Page 1 of 1 [ 7 posts ] 

PlutoBound
Emu Egg
Emu Egg

User avatar

Joined: 19 Jul 2014
Age: 62
Gender: Female
Posts: 2

20 Jul 2014, 7:41 pm

I am a 50 year young woman who was recently officially diagnosed as high functioning Aspergers (well they call it Level 1 ASD now).
I have worked in Fortune 100 companies for years, always thinking each job would be the one I retired from. Ultimately after about 3 years something happens and I am forced to move on. (Layoffs, etc.) I don't handle change well.
I've managed to have a good career by "faking it" for years now but honestly, it wears me out trying to pretend to be like everyone else.

I love my work and get along well with everyone who doesn't have to work with me on a daily basis. Those who see me every day struggle with my bluntness, impulsivity, anxiety and the fact that I am so literal about everything. I have a hard time determining when someone is being sarcastic or making a joke. I try to approach it all with humor, but some things get to me like my boss saying "I forget who I'm talking to" when I ask him to clarify something he said.

Does anyone else feel like that?

Pluto



Novembers_Moon
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse

User avatar

Joined: 18 Jul 2014
Age: 45
Gender: Female
Posts: 26

21 Jul 2014, 1:52 am

"Faking It" gave me several mental breakdowns. I need a work-at-home job tailored to my needs/disabilities.



stabilator
Deinonychus
Deinonychus

User avatar

Joined: 23 Sep 2013
Age: 50
Gender: Female
Posts: 337
Location: USA

21 Jul 2014, 5:05 am

"Faking it" 24/7 with no breaks or vacations to be yourself leads to burnouts/breakdowns and declining health.

It has happened to me too.

It is good to make times where you just be yourself. Also, if you need to stim, stims that don't draw much attention might help with stress relief, and concentration or focus issues. (Chewing gum, pacing, leg shaking etc.)



ElsaFlowers
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

User avatar

Joined: 11 May 2014
Age: 54
Gender: Female
Posts: 171
Location: Manchester UK

24 Jul 2014, 1:32 am

Working is so difficult for me. I'm currently in an admin role and looking for a new job. I'm looking for similar jobs but I've also applied for cleaning and factory work. I think the type of admin work I could cope with is rare because I need to be in an environment that's quiet and I'm not being constantly interrupted. Also I need a job where I'm not expected to deal with too many different tasks. Most of the admin jobs I've seen advertised are clearly not going to meet these requirements so I think maybe I should go for a mundane minimum wage job that won't be mentally challenging. Most days after I've been to work I come home mentally exhausted and struggle to think straight for the rest of the day :(



Cafeaulait
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 21 Jul 2012
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,539
Location: Europe

05 Aug 2014, 10:37 am

I feel so stupid because I study psychology AND have aspergers. I don't know what to do with that.



kraftiekortie
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 4 Feb 2014
Gender: Male
Posts: 87,510
Location: Queens, NYC

05 Aug 2014, 8:01 pm

As a person with Asperger's, you have a unique perspective on things.

For example:

You could empathize when one is socially isolated, because you feel like being socially isolated at times. You could devise strategies which would aid your patient/client in "being social."

You could empathize with sensory difficulties, because you experience them yourself. You, as a psychologist, could devise strategies which enable the patient/client to deal with these things, because you deal with these things.



trollcatman
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 21 Dec 2012
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,919

06 Aug 2014, 2:07 am

Seems your boss was a jerk. "You forget who you are talking to" is said exclusively by arrogant people who think they are better than you. I don't know how you could know beforehand, but there are probably companies with a different corporate culture.