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Autism and sza (schizoaffective) and finding work

#SchizoaffectiveDisorder #sza #Schizophrenia #Autism #ASD #Autistic #AutisticAdults #AutismAcceptance #Aspergers #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #MentalHealth #SchizophreniaQuestions #Depression #Disability #Hope #Christianity

Hello Mighty members!

I want to keep this to a reasonable length. I was diagnosed with autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder fairly recently in my life (5 years ago, as I was finishing up a Master’s degree in Psychology). In hindsight, I think autism helps to explain a lot of things that I have struggled. Though my parents, particularly my father don’t completely understand, I think it is wonderful that I was able to qualify and obtain a Community Living Waiver that my state and county offers. It is helping to obtain transportation which is helping me get to work. I am hoping that with work I will be able to afford housing and so that I can move and be more independent. (As I currently live with my parents.) I also applied and was able to get EBT/SNAP. In the past I was a bit fearful as my father has strong views and would see it as a crutch, so it took me a while until I was sure that he was OK with my getting it.

 

For schizoaffective disorder, it had come up fairly recently in my life as I was completing my Master’s. I talk more about it if you are interested in my other posts. I am taking Abilify and Invega and Zoloft which I find to be helpful with ameliorating my symptoms. I also believe that talk therapy is helping me to better myself and if I have any issues that come up that I find helpful talking about.

 

I am wondering if anyone might have some insight or feedback regarding my situation. I am currently a Dishwasher at a retirement community. It took me a while to find and get this job. (As I am trying to avoid jobs that would involve a lot of social interaction.) I think due to past mental health, I am looking at part-time work currently. Though I’m also interested in full-time. What options do you think are obtainable or reasonable for someone in my situation?

When I was doing well, I was a good student (getting mostly A’s and B’s in my courses). I was interested in the research side and helped several professors with individual research projects. (One for Analytical chemistry, one for Biochemistry which ended up being my undergraduate Honors thesis. And then for Quantitative Psychology which I did for my Master’s degree.) I want to get into research again or at some point in my career. I have different stressors at my current job as a Dishwasher. But for getting into research, I find that I’ve struggled due to lack of practical experience and connections. (Being on the autism spectrum, I find that I struggle with communication, advocating for myself, and with talking to people.) I had talked with a crisis line and they said that it might be harder with my conditions, but it is definitely doable.

 

Thank you for your interest and responses!

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Autism and sza (schizoaffective) and finding work

#SchizoaffectiveDisorder #sza #Schizophrenia #Autism #ASD #Autistic #AutisticAdults #AutismAcceptance #Aspergers #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #MentalHealth #SchizophreniaQuestions #Depression #Disability #Hope #Christianity

Hello Mighty members!

I want to keep this to a reasonable length. I was diagnosed with autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder fairly recently in my life (5 years ago, as I was finishing up a Master’s degree in Psychology). In hindsight, I think autism helps to explain a lot of things that I have struggled. Though my parents, particularly my father don’t completely understand, I think it is wonderful that I was able to qualify and obtain a Community Living Waiver that my state and county offers. It is helping to obtain transportation which is helping me get to work. I am hoping that with work I will be able to afford housing and so that I can move and be more independent. (As I currently live with my parents.) I also applied and was able to get EBT/SNAP. In the past I was a bit fearful as my father has strong views and would see it as a crutch, so it took me a while until I was sure that he was OK with my getting it.

 

For schizoaffective disorder, it had come up fairly recently in my life as I was completing my Master’s. I talk more about it if you are interested in my other posts. I am taking Abilify and Invega and Zoloft which I find to be helpful with ameliorating my symptoms. I also believe that talk therapy is helping me to better myself and if I have any issues that come up that I find helpful talking about.

 

I am wondering if anyone might have some insight or feedback regarding my situation. I am currently a Dishwasher at a retirement community. It took me a while to find and get this job. (As I am trying to avoid jobs that would involve a lot of social interaction.) I think due to past mental health, I am looking at part-time work currently. Though I’m also interested in full-time. What options do you think are obtainable or reasonable for someone in my situation?

When I was doing well, I was a good student (getting mostly A’s and B’s in my courses). I was interested in the research side and helped several professors with individual research projects. (One for Analytical chemistry, one for Biochemistry which ended up being my undergraduate Honors thesis. And then for Quantitative Psychology which I did for my Master’s degree.) I want to get into research again or at some point in my career. I have different stressors at my current job as a Dishwasher. But for getting into research, I find that I’ve struggled due to lack of practical experience and connections. (Being on the autism spectrum, I find that I struggle with communication, advocating for myself, and with talking to people.) I had talked with a crisis line and they said that it might be harder with my conditions, but it is definitely doable.

 

Thank you for your interest and responses!

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Autism and sza (schizoaffective) and finding work

#SchizoaffectiveDisorder #sza #Schizophrenia #Autism #ASD #Autistic #AutisticAdults #AutismAcceptance #Aspergers #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #MentalHealth #SchizophreniaQuestions #Depression #Disability #Hope #Christianity

Hello Mighty members!

I want to keep this to a reasonable length. I was diagnosed with autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder fairly recently in my life (5 years ago, as I was finishing up a Master’s degree in Psychology). In hindsight, I think autism helps to explain a lot of things that I have struggled. Though my parents, particularly my father don’t completely understand, I think it is wonderful that I was able to qualify and obtain a Community Living Waiver that my state and county offers. It is helping to obtain transportation which is helping me get to work. I am hoping that with work I will be able to afford housing and so that I can move and be more independent. (As I currently live with my parents.) I also applied and was able to get EBT/SNAP. In the past I was a bit fearful as my father has strong views and would see it as a crutch, so it took me a while until I was sure that he was OK with my getting it.

 

For schizoaffective disorder, it had come up fairly recently in my life as I was completing my Master’s. I talk more about it if you are interested in my other posts. I am taking Abilify and Invega and Zoloft which I find to be helpful with ameliorating my symptoms. I also believe that talk therapy is helping me to better myself and if I have any issues that come up that I find helpful talking about.

 

I am wondering if anyone might have some insight or feedback regarding my situation. I am currently a Dishwasher at a retirement community. It took me a while to find and get this job. (As I am trying to avoid jobs that would involve a lot of social interaction.) I think due to past mental health, I am looking at part-time work currently. Though I’m also interested in full-time. What options do you think are obtainable or reasonable for someone in my situation?

When I was doing well, I was a good student (getting mostly A’s and B’s in my courses). I was interested in the research side and helped several professors with individual research projects. (One for Analytical chemistry, one for Biochemistry which ended up being my undergraduate Honors thesis. And then for Quantitative Psychology which I did for my Master’s degree.) I want to get into research again or at some point in my career. I have different stressors at my current job as a Dishwasher. But for getting into research, I find that I’ve struggled due to lack of practical experience and connections. (Being on the autism spectrum, I find that I struggle with communication, advocating for myself, and with talking to people.) I had talked with a crisis line and they said that it might be harder with my conditions, but it is definitely doable.

 

Thank you for your interest and responses!

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Hello / My Life with Autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder

#SchizoaffectiveDisorder #sza #Schizophrenia #Autism #Autistic #AutisticAdults #Aspergers #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #MentalHealth #SchizophreniaQuestions #Depression #Disability #Hope #Christianity

Hello everyone!

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in high school, currently I’m being treated for autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

I never really thought that I’d struggled with schizoaffective disorder until I received the diagnosis. It was terrifying for me. I was going through completing a Master’s and gradually I started feeling like I was losing my sense of self. I was thinking things that I don’t normally do, one example and I’m glad that I have it but I can look back to Spotify Top 100 playlists of the year. And I can see that my thinking was not doing great the years that I got my diagnosis and was recovering.

I can remember thinking unusual thoughts like I was a God or doing things on the level of a god. I used to spend most of my time focused on trying to influence the weather or in trying to find secret meaning in posts and news articles, trying to collect research articles on weather or other conspiracies. I wasn’t in a good place. I also drank a lot of alcohol which I know isn’t a great idea, but at the time I thought that it would exacerbate the symptoms of the weather having unusual events (which was some proof for me that I was a God or doing things on that level).

While I’m glad that I had the support of family, I don’t currently get along great with my father - he terrifies me. I feel like he has the perspective mental health isn’t really a thing nor is being on the autism spectrum (which is the other major diagnosis that I have). I can see that he wants me to be as independent and successful as I can. But he has such a menacing aura, I struggle talking with him and try to stay clear as much as I can.

My last major episode was a couple of months back in August/September 2022, I thought that people from major corporations like Amazon were controlling me like using stomach sounds like a clicker/trigger to try to create entertainment or media which I didn’t like. I feel like my symptoms weren’t as bad as I can look through playlists and realize that mostly my thinking was OK. But there were still residual I wasn’t doing OK. I think doing talk therapy and my Dad getting a prescription for abilify had helped and I feel like mostly since then I’ve been managing normally.

I’m currently working a job as a dishwasher which I know isn’t a lifelong or hopefully I’d work towards a job that would be a closer fit. To be honest I had a lot of anxiety when I was starting, as I had difficult experiences with the last job that I’d worked at, as a graduate assistant during my Master’s program. I have had a good experience the past week and I’m hoping to build my confidence and references so that I can apply for better positions. One benefit is that having a job will allow me to earn the income so that I can seek housing through an autism waiver and move out. Something that my father and I both want.

I feel like the abilify and talk therapy have helped, I realize that my conditions are lifelong but they help to make things more manageable. I’m grateful for the community on The Mighty and getting to share my story with you guys.

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Hello / My Life with Autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder

#SchizoaffectiveDisorder #sza #Schizophrenia #Autism #Autistic #AutisticAdults #Aspergers #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #MentalHealth #SchizophreniaQuestions #Depression #Disability #Hope #Christianity

Hello everyone!

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in high school, currently I’m being treated for autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

I never really thought that I’d struggled with schizoaffective disorder until I received the diagnosis. It was terrifying for me. I was going through completing a Master’s and gradually I started feeling like I was losing my sense of self. I was thinking things that I don’t normally do, one example and I’m glad that I have it but I can look back to Spotify Top 100 playlists of the year. And I can see that my thinking was not doing great the years that I got my diagnosis and was recovering.

I can remember thinking unusual thoughts like I was a God or doing things on the level of a god. I used to spend most of my time focused on trying to influence the weather or in trying to find secret meaning in posts and news articles, trying to collect research articles on weather or other conspiracies. I wasn’t in a good place. I also drank a lot of alcohol which I know isn’t a great idea, but at the time I thought that it would exacerbate the symptoms of the weather having unusual events (which was some proof for me that I was a God or doing things on that level).

While I’m glad that I had the support of family, I don’t currently get along great with my father - he terrifies me. I feel like he has the perspective mental health isn’t really a thing nor is being on the autism spectrum (which is the other major diagnosis that I have). I can see that he wants me to be as independent and successful as I can. But he has such a menacing aura, I struggle talking with him and try to stay clear as much as I can.

My last major episode was a couple of months back in August/September 2022, I thought that people from major corporations like Amazon were controlling me like using stomach sounds like a clicker/trigger to try to create entertainment or media which I didn’t like. I feel like my symptoms weren’t as bad as I can look through playlists and realize that mostly my thinking was OK. But there were still residual I wasn’t doing OK. I think doing talk therapy and my Dad getting a prescription for abilify had helped and I feel like mostly since then I’ve been managing normally.

I’m currently working a job as a dishwasher which I know isn’t a lifelong or hopefully I’d work towards a job that would be a closer fit. To be honest I had a lot of anxiety when I was starting, as I had difficult experiences with the last job that I’d worked at, as a graduate assistant during my Master’s program. I have had a good experience the past week and I’m hoping to build my confidence and references so that I can apply for better positions. One benefit is that having a job will allow me to earn the income so that I can seek housing through an autism waiver and move out. Something that my father and I both want.

I feel like the abilify and talk therapy have helped, I realize that my conditions are lifelong but they help to make things more manageable. I’m grateful for the community on The Mighty and getting to share my story with you guys.

Most common user reactionsMost common user reactions 6 reactions 4 comments
Post

Hello / My Life with Autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder

#SchizoaffectiveDisorder #sza #Schizophrenia #Autism #Autistic #AutisticAdults #Aspergers #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #MentalHealth #SchizophreniaQuestions #Depression #Disability #Hope #Christianity

Hello everyone!

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in high school, currently I’m being treated for autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

I never really thought that I’d struggled with schizoaffective disorder until I received the diagnosis. It was terrifying for me. I was going through completing a Master’s and gradually I started feeling like I was losing my sense of self. I was thinking things that I don’t normally do, one example and I’m glad that I have it but I can look back to Spotify Top 100 playlists of the year. And I can see that my thinking was not doing great the years that I got my diagnosis and was recovering.

I can remember thinking unusual thoughts like I was a God or doing things on the level of a god. I used to spend most of my time focused on trying to influence the weather or in trying to find secret meaning in posts and news articles, trying to collect research articles on weather or other conspiracies. I wasn’t in a good place. I also drank a lot of alcohol which I know isn’t a great idea, but at the time I thought that it would exacerbate the symptoms of the weather having unusual events (which was some proof for me that I was a God or doing things on that level).

While I’m glad that I had the support of family, I don’t currently get along great with my father - he terrifies me. I feel like he has the perspective mental health isn’t really a thing nor is being on the autism spectrum (which is the other major diagnosis that I have). I can see that he wants me to be as independent and successful as I can. But he has such a menacing aura, I struggle talking with him and try to stay clear as much as I can.

My last major episode was a couple of months back in August/September 2022, I thought that people from major corporations like Amazon were controlling me like using stomach sounds like a clicker/trigger to try to create entertainment or media which I didn’t like. I feel like my symptoms weren’t as bad as I can look through playlists and realize that mostly my thinking was OK. But there were still residual I wasn’t doing OK. I think doing talk therapy and my Dad getting a prescription for abilify had helped and I feel like mostly since then I’ve been managing normally.

I’m currently working a job as a dishwasher which I know isn’t a lifelong or hopefully I’d work towards a job that would be a closer fit. To be honest I had a lot of anxiety when I was starting, as I had difficult experiences with the last job that I’d worked at, as a graduate assistant during my Master’s program. I have had a good experience the past week and I’m hoping to build my confidence and references so that I can apply for better positions. One benefit is that having a job will allow me to earn the income so that I can seek housing through an autism waiver and move out. Something that my father and I both want.

I feel like the abilify and talk therapy have helped, I realize that my conditions are lifelong but they help to make things more manageable. I’m grateful for the community on The Mighty and getting to share my story with you guys.

Most common user reactions 6 reactions
Post

Hello / My Life with Autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder

#SchizoaffectiveDisorder #sza #Schizophrenia #Autism #Autistic #AutisticAdults #Aspergers #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #MentalHealth #SchizophreniaQuestions #Depression #Disability #Hope #Christianity

Hello everyone!

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in high school, currently I’m being treated for autism disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

I never really thought that I’d struggled with schizoaffective disorder until I received the diagnosis. It was terrifying for me. I was going through completing a Master’s and gradually I started feeling like I was losing my sense of self. I was thinking things that I don’t normally do, one example and I’m glad that I have it but I can look back to Spotify Top 100 playlists of the year. And I can see that my thinking was not doing great the years that I got my diagnosis and was recovering.

I can remember thinking unusual thoughts like I was a God or doing things on the level of a god. I used to spend most of my time focused on trying to influence the weather or in trying to find secret meaning in posts and news articles, trying to collect research articles on weather or other conspiracies. I wasn’t in a good place. I also drank a lot of alcohol which I know isn’t a great idea, but at the time I thought that it would exacerbate the symptoms of the weather having unusual events (which was some proof for me that I was a God or doing things on that level).

While I’m glad that I had the support of family, I don’t currently get along great with my father - he terrifies me. I feel like he has the perspective mental health isn’t really a thing nor is being on the autism spectrum (which is the other major diagnosis that I have). I can see that he wants me to be as independent and successful as I can. But he has such a menacing aura, I struggle talking with him and try to stay clear as much as I can.

My last major episode was a couple of months back in August/September 2022, I thought that people from major corporations like Amazon were controlling me like using stomach sounds like a clicker/trigger to try to create entertainment or media which I didn’t like. I feel like my symptoms weren’t as bad as I can look through playlists and realize that mostly my thinking was OK. But there were still residual I wasn’t doing OK. I think doing talk therapy and my Dad getting a prescription for abilify had helped and I feel like mostly since then I’ve been managing normally.

I’m currently working a job as a dishwasher which I know isn’t a lifelong or hopefully I’d work towards a job that would be a closer fit. To be honest I had a lot of anxiety when I was starting, as I had difficult experiences with the last job that I’d worked at, as a graduate assistant during my Master’s program. I have had a good experience the past week and I’m hoping to build my confidence and references so that I can apply for better positions. One benefit is that having a job will allow me to earn the income so that I can seek housing through an autism waiver and move out. Something that my father and I both want.

I feel like the abilify and talk therapy have helped, I realize that my conditions are lifelong but they help to make things more manageable. I’m grateful for the community on The Mighty and getting to share my story with you guys.

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What does autistic pride mean to you?

Saturday, June 18 is Autistic Pride Day and it got me thinking: What does autistic pride mean or look like to you? For me, it looks like giving myself the grace to leave situations that are overstimulating - or using my noise reduction earplugs in public. It's also not being ashamed of stimming in public.

Let me know what autistic pride looks like for you! I'd love to know.

#Autism #actuallyautistic #AutisticAdults #neurodivergent #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #CheckInWithMe #AutisticPride

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What do your sensory needs look like?

As Autism Acceptance Month winds down, something that has been on my mind lately are sensory needs, and I was wondering what yours look like?

For me, honoring my sensory needs can look a little like this:

❤️ Wearing noise-canceling headphones or noise reduction earbuds if I'm stressed or overwhelmed

🧡 Using my weighted blanket or getting a strong hug from a trusted person

💛 Avoiding touch and removing myself from situations if I'm extremely uncomfortable

Share yours with me in the comments below. P.S. Your needs are so valid. Sending strength and solidarity to you. 💜

#CheckInWithMe #Autism #AutisticAdults #actuallyautistic #SensoryProcessingDisorder #Disability #DistractMe #52SmallThings #selfcare #neurodivergent #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #TheNeurodiverseCrowd #SensoryNeeds #Anxiety #SensoryOverload

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I hate Chronic Pain and Sickness, it never goes away, I had to call in to work because I just can't go, the pain is pulsating, I just want to be normal, if it isn't one thing with us, it's another, my body is GOING to make me rest, I noticed the other day how much standing hurt, I try and overlook my pain and sickness and be ok, and fine, but, I'm not and NEVER am.

***Just looking for support and
care***

I have
Congenital Hydrocephalus,
Retinaopathy of Prematurity
Hypertonia
Chronic Knee, Ankle, Shoulder Pain
2 L5 S1 Discectomies
Diverticulitis
Essential Tremors
Groin Pain

#spoonie
#suppport
#care
#LetsMakeNewFriends
#themightylife
#HighlysensitivePerson
#ThePainGame
#MightyTogether
#noshame
#CheerMeOn
#MightyMinute
#ChronicFatigueSyndrome
#CheckInWithMe
#TheNeurodiverseCrowd
#DistractMe
#AloneTogether
#liftmeup
#MultipleHealthChallenges
#Chatspace
#FamilyAndFriends
#EssentialTremor
#Insomnia
#lonely
#weare #MightyTogether
#Lonliness
#friendships

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