Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi everyone,
I hope you are all well and I would like to ask for some advice. I have recently been diagnosed with Autism as an adult (in my late twenties) and I am really struggling. I don't know how to get proper support both in work and just for mental health support and also how to access any help for this. This is my first post, so I really hope someone can help or advise.
Firstly, I have tried to explain in work my struggles, which they are trying to help, but I don't feel like they are really listening to my desperate need for clearer instructions as its always vague and makes me unable to do tasks and my struggles with tasks involving new people and large groups due to social anxiety. Does anyone have any advice or someone to signpost me for work related issues concerning the diagnosis? I have contacted access to work, but there waiting time is 18 weeks and I don't know if I can last that long in the job.
Secondly, I really thought after receiving the diagnosis, I would have heard something from my doctor. I have told them but I haven't been offered anything apart from antidepressants and a year waiting list for CBT. Can anyone advise if there's an email or phone number for support with Autism. I thought the National Autistic Society would have a helpline or email, but I can't find anything and I really need to talk to someone. It's just really hard knowing I need to wait for so long for any help.
It would just be nice to hear from others who have been through a similar thing and what support there is, as I feel really alone and isolated as I don't know anyone in my immediate family and friends who have the condition and understand fully. I also only had the diagnosis recently, so although I have been living with it, I have without knowing and getting no support because I didn't know what would help me. I hope it was ok to share that here.
Thank you
Hi and welcome
It is difficult to get support as an adult unfortunately. I have now known I'm on the spectrum for around 8 years - initially I was shocked, then spent lots of time learning, and things did get better. I'm getting older now so not dealing with work as well due to getting tired so much.
I'm sorry to hear that you are having problems getting appropriate adjustments at work. It's difficult for people not on the spectrum to understand why we need them to tell us about changes well in advance, be on time if we're having a meeting, and to have things explained clearly. How have you communicated your requests? If it was verbally, I would suggest writing it in an email, outlining all the adjustments you need and the reasons for them. Then you have a clear record of what you said and there should be no misunderstanding. If nothing still happens, contact your HR department or Managing Director to ask why your request for reasonable adjustments is not being dealt with.
I wish you luck, and hope you enjoy the forum and find it useful.
Hi Pixiefox, thank you for your reply! I will give this a go actually, I do usually try to verbally say things over email because my bosses don't respond well on email so I resorted to telling them verbally, but I think I could write it and then tell them I have wrote the email here with what I need. I think you are right that having a clear record would be good and can track that back as evidence to HR if they don't do the adjustments as requested. Thanks again for your message, I really appreciate it and I am enjoying the forum, its been very comforting hearing from others who empathise and with helpful information like your reply :)