Leaving education

Post Reply New Topic

I have found it very difficult to transition from being in full time education and, in my opinion suddenly being thrust into the adult working world with no or not enough preparation.

its so confusing, being in school since the age of 5 and then it is all gone, the school routine, the classes the socialisation, nothing makes sense anymore.

I have been in somewhat of a rut since I left school, I tried university but it was too much and now I don't know what I am doing, I have also found that keeping friendships is a lot harder now you have to actually plan to see people.

did or has anyone else fallen off the deep end after leaving education?

I did
im currently in a program with my states burro of vocational rehabilitation they are going to help me find a job
maybe you should contact your states burro

I totally fell off the deep end after leaving education, yes. It is harder to keep in touch with friends when you suddenly have to proactively make appointments just to see each other instead of having them just there at school every day, yes.

I became a hermit, living in my parents' house and sleeping until afternoon. I didn't know what to do with my life. All I knew was that I didn't feel ready to be in the world of work. It wasn't laziness. It was terror. I felt like I wasn't a grownup yet and didn't belong in a job. I froze into inaction, and unfortunately my parents just kind of let that happen, didn't get any help for me in any way, and they supported me financially while I became a vegetable in my room. I finally pushed myself to a job interview and I got the job -- I lasted ONE day. All the formalities "Good morning Mr So and So!" Good morning Mrs Whatsit!" seemed forced and strange, I couldn't stand being in this dull place for nine solid hours bar lunchbreak, and the customer interaction killed me (it was retail.) I couldn't go back. I just never showed up the next day.

Then I went for several more years stuck at home with my parents. I felt safe at home and didn't want to take part in the world, and again they let me -- I don't know why they did that. There's a lot about that situation I will never know now, as they've now both passed on. Another family member only recently intimated that something was "known" about me that I was never told, and I'm suspecting it was, well, this (spectrum). And it may have been why my parents just so willingly "gave up" on me and didn't push me. I don't know.

I eventually wanted to make something of myself and so found a job and tolerated it for as long as I could, but it was the start of and employment record that always burned out in flames for me, unable to stand a job for more than a few months before my problems with the staff and their problems with me made me walk out in anger and depression. until I became self employed.

But going back to the original point, yes, after school years were over everything dived off a cliff for me and it took years for me to create some semblance of a normal life. But in my case that was partly because my zombie state was prolonged and enabled by parents who didn't know what to do with me.

.

It's a huge transition for an NT - massive for someone on the autism spectrum. Hang in there - the pain slowly starts to go away eventually.