#Thread
I’m supporting a family member through a crisis at the moment.
In doing so I’m aware of just how much my autistic strengths such as sustained focus, the ability to analyse complex situations, and creative problem solving are helping to resolve matters. #AutisticPrideDay
I’m also aware that my autistic sense of justice, my openness, and my hyper-empathy sometimes help, and sometimes get in the way.
I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved this week, including the fact that I’m able to state this without worrying about it coming across as immodest!
Since my autism diagnosis I’ve shifted significantly towards self-recognition, self-compassion and self-acceptance.
It has taken a long time to shake off deficit-laden ableist notions of what it means to be autistic, but I’m finally getting there.
My self confidence is returning.
The family member I’m assisting is autistic too, which means we experience some of the same challenges and frustrations when dealing with the neurotypical world.
It’s wonderful being with someone who has such a similar outlook.
Together we’re finding our way through this crisis.
I had a really long sleep this afternoon after several restless nights.
Self care is even more important at times like this.
Walking with Waffle provides welcome relief from dealing with people.
She’s proving remarkably adaptable as she’s never lived in a house with cats before.
My autism diagnosis had such a negative slant on communication and interaction it knocked my confidence.
Three years on, I’m better equipped to see things objectively.
Part of my strength is doing things differently, and that’s a source of great pride to me. #AutisticPrideDay
End
#Thread
#Autism awareness and acceptance really matter because stigma, prejudice, and lack of trauma informed, ‘experience sensitive’ approaches perpetuate structural inequalities and injustices.
In my locality #SocialCare needs of autistic adults come under the #MH service.
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I saw an unqualified Assistant Psychologist in the #CMHT after my #autism diagnosis.
I wanted help with the existential crisis of late autism diagnosis but ended up being gaslighted.
I realised what was going on and discharged myself after explained what iatrogenic harm meant.
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A few months ago a combination of factors (none of them to do with mental health) meant that I needed social care support.
Because I am #Autistic I was told that my assessment would be carried out by the MH team.
I was so traumatised by my last contact with them I declined.
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#Thread
Adjusting to a very late in life #autism discovery.
How my life has changed 5+ years on.
Like many #Autistic people I had experienced repeated episodes of #burnout and #trauma.
By the time I reached my late 50s I was exhausted.
I had no energy to get going again.
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This quiet breakdown could easily have gone unnoticed or been explained by a number of other things.
I’d always been quirky and different, a highly sensitive, deeply empathic person.
My distress could have been attributed to a personality issue, or to anxiety
and depression.
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Through good fortune and serendipity I found my way to a service that helped me to start making sense of my life.
The process of acceptance, adjustment, and self-advocacy has continued since then.
It’s not enough for me to adapt, other people need to make accommodations too.
3/
I feel blessed to have reached the age of 64 with much of my life still intact.
When everything began to unravel in my 50s it wasn’t clear why.
My career (which had been reasonably successful, if somewhat disjointed) got derailed.
My personal life started falling apart too.
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Without understanding why this was happening, it would have been impossible to remedy the situation.
I’d have carried on pulling at the loose threads until there was nothing left at all.
Discovering that I was #Autistic gave me the answers I needed to start to repair my life.
2/
What needed fixing wasn’t me, it was my living and working environments, and communication between me and other people.
Although I’d realised that interpretation and translation prevented misunderstandings, I hadn’t recognised my language and culture were distinctly Autistic.
3/
On the second anniversary of my #autism diagnosis I wrote a thread about #bullying (not realising that it was my #autieversary at the time). It was very appropriate though, as bullying and abuse have had a huge impact on me, especially in adulthood. #ActuallyAutistic 3/
#Thread
Rebuilding a career after a late in life autism diagnosis.
Personal reflections of a very late discovered #ActuallyAutistic person, 4 years on.
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Burnout was a factor in me finally finding out I was autistic.
I’d become overwhelmed and exhausted.
I’d drifted to a halt, and then couldn’t get going again.
I was overloaded by being bullied at work, being in perimenopause, unresolved trauma and my partner’s serious illness.
2/
A demanding new job immediately after my diagnosis didn’t kickstart recovery from burnout like it would have done previously.
What the psychologist had told me about taking ‘baby steps’ was true, even though I didn’t want it to be.
I finally realised I couldn’t afford not to.
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#Thread
Why it’s sometimes difficult to know how unwell I am.
A personal autistic perspective.
I’ve been feeling rotten since Sunday, with some kind of respiratory illness.
After 3 years of respite from colds and flu it came as a bit of a shock.
I haven’t had Covid yet either.
1/
I wasn’t too worried to begin with, as my partner was ill before me.
After 2 or 3 days he started to feel better, and I assumed I’d be the same.
Unfortunately I’ve been getting steadily worse.
Less energy.
More coughing.
Less desire to eat.
More sleeplessness.
Strange pains.
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I’m almost always in some kind of pain so that in itself isn’t a reliable indicator of being unwell.
Nor is severe fatigue, which occurs so regularly it seems normal.
I rely on objective symptoms like fevers, rashes and swellings.
Tests are a bonus, if they are available.
3/