Stress Management

[Aet1985]

I have been wondering for a while, being on the spectrum are we sensitive to stress? I ask because at 39 it seems as if I can't ''take on a lot''. I take care of my dog, work not many days (40 hours is a lot now) trying to figure and work relationship I am in is stressful often. I feel even though I am 39 at times I feel as if I am in my 50's or older mentally and physically, want to live a ''slower'' life with a female friend and dog. I am hard on myself because guys in my family are cops, lawyers, firemen, work in NYC and so on, my eczema and acid reflux acts up from daily life. I am sorry about the rant but I have nobody else to ask. I don't know what is causing this just ''getting older'' or brain wiring?

 

[Xinyta]

It's a multitude of factors. Autism does make us predisposed to being more vulnerable to anxiety and mental health issues. But upbringing and experience tend to hold a larger factor in how we react to people, and world.

It's difficult, really, when you are trapped in a vicious cycle between anxeity and your own autistic responses. One feeds the other.

This is one thing that makes escaping self-esteem issues, anxiety, and depression really hard to overcome. As we want to escape to what's easy. What feels comfortable, even if it's a exponential detriment to us.

Take some time to reflect.

What drives your anxiety? What in life is making it difficult to hold on? How do you overcome it?

 

[FayetheAspie]

All About Autistic Shutdowns: A Guide for Allies - Reframing Autism

 

[NB79]

Yes it happens with me too, i don't know how people can be nurses etc, working 10 hour shifts and they deal with that.

 

[Rodafina]

I have been wondering for a while, being on the spectrum are we sensitive to stress?

I think it may be more accurate to say that some things cause acutely increased stress for us. For example, most people I know do not have a stress response to certain sounds and bright sunlight like I do. Yet, in a crisis I tend to be very calm, and adept at solving problems. I would not say that I am “sensitive to stress.” I would say that what causes me stress is different than most people I know.

 

[NB79]

I don't think is related to age, is related to autism, my dad is 85, and he wakes up 5 am, and works all day, i don't how he does it.

 

[Outdated]

I don't know what is causing this just ''getting older'' or brain wiring?

Age does play a role, but the effects are subtle and we tend to not notice them creeping in over the years.

You are now a Middle Age man, 39 is still fairly young in a lot of people's eyes but your priorities in life have shifted. When we're young we're driven to achieve many things, a career, a partner, etc. And we have a lot of energy with which to pursue those goals. Once we get to around 40 we are no longer as driven and no longer have as much energy to cope with sensitivities that didn't seem as stressful to us 20 years beforehand.

I am of course telling you this with the benefit of hindsight. I kept pushing myself and trying to live the life I thought I wanted until I completely burnt out and became useless to everyone.

Try to identify the individual situations that cause you stress, try to narrow them down to specific causes. Then you'll be better able to find ways to work around your issues either by using physical aids like noise cancelling headphones or by learning to avoid certain situations.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I have been wondering for a while, being on the spectrum are we sensitive to stress? I ask because at 39 it seems as if I can't ''take on a lot''. I take care of my dog, work not many days (40 hours is a lot now) trying to figure and work relationship I am in is stressful often. I feel even though I am 39 at times I feel as if I am in my 50's or older mentally and physically, want to live a ''slower'' life with a female friend and dog. I am hard on myself because guys in my family are cops, lawyers, firemen, work in NYC and so on, my eczema and acid reflux acts up from daily life. I am sorry about the rant but I have nobody else to ask. I don't know what is causing this just ''getting older'' or brain wiring?

The short answer is "YES".

The "typical" autistic brain does work much harder at just being "normal" than others. Having said that, it is imperative that we take good care of our brain health. For us, it may mean supplementing with antioxidants like N-acetylcysteine, SAMe, selenium, methylated B-complex, L-theanine, and perhaps a daily multi-vitamin (methylated) and otherwise, avoiding "pro-inflammatory" foods and sugars.