• Welcome to Autism Forums, a friendly forum to discuss Aspergers Syndrome, Autism, High Functioning Autism and related conditions.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Private Member only forums for more serious discussions that you may wish to not have guests or search engines access to.
    • Your very own blog. Write about anything you like on your own individual blog.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon! Please also check us out @ https://www.twitter.com/aspiescentral

Introducing me.

Sweet potato

Sweet potato

Member
Hi I'm 25 years old and new to the forum after being diagnosed for 2 years. I studied speech and language therapy at uni for 2 years where I realised I was autistic but sadly the mental health came crashing down and the mask began to slip in my second year meaning I didn't Finnish my degree and left on poor terms. I've been working as a special needs TA ever since and I love my job but I often find being autistic means I feel I can relate more to the autistic children in my care than I can to my NT colleagues which feels quite isolating at times.

My lovely fionce is undiagnosed autistic (not seeking diagnosis) and my sister is autistic (going through the process of diagnosis) so I'm not alone in how by brain works at all.

It's been a turbulent few years I seem to be fine for a while but I burn out so easily. At least a couple of times a month I'm having bad meltdowns (self injurious stims, running away, crying on the floor in public etc.) and I feel sorry for everyone who has to deal with me. I'm struggling at the moment because the heat makes all my sensory issues worse and I'm tired and uncomfortable all the time.

My special interests are vintage sewing machines, my lovely animals (two Guinea pigs and a snake) and whatever craft project I'm working on at the time. I think I'm also ADHD (not seeking a diagnosis) but I pick up and drop special interests all the time.
 
welcome to af.png
 
Hi and Welcome,
I think that quite a few of the people in the special ed/needs field are neurodiverse. In fact some of the best specialists and consultants are. That personnal experience and ability to relate can be valuable strengths. My wife works as a Master teacher in special ed and although not on the spectrum is uber sensitive. One drawback of the field is it is in fact very stressful at times and staff crashing in one form or another common. What you hope for is a company/institution culture that is aware of that and supports the mental health of it's staff as much if not more then it's clients. You can't of course be much help to others if you are broke down or burnt out.
 
Tom said:
Hi and Welcome,
I think that quite a few of the people in the special ed/needs field are neurodiverse. In fact some of the best specialists and consultants are. That personnal experience and ability to relate can be valuable strengths. My wife works as a Master teacher in special ed and although not on the spectrum is uber sensitive. One drawback of the field is it is in fact very stressful at times and staff crashing in one form or another common. What you hope for is a company/institution culture that is aware of that and supports the mental health of it's staff as much if not more then it's clients. You can't of course be much help to others if you are broke down or burnt out.
Click to expand...
I'm very lucky my work have been great I have flexible start/end times to work around getting the bus, I can take mini breaks when I need them and when I've admitted to struggling recently they've given me odd days working from home (just cutting and laminating it's not really a job you can properly do from home) from September I should be getting a taxi to/from work with access to work so things should get easier
 
Yeshuasdaughter said:
I like people like you.

In second grade, there was a very wonderful teacher who brought me out of myself and helped me be able to talk again. We would play the most wonderful board and card games in her little office. She was so kind, and she was the one adult in my world, at that time, that made me smile, and truly feel safe and happy.

I would get beat at home for needing to go to "speech" at school. But she was so good to me. I'll never forget her. One day, the school district pulled us apart, because they decided in a committee or something, that girls don't get autism. After that, I was put into a regular classroom, and pretty much made fun of and beat up every day until high school graduation. Teachers were so rigid and cruel. Kids made fun of me for being "retarded". My parents loved me, but they also beat me and did other things to me, like blowing pot smoke in my face when I cried, having me taste cocaine, and even acid testing me. I missed my speech teacher.

I endeavor to be good and kind like her, but I know I never will be able to meet that mark.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you had a tough start. We all need compassion and understanding. I hope you've found that from other people in your life as you've grown up.
 
Welcome, very nice to have you here! :)

I love animals too. I have lots of dogs!
I don’t currently have a Guinea pig or a snake but I love them.

I’m sorry you’ve been through all that. I sometimes feel sorry for people having to deal with me too :(

But I think you will find that pretty much everyone here is kind, helpful, supportive, and give sincere and valuable advice.
Enjoy your stay! :)
 
Hi, Sweet Potato. Feel free to relax and share as you have the energy and inclination. We are a good, sharing group. Enjoy being home.
 
Hi and welcome. Sorry you have gone through some hard times. Based on my own experience and thst of others I've dorked with, it's surprising what getting some ongoing support, doing some therapy and self development can do for us.

People say autism isn't changeable it's a different brain, but plenty else is changeable and that can make autism more manageable. For example we can learn to rely more on our thinking skills, and not only feel overwhelmed by feelings.

Our attachment style may be insecure, research has shown this is a common developmental issue for all, NT or autie. Working towards being more secure helps give us better confidence in ourselves and others. And your care role can allow you to pass that on, instead of feeling wobbly or out of control. I did years of therapy and self development we didn't get diagnosed back then, as seemingly bright women who were just socially inept, supposedly.

I self diagnosed in my 50s, after training as a relationship and family therapist and becoming aware of and researching autism. But by then I had a lot of strategies for myself, through therapy and self development done earlier, that helped, though always left me with question marks, now solved or answered.

I hope you enjoy it here and will add your comments and make threads if you want to.

:walking::runner::rocket::walking::surfer::airplane::walking::swimmer::sailboat:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Threads

Top Bottom