Can't turn off the adrenalin?

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I've always felt that they way I've coped socially up till now (just diagnosed at age 40) is by flooding my body with adrenalin so that my mind works at hyper speed in order to be able to communicate with others.

The amount of adrenalin increases exponentially the further out of my comfort level I am. But even with my wife and kids, the adrenalin must flow to some degree in order to communicate.

Of course I don't know if that is what literally happens in a medical sense, but it certainly what it feels like.

Needless to say the massive downside to this is exhaustion.

I feel that I've become so habituated to this that I'm in a constant state of anxiety and that I don't know what it would be like to be adrenalin free (although I'm sure it would be blissful).

Does anyone else feel this way?

I'm at a stage in my life now where I'm desperate to find the off switch and somehow turn that adrenalin off. I know that would mean my social ability would take a slide but I am desperate for some relief and can accept that cost. I'm hoping that now that I know I have aspergers, somehow I may be able to find a key to this problem.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

FeralAspie.

You may request that you neurologist prescribes Xanax or similar drug. If you don't have access to a doctor, you can also try moderate doses of wine or a good stiff drink. Some people say they use marijuana for anxiety. Another good option is to try an hour of physical exercise per day if you have the time.

I have this problem too. In the past it led me to have chronic fatigue syndrome for about 2 years and it went away when I didn't have the stress of dealing with people all the time and I could actually be myself and relax (which took about a year of being healthy, being a recluse, and not overworking myself in school). Now that I've had this experience I start to know when this comes and why.

The glands in the body that shoot out adrenaline aren't meant to be used all the time. So when they get used all the time they get overused and inflamed causing them not to function well and you might start to feel your eyes are always tired, you crave sugar or salt all the time, can sleep 12 hours or more and wake up and still feel tired, and always feel irritated like you've got a mild sickness. I used to drink salt water which would make me feel good for about an hour; it really worked even though it was extremely hard to drink.

Now I know this is probably a result of AS. So I'm seriously thinking about getting xanax or something similar so when I start working this doesn't happen again and I can handle what I'm doing a lot better as well. So I don't know how bad it is for you, but if you're like me then medication is probably a better option despite a possible addiction and side effects that can occur.

ImMe - Yep, I get the tired eyes, non-refreshing sleep, irritation, feel like I have a mild sickness - sounds like we match exactly in this respect.

At least at the moment I'm not going to contemplate medication. My father (also believed to have been AS) was an alcoholic and I swore off mind altering substances as a kid because of how he was. I'm not too keen on risking breaking this rule I have set for myself.

I guess taking a natural path probably means being more reclusive. I'll have to work on that - not so easy being married with kids but I guess every little improvement is worthwhile.

Regular exercise, solitary walks, healthy eating, meditation, weed

The complete opposite of "calming drugs" works on me to calm me down.

I take dexamphetamine and it chills me right out.

If you need adrenaline to communicate, why not try the synthetic substitute?

FeralAspie: I don't really have much advice, but I wanted to say I think I know exactly what you are describing, and I too am searching for a solution.
I was diagnosed last year, and like another poster on this thread, I have previously suffered chronic fatigue (and only beat it by disappearing to my bedroom for about 18 months).
And, like you, I really don't want to try drugs/alcohol etc.

Just reading your post made me feel a little better - it does get to feel like I'm the only one in the world like this, so reading someone else explaining my own situation is strangely comforting! Comfort from your despair - sorry!

My advice, based on what I've discovered so far, is for you to start being a little firmer, with those around you and with yourself, about how important de-stressing is for you.
Personally, and I know we're all very different in this forum, but I like to go off on my own sometimes. I like to go and watch birds, or lizards. Or walk down the main street and look at the stonework, or just examine people's expressions. And I like to do it alone.
It's hard for my partner to understand that I'm not rejecting her, I just need to be alone to recharge. But she's getting it now, and she sees that the time I spend alone is invaluable.

You talk about turning into a recluse. I wonder if you would really be so reclusive if you gave yourself some real genuine alone time to recharge. You might find you've been operating on 'adrenaline' non-stop up until now, because you've never really looked after yourself in an aspie way. But as you start to look after yourself a little more, you might start to calm down...

Like I said, I am searching for solutions too, and this is only one brick in the wall, so to speak. If you find any others, please post them!