yourself too far in this regard - having done it previously, I don’t think it’s worth sacrificing your mental health for any job.
I totally agree that many people with autism also suffer from mental health problems, so relevant support should be there for this. I suppose we just have to hope that one day the world will catch up and be more understanding of the needs of those with autism.