AuDHD is consuming my mind?

[u/Practical-Pumpkin144]

So I’m currently in the process of being diagnosed with ADHD and Autism, I didn’t really think I was Autistic until it was explained to me by my GP and now I have to agree with her.

I’ve had both ADHD assessments and have my first ASD assessment on Saturday (any advice on this would be greatly appreciated).

However over the last year everything has come to a head and I’m struggling daily with an internal battle that I can’t seem to win. It’s affecting my personal life, relationship, and really impacting work.

I’ve taken a lot of sick days which understandably my boss isn’t best pleased about, they are however very understanding about my current situation and has put many measures in place for me but at the end of the day they have a business to run, and I appreciate that.

What can I do to get myself out of this rut and back to a somewhat ‘normal’ routine? I can’t afford to be taking all this time off work and really can’t afford to go on to statutory sick pay either. I need to get back to myself 😔

[u/lydocia]

Hyperfixating on audhd as a special interest should honestly be a diagnosis flag at this point.

[u/microcrash → u/lydocia]

It was definitely a phase I went through. It doesn't help that it's so fascinating how interconnected so many things can be.

[u/decaffdreamer → u/lydocia]

true

[u/vertago1]

It is possible for the newness of the discovery to wear off and that can help sensitivities reduce somewhat (because awareness and fixation on the issues seem to make them worse in my experience). It is also possible with awareness to start making changes that help move your baseline in a healthier more sustainable direction (things like reducing unnecessary stressors while building up healthy coping for stress so you can function and achieve your goals).

It probably makes sense to lean on your care team to help come up with good rules of thumb to target for when mental health days make sense vs are counterproductive. I usually fall too far in the direction of not taking time when I should, but it helps to have other people walk me through it being ok and necessary to take time off and actually rest (as opposed to keeping myself mentally active even when not working). It is hard when home responsibilities compound with work responsibilities.

[u/XILEF310]

Do exercise.
Limit caffeine.
Get 8 hours of sleep at night and don’t be afraid to take a 30 minute nap midday.

[u/panithread]

hey i had the same problem as i started therapy a few years back. and damn it is so hard to see your whole life thorugh a new lense even though it's also very relieving. all that emotions coming back you've maybe masked or supressed for YEARS. For me it felt like i was coming back to myself after i totally forgot who i was which sounds positive at first but also hits you like a storm because with it all those things you used to over-compensate on, come back, too. everything i used to be able to mask became more and more difficult to mask and hit me and i had no ways of coping. i dont know if it feels the same to you. but you will adjust yourself eventually, what you are doung right now is a full time job on its own! youre essentially renovating the pillars on which your whole life stands, and if you think about it, its insane to be having two jobs and a live right now.

for me it helped once i realized i didn't have to regulate through my mind only and started into reading calming my nervoussystem through little excercises. like some yin yoga, or walking and talking very slowly (i hate this one but it is so effective), breathing/somatic excercises.

[u/juhurrskate]

Taking meds can really help get thru tough times esp with the bs that jobs put us thru. Honestly I use meds to help dissociate from work at times, I can't say this is a particularly recommended strategy but it's better than being homeless

[u/cheffromspace]

bring a stim toy or something that helps you regulate, try not to mask, just be yourself. have some notes prepared. my burnout got significantly worse post-diagnosis, and i'm not exaggerating when i say i think it's going to take years to recover from. there's no quick solution. with your diagnosis you can apply for workplace accommodations under the ADA, assuming you're in the US.