Autism and health anxiety as I get older

Yep, had this too Lonehare12 

Appear to be emerging from it myself - touch wood...

I concluded it partly down to just the sustained volume of experiences relating to ill health - that of others and accumulation of experiences myself, the social expectation of older people that they get more of this (Ok figures show that the bulk of NHS spending does go on older people).  I also have to get used to my bodies ability to shrug off things like infection quickly is not as good as it used to be.  Aches and pains take a little more attention for causative analysis and resolution.

So it's a bit like trying not to look at someone's nose when they tell you not to.

Also, because I was (and can still be sometimes) almost at the point of giving up and felt like I had no reason to be around tha was worth all the grief I was experiencing.  I have actually actively looked for illnesses that could come along that would facilitate that for me in a socially acceptable way.

However, just last week when an NHS e-message asked me whether I still wanted the appointment I had been waiting for for 2 years - I reflected, thought, well actually, the same symptoms of renal pain from the stones I know are still there haven't recurred for 2 years and thought... No I don't need it - maybe a gamble but one I can live with and maybe that frees up resources for someone who can't.

I can't really explain with any certainty this situation in me.

However there are some of my personal circumstances worth mentioning:

I reckon that I am actually properly getting out of burnout.

I have been away from a lot of the chronic stressors that put me there to start with for long enough for me to recover.

I have accepted my vulnerabilities and those of others better.

I have used physical exercises that have helped change my posture and bearing so that I carry myself in an outwardly more confident way.

I have done a lot of the mental heavy lifting to be able to see things from a healthier perspective.

To do this I searched out and embraced support.

Crucially I reconnected to the values that closer reflect who I am and want to be.

Maybe there's something in this that can be answer for you too :-)

All the best.

Yep, had this too Lonehare12 

Appear to be emerging from it myself - touch wood...

I concluded it partly down to just the sustained volume of experiences relating to ill health - that of others and accumulation of experiences myself, the social expectation of older people that they get more of this (Ok figures show that the bulk of NHS spending does go on older people).  I also have to get used to my bodies ability to shrug off things like infection quickly is not as good as it used to be.  Aches and pains take a little more attention for causative analysis and resolution.

So it's a bit like trying not to look at someone's nose when they tell you not to.

Also, because I was (and can still be sometimes) almost at the point of giving up and felt like I had no reason to be around tha was worth all the grief I was experiencing.  I have actually actively looked for illnesses that could come along that would facilitate that for me in a socially acceptable way.

However, just last week when an NHS e-message asked me whether I still wanted the appointment I had been waiting for for 2 years - I reflected, thought, well actually, the same symptoms of renal pain from the stones I know are still there haven't recurred for 2 years and thought... No I don't need it - maybe a gamble but one I can live with and maybe that frees up resources for someone who can't.

I can't really explain with any certainty this situation in me.

However there are some of my personal circumstances worth mentioning:

I reckon that I am actually properly getting out of burnout.

I have been away from a lot of the chronic stressors that put me there to start with for long enough for me to recover.

I have accepted my vulnerabilities and those of others better.

I have used physical exercises that have helped change my posture and bearing so that I carry myself in an outwardly more confident way.

I have done a lot of the mental heavy lifting to be able to see things from a healthier perspective.

To do this I searched out and embraced support.

Crucially I reconnected to the values that closer reflect who I am and want to be.

Maybe there's something in this that can be answer for you too :-)

All the best.