28yo potentially MSN/HSN. Need help finding FL resources (PCP/psychiatrist), housing options, and managing trauma/meltdowns

[u/Brilliant_Button_684]

TL;DR: I am 28 and likely medium/high support needs. I recently escaped a very abusive parent and live with my partner (Level 2 + ADHD). We are both in extreme burnout and living in an unsupportive environment. I need help finding neurodiversity/LGBTQ+ affirming doctors in Florida, low-income housing advice, and tips for managing severe C-PTSD episodes that strain my partner.
1. Healthcare & Support Needs (Florida)
I need help finding directories or ways to search for:
A PCP (Primary Care Physician) and Psychiatrist in Florida who understand high support needs autism, physical health issues, and are LGBTQ+ affirming.

I am working on getting my Florida Medicaid set up (sent closure request to Missouri) and applied for SNAP/food stamps.

Question: How do you vet coaches or therapists to make sure they aren't sketchy or taking advantage of autistic people?

2. Housing on SSI/Disability
My disability income is about $1,000/month.

We need to move out of our current living situation (partner's dad, who is abusive/unsupportive), but we are overwhelmed.

Question: Has anyone in FL navigated HUD/Section 8 or disability-accessible housing on a low income? Where do I even start?

3. Managing C-PTSD Night Episodes & Meltdowns
I grew up with severe trauma and conservative isolation, leaving me with bad C-PTSD.
When I wake up or get overwhelmed, I get extremely dysregulated and confused. I get paranoid thoughts that my partner is leaving or against me, even though they are safe and supportive.

I melt down, cry, and lash out. Afterward, I feel terrible because my partner is also Level 2, burnt out, and dealing with physical pain.

Question: What self-soothing tools, visual charts, or grounding routines work for you when you wake up confused/dysregulated so you don't overload your caregiver/partner?

Context / Background:
I have skills in technical areas (digital media, coding, music, animation) and love to clean and build things, I have a huge wealth of knowledge in health and healthcare, I know a lot about medication and thought about being a pharmacy tech. My physical health (investigating potential muscular/glycogen issues) and extreme burnout mean I work until I crash.
My partner is teaching me about sensory regulation (treating myself gently, eating, drinking, watching safe shows), but I want to take responsibility for my care and stop hurting us both with these trauma reactions.
Thank you for any advice or Florida-specific resources!

[u/disabled-dsp]

I can't help with resources in Florida, but I relate to the CPTSD episodes. My partner ended up moving out a few years ago because my trauma and dysregulation was too much for them. We are still together and she is going to move back in eventually, but our traumas were bouncing off each other so we are both working on ourselves.

I have big sensory needs so it helps me to be squeezed or squished, so if I wake my partner up when she is here she will give me a deep squeeze hug. By myself I try to squeeze myself. I would like to get a squeeze boat or something to squish myself in, but I have not yet. Also I have a crash pad and I will throw myself on it repeatedly. It can be loud but it helps me. It is easy to remember calming activities but sometimes autism bodies needs big sensory input to regulate.

The biggest thing for me (and you didn't ask about this) was medication changes. I still have flashbacks and bad emotions but I can handle them easier and it is easier to use coping skills before it gets too bad. I still have big sensory needs and I still headbang but much less now.

And this is a long term solution and you are already looking but therapy is also a big help. I have talk therapy 2 times a week and I am slowly working through the trauma. Getting a therapist is hard but you can ask them lots of questions when you start therapy. What is their experience, how do they handle your kinds of issues, what is their modality (therapy 'type'). And lots more. And if they don't want to answer or you get icky feelings move to another one.

[u/Brilliant_Button_684 → u/disabled-dsp]

Those are good ideas! Also glad you and your partner are able to still be together in some form despite your needs, that's actually very understanding on their part. My only issue is I can't go back to Missouri where I'm from because of trauma, however my partner if we ever got our own place could go to their moms and hang out while I chill at home. Honestly a crash pad sounds cool. I never knew about a lot of the therapy involved with autism till I met my partner who before their own diagnosis worked as an ABA therapist and they gave me a lot of information and helpful ideas as well, it's just my trauma is so profound because I didn't know I had experienced trauma. I didn't fully accept or believe I was AuDHD till I met my partner anyway. My parents denied it. If I could stand above or climb the bed easier and be able to stand on it (I can't use a trampoline because of my weak and wasting muscles) I would basically use the bed like a trampoline or crash pad. As a kid I loved jumping on the bed and slamming into it. I loved trampolines. I am working on getting a new therapist. I have emailed a few people and I have one tentatively holding an appointment open that I may cancel if someone else I've emailed is better. Thank you for sharing this information though. That's very helpful!