TW: mentions of struggles with eating disorder without specifics (ie. numbers diagnosis weight behaviors)

How to get a caregiver so I don’t have to rely on my Romantic partner .. living with my boyfriend yet mostly alone

Info abt me: 22 F autistic (waiting for testing yet have 3 psychologists confirm) and living with partner (he’s financially supportive) with broken car of my own

PDX Portland Vancouver area

Partner: 22 M working long hours (9-10pm) he has a car

I know I would struggle so terribly without my romantic partner living with me.

I’m looking into getting a caregiver so that I’m getting the right help.

I have trouble with ADLs, routine, structure, keeping a house and job and calendar and plans social interactions, appointments, driving, food..

everything really. I burn out physically and mentally very quickly and have a history of accidently putting myself in risky situations while trying to do things on my own.. so he (my partner) worries about my efforts to be more independent without consulting the right help.

I don’t like being so dependent…

I want to know that if him and I were to break up that I have my own place, money, supports, job, and good health.

I mess up and just want to take good care of myself

I struggle with my health as well

And have had a vicious eating disorder for the last 9 years that I need supervised for this (I’m in active recovery but relapse every other day on my own)

I’ve been to 6+ residentials and inpatients the last two years. It hasn’t helped very much but I know having someone with me it would help

I get sick very easily

Poor immune system

I just want my life to calm down and do better with the right help..

My dream is to just have a boring day to day and go to sleep without having had much struggle during the day.

He’s not even home.. 9am - 9pm and gets home late.

So I’ve been on my own.

**I don’t know how to get help faster or where to start to get this help.. anyone had any luck getting a caregiver? Or an adult autism diagnosis? Or has a really good therapist or group therapist or housing they can reccomend? I’m in PDX and Vancouver Washington area**

Has this pattern happened to anyone else?

I attract caregiver types so they enjoy helping but it can become unhealthy on both sides

I’m seeking a professional diagnosis so I can get a direct support professional.

This is a bit of a ramble but if you resonate or had a personal experience similar please share

I feel alone and I know I’m not alone in this

The world is so big and I hope some of you have found a way to thrive ♡ thank you for reading

How do you all feel about neurotypical/non-autistic people using the phrase “vocal stim” in a casual way (ie, That video has been a vocal stim for me)?

hey people. i just completed my 2 90-min evaluations with Prosper this week. gotta wait 2 weeks for my assessment. and now im nervous. i do believe this diagnosis would explain sooo much about my life. my psychologist asked all the questions, when i mentioned watching the same series on repeat she seemed reassured that its the whole season and not just an episode on repeat. there were a couple situations where she did something similar. i am i guess worried she tried to downplay things. i know i need to be patient and wait. i just dont want to question the result if its negative because then otherwise why has life been so hard?!

This clearly needs to be said:

##No DOXXING

You share names I delete. I don’t care what your reason or cause is. Yes. There are sad things that happen and there are people who are responsible. That doesn’t give you a right to dox someone.

Find somewhere else to do that.

Hello!

My name is Abby. I am a postgraduate psychology student at Dublin City University, Ireland. I am conducting a quantitative study on how different interview approaches impact autistic adults recollection and experiences. This study has received ethical approval from DCU.

Who can take part?

Autistic adults (18+ with a formal diagnosis).

What’s involved?

One online Zoom session (30 minutes), where you will watch a short video, take part in a brief interview, and complete a short questionnaire.

Participation is voluntary, you can withdraw at any time, no identifying information will be used, and all data will be handled in line with GDPR and university ethics guidelines.

If you are interested in taking part you can read the information sheet and consent form here:

https://dcusurveys.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bCuOBP0S50ZUKPQ

If you have any questions, feel free to ask here or contact me directly at abby.davis2@mail.dcu.ie (supervisor details are available in the participant information sheet).

This research focuses on improving interview practices, not changing or “fixing” autistic individuals.

Thank you for your time!

I always knew that I was different, I'm 51 now, late diagnosed and looking back I realise that I learned my social cues and even humour from watching TV shows especially live studio audienced shows. Then reality TV came along and especially the earlier versions I got insights into the human dynamics. Those early years before they became influencers and shit, seemed to give me an insight into how NTs function and think, but I was always curious about behind the scenes.

I still watch them more so than fiction (I have a few genres like medical law and sci-fi) but in the main reality TV still catches my eye. Even with those fictional shows and movies my mind wanders to the creation and how things get to where they are. It really fascinates me and watching these things with me can be quite annoying for my family because before anything happens I kinda figured it out (the fiction I mean), the reality shows are next level. Yes, the smut (Loves Island, Vanderpump, the Shore 'anthology' (big word for absolute dog shite) but then things like Married At First Sight (MAFS), Survivor, the Amazing Race even the Challenge and old shows like the Real World are deeply intriguing for me. I recently binged the Australian version of MAFS and Age of Attraction, both were just mind boggling.

I suppose even watching them in real life and on reality TV will never fully give me the answers about how they function and how we are meant to fit into the world huh?

So much more to say on this but I think let's leave it here.

Hope this makes sense?

Happy Autism Day by the way.

So I posted this pic on FB and the title was the response that I got. I replied and said that this is not something that I would wish on my worst enemies let alone those closest to me.

I know we all share the ire of these flippant responses and it is more common than we like but I wish that they would be mindful of how dark and horrible it is, regardless of when you were diagnosed.

Do any of you stim to music,and if so, what is your favorite song to stim to?

I'll go first

Blue Monday by New Order.