Soo relate, I've worked 9 years in customer service of all kinds, phone work, mostly, tech support, and you use a script, you get good but it wears on you after a while. And voices off multiple people at the same time is real problem in social jobs. Radio situations, even worse than the phone jobs, I've had more easier times working Security armed and unarmed. Office jobs are terrible, plants are in bearable and I have a degree in industrial maintenance, should have stayed more in programming from home. Great video
Okay but the "constantly panicking because you think you're in trouble" hit me hard. I've spent my entire working life utterly convinced that I'm one step away from being fired and it's so stressful.
Oh, ABSOLUTELY!! I spent 30 years working at jobs I loathed but needed because I had to survive, and I always did the very best job I could, even going above and beyond because that's my personal work ethic. Yet I spent literally *every minute of every day* terrified that any minute my boss or HR was going to walk up to my desk with the dreaded, "Do you have a moment?" and I'd be fired. The one job I eventually got fired from (after 8 years successfully working there), was part of a setup to get rid of everyone in our department, and my then-unknown autism worked against me. I still have PTSD from that to this day. In fact, I have severe PTSD from my entire working life, decades of struggling just to get by by heavily masking and trying to fit in, yet never understanding the corporate world (and not caring a whit about all those figures and quotas and goals that made no sense to me, except for the fact that it meant me keeping my job), never understanding the politics of office work, and what worked and was expected in one company was utterly taboo in another -- NEVER figured any of it out. It always reminds me of what Miri says in the Star Trek original series episode "Miri": "I don't know the rules! I've got to know the rules." It was a "game" I never understood the rules, and if I started to figure them out, the rules changed. I didn't find out I'm autistic until after I stopped working when the company I was working for was shut down at the end of 2020 (unrelated to "the event" which I don't talk about because that's a whole different trauma). But while I was there, one time I was severely stressed to the point of mental and physical breakdown due to unreasonable workload, and when I asked HR for a reduction in hours (rather than extended time off), I was told, "I can ask, but I just want you to know, *we're not trying to screw you over.*" Meaning, we're not going to give it to you, and probably we'll just fire you. I had to continue to work full time despite I was falling apart. Even four years later, I have a hard time thinking about or talking about work; i.e. day jobs, aka unimaginable daily torture. As I write this I am in tears, triggered by the trauma of the subject. I watch these types of videos because I hope to better understand my experience, now that I know I'm autistic, and maybe one day heal.
I've had over 30 jobs. I am 47 years. Some of them I shut down and never went back. I walked out during my shift with a few, but not because I couldn't do them I could not handle the social aspects of it and the environment was toxic. The gossiping and name calling and bullying was exhausting, if not from co-workers it was customers. Others I was pushed out.
I work in a theatre and my wonderful coworkers prove themselves to be excellent friends who have really earned my trust, time and time again. I'm so sorry to hear you've had a bad experience.
Oh you've just described the difficulty with "hearing everything at the same volume" problem so well! Now I think I finally have the words that describe this experience!
I have never heard another person have this exact experience that i've had. And have never been able to explain it to any of the loved ones in my life when they ask why i don't work. Thank you for this video 💖
i loved laundry in a nursing home. i could work my behind off doing loads and loads of laundry. run gather up all the dirty clothes. all by myself. i was so busy and it was lovely. i had a horrible person the other shift who was jealous i guess or mean spirited. funny thing is my hubby had worked with this lady in a different era...and sort of the same job. in laundry. well he told me about her...she hid the mop from me so i couldnt do my job. she told all the elderly people if something was missing it was cause of me. it was so hard...i didnt talk about her at all. just did my job. i think i am very much on the spectrum. my grandgirl is autistic too. anyway. yes i have had alot of jobs.i do a great job. i am so glad i made it to retirement. i dont know how i ever did.
At 52 years old, and having been on disability benefits for the last 12 years, I've relegated myself to being a lost cause with Aspergers and heart failure. I'll never ever be able to get another job ever again. It never helped either when I was younger that I was called a "useless bastard" by one manager and told to get out of his sight just for accidentally knocking over a bottle of vodka. I quit that job the same day.
@CreativeAutistic Aye, that comment happened whilst I was a trainee as I was only 20 years old, and it damaged me quite badly as far as self-respect goes. I didn't have a diagnosis back then, but even so, people don't realise just how quick to the bone comments can be.
Sounds exactly like me. I have lung problems, kidney problems, leg ulcers, varicose veins, diabetes, and like you, I will never work again, but, unlike you I am so very happy I will never work again. I love being retired. You couldn't pay me enough to go back to work.
As a 58 year old autistic female, diagnosed in 2020, I thank you enormously for this video about work. Not only did I get sacked from lots of jobs and coped with jobs I wasn’t sacked from, with drink and drugs, and feeling guilty for being on benefits, your video validated me. I also have an artistic talent. You have a new subscriber.
Well said. You just described MY work history - which is much like yours. I’m sure I have had 50 jobs also. The jobs are easy enough but I struggle with the people dynamics. Gossip. Petty inter office squabbles. Etc. That is where I find my overwhelm and stress. Thank you for boldly sharing this info!
Was diagnosed late last year at 57. I've never been unemployed, luckily. My first job was working alone in a lab, which suited me fine. For the last 33 years I've been in a laboratory job again. Career progress has not been stellar because of my total inability to network or bullshit, but I have stayed employed despite some extremely stressful times. However - masking is now impossible because I'm burned out, so I expect to retire as soon as I can.
I worked at my last job for over 11 years which was by far the longest time I had spent at any job. I was a medical laboratory technician. The lab that I worked at was large enough for me to gravitate to what was for me my niche working in the hematology department which I enjoyed and became very good at. This was the best employment fit for me out of all the jobs I ever had. I was allowed to be my "different" self and was treated well there.
@@JAYSCHULBERG-b9u Pretty much the same for me. There are a lot of neurodiverse folks in science and I have always felt accepted even when my mask slips
second video ive watched of yours and again im resonating with every single bit! held multiple jobs, experienced bullying, had burnout after burnout, difficulties with communication.... I am fortunate enough to have disability in the US, but that still keeps me well below the poverty level and the only reason i have a safe place to live is because of my two siblings. volunteering was my ultimate happy place, namely volunteering at a wildlife rescue. that was my most joyful, fulfilling "job" and I wish every day I had started so much sooner and turned it into a career. I would have had to move to a position where I managed social media or something bc of my debilitating and ever growing list of chronic illnesses, but if i had a completely different body and was able to do the work, I'd be working there again in a heartbeat! I made so many wonderful human and animal friends there!
Thank you for sharing, and I'm sorry to hear of your chronic illnesses as I totally get how hard it can be. And yes, if only we could choose to do jobs we're actually interested in and are good at. 🧡
Unfortunately, I struggle to hold down a job. And even though I am a level 2 autistic human, I cannot get a legal diagnosis because, where I live, it's extremely challenging to have one. Psychiatrists and psychologists really deny and brutally dismiss you, if you ask for help and support. And without a legal diagnosis, it's impossible to receive job accommodation and basic support.
This sounds rough, I'm sorrry. Where I am based, it should be fairly easy to get an assessment, but let me tell you, the psychiatrists are biased and/or have outdated views. I hope you will find a way!
@SimoneEppler my partner has been trying to get a diagnosis for both ADHD and Autism for a while now. They have trouble expressing themselves, and instead of listening to what they have to say, the psychologists just keep telling them they probably just have anxiety. Which they literally have a diagnosis for already. They just shut them down every single time and wont let them elaborate on their issues. Which is great because none of these appointments are cheap! Like, I dont care if people come in and say they have Autism 10 times a week, if you dont LISTEN to them (one of the most important tools you use in your job as a therapist!!!!!) and determine if their concerns really sound like autism, you are statistically going to be turning actual autistic people away and killing their hope for things ever getting better. It's disgusting. These doctors need to get over their annoying, useless biases becauee it is making them bad at their own jobs.
This was interesting and it really highlights many of the challenges faced by autistic people in the workplace. I hope your channel takes off so this can be your job.
Hard relate!!! I've struggled to work my entire life - I'm 38 now and haven't worked for over 10 years (diagnosed at 31) - I'm resigned to the fact that I'm pretty much 'unemployable'. I'm going to try freelance work like background acting because it's adhoc work that doesn't create the demand avoidance in me the way a 'contracted job' does. It's incredibly stressful being poor, unable to work but looking like you're just being lazy or have no work ethic - I'm not choosing to be unemployable and poor, believe me!!!
i have had so many jobs, my dad would say i don't have 'stick-to-it-iveness' The only one i could handle was assistant innkeeping, mostly cleaning, making an easy 'set up' breakfast, but i really dreaded having to deal w/guests though i think i did pretty good...just so completely stressful, high masking of course. All my co-innkeepers moved up, had their own Inns or bought them from the owners of the B&Bs we worked at. I'm in my late 50s unable to find any work...except cleaning one lady's large home (i dread it each month) Thanks for pointing this out.. i feel a bit better about myself.. learning about why i am the way i am ..so late in life is a bit of a whirlwind, confusion, happy sighs, heavy sighs and things making more sense
I have only been accommodations in mabe three jobs out of nearly 60 and i have never been able to make substantial gains in any job. So because of that, now that i have to survive on disability, i am only allowed the bare minimum that they are allowed to give which is about three thousand dollars a year under the federal poverty line. Even though I have a near mensa level IQ, a college education, and a phenomenally overdeveloped work ethic, and even though i excelled at most of my actual jobs, i was either fired because I could not meet the social expectations or I had to quit because of sensory issues or from being bullied. And even in the jobs that i did manage to do, I was never able to hold a job for longer than two years, I was never paid enough to be able to survive on my own. And there were also instances where people who were younger than I was, less experienced, and less qualified, got paid much more than i did and they were promoted when I never was simply because they were able to play the social games and because they did not struggle with sensory sensitivities .
I've had 13 full time jobs in 20+ years. All finance or operations, for the most part limited contact with people, limited presentations, lots of time wearing headphones. I'd still burn out bad after a year or so but it's improved a lot since the early days.
I am an a design engineer and find it both creative and fun working with 3D-CAD and to be autistic in that environment works quite well as i get along easy with men and many people are introverted and similar to autistic. I have bean able to maintain employed but struggled with repeated burnouts and/or depressions/panic anxiety when overwhelmed or too much stress. I am now working 50% with the help/advice from my doctor and that has been working really good for my health and overall wellbeing🙏. I am on the same workplace as i started after university, 16 years ago.
Oh wow! Just like me! I’m also a design engineer. I do the exact same thing. I have spent the last 12 years working with 3D modeling and design. I seem to just naturally fit these types of jobs. I don’t do well working in the office though, as I get easily over stimulated and burned out. I use noise cancelling headphones which help. A lot.
It’s national disability employment month- every year during the month of October. I put it up at my work and then my management asked to speak with me. I thought I was in trouble. Nope. They thanked me for putting that up and asked me what they could do to be more accommodating for me (audhd) and some of my peers who are also neurologically different/disabled. ❤
During my interview here I told them outright what I was diagnosed with; I told them I won’t look them in the eye and I will use my stim toy to help me manage my thoughts to slow down. I was open about my struggles with interviews, so I hoped it would not reflect on my abilities to do the job. I thought I wouldn’t get the job cause everyone told me not to say anything and just “be normal”. I got hired though. I’m very lucky. Not many have had my experience at all…
I had issues with phones too! It would send me into fits- I’d be there for ten minutes and an outside perspective would appear like a panic attack. It was tears and sobbing- hitting myself in the head (once I ran to the bathroom so no one would see me)- I then asked for a quiet spot to do phone work if I couldn’t avoid phone work all together. It took some “fighting” cause fairness was brought up. But I asked, “How fair is it for me with the disability to suffer just so I don’t get ‘special treatment” to avoid these adverse reactions that my fellow coworkers don’t experience.” It was then a light bulb response and I got my accommodation!
Thanks for this video! I’m (as yet) undiagnosed but I strongly suspect autism/adhd. I have had a very difficult work history including a serious burnout a few years ago after working as a prison librarian - I don’t feel I’ve quite recovered from it even now. I work part time at a school now and make art which as you say is a huge struggle. I would like to talk about these things in relation to being autistic on my channel but don’t feel I can until I have a formal diagnosis - and that’ll take a long time to afford probably. 😩 I really appreciate your channel, though!
Same, I def have autism and getting work is hard but I feel like no one will believe me unless I have a formal diagnosis, but talking to doctors and making appointments and things is one of my biggest triggers so idk how I'm going to get it done.
Even working with other autistic people is difficult for me. Most autistic people are hypersensitive to light and need lights to be dimmed. However, I'm hypo-sensitive to light, and need lights to be brightened! Thus, working with other autistics is another mismatch I have.
I have had 6 jobs with large gaps between. This makes it so difficult. Now I am just at a loss. 😢 My favorote job was housekeeping. I could put my headphones on and just clean and fold laundry.
I worked in the non-private sector several times. Unfortunately, these were especially hostile environments for me because workers there expect you to show empathy. As an autistic person, I had problems showing empathy in the appropriate socially acceptable way. Getting fired was not the only worry working for charities, it was getting sued or being criminally charged for appearing to be a creep.
Thank you for posting this, I've been in a cycle of self-hatred for having had, and lost, so many jobs. I've found something to love in every job I've had but I kept getting bullied and sacked for "poor performance " "too many absences" "not fitting in with the team." Etc. Some employers have found sneaky ways to get rid of me too, but it hurts to talk about that. I've always gravitated towards jobs with a theme that involve handling and presenting information, but it was always the people and their attitudes that drove me out. I have a voluntary position now and it's been brilliant to be accepted, appreciated and to use the massive range of skills I've collected.
Ok, now Ive gotta count all my jobs. Currently finished training to teach English online and am making art and working in an art shop 2days a week. I am feeling unwell after working in the shop and I think its the massive fluorescent lights and competing music from our shop and other shops nearby. Lordy be, I am sensitive! (ive counted up to 23 different jobs and, at age 55 , I am sure Ive forgotten a few, lol).
I’m sorry you’ve been bullied so much. My immediate supervisor during my UN Tour got in such a state that he tried to end me. I think I was dealing with a narcissist, and learning about narcissistic wounds maybe I just triggered him. He made my life miserable for 10 months and weaponized his position to create an environment that others in our section (mechanized infantry) targeted me as well. People can be … weird. Me AuDHD/PTSD/cPTSD/GAD/MDD/Trauma. I had came in first at my basic course at 17, was in 17 advanced placement courses in high school, score a few divinations over norm, and interviewed and tested so well for Regular Officer’s training program that when I nearly failed calculus (undiagnosed PTSD and I had never done calculus before) when I returned to finish high school that they said go to the local Uni for a year, pull up my marks and they’d live to have me . Ling way of saying no matter how competent you are bull135 can still come for you :(
If I count all the places I panicked and walked away from, some before I could even get started, I lose count. Never been fired but mostly because I would remove myself if I so much as feared it happening. Mostly been retail, preschool worker, and very short lived stints in telephone sales and hotel desk/housekeeper. Preschool finally lasted longest. I think my boss empathized with my single mom status (at the time) and worked with my deficits, genuinely pleased with my creativity and hardworking ways. I stayed there till my EDS got bad enough I could not work. I turned to writing from there and had a memoir published by a small traditional publisher but it did not do well mostly because I cannot handle the nightmare of trying to sell my work. So I gave up promoting it at all. Same issues come up with any of my creative efforts. I sketch and paint as well but cannot handle trying to sell them either. Now, I am busy honeschooling my youngest while my husband helps with financial support but would love to be doing something...
Thank you for sharing, Marisa, and I'm sorry to hear of your struggles. I think it's an amazing accomplishment that you've had a memoir published, regardless of numbers. 🧡
I certainly quit McDonalds within 3 weeks because of meltdown when I was quite young. I don't think my experiences are completely typical. My first big job was related to my special interest, 2d animation and TV. So I did masking to get through the doors (literally) but once I was among my own people, I felt quite comfortable. Other jobs though have been kind of like, keep quiet, keep in the background and see if I can hold the job as long as possible just because I absolutely dread change. The last time this happened though I stuck around even though the boss had stopped paying me two years worth of super (like pension) which is very illegal and immoral, but I was so afraid of jumping into a new social / skill learning situation I put my head down and kept going. It was very hard doing full time though because i'd need items around me to feel comfortable, my colleague would make fun of. My boss even put a picture in the bin that I had on the wall to keep me comfortable in the workplace. A great video! Always makes me think. Now I am in a place of self diagnosed autism possibly, it's making me feel more... picky about jobs... which is kind of bad.. bad for the wallet, bad for my rural living situation and having children. But now I know that my stress should be avoided because it could be double the amount of others... well anyway! Sorry for the rant at the end there. I agree with everything you said! Especially with sales, it sort of requires lying/false relationship, which is very difficult.
Glad to find your channel! I'm diagnosed with a few other conditions, not sure if I have asd but I'm definitely neurodifferent. I worked hard at school and did well but have struggled so much with working. Like you I've had a lot of jobs including sales, reception, call centre, customer service, admin plus I worked in the education sector a lot. Repeated themes were either way too much workload and stress or not enough which felt mind numbingly boring, plus bullying, unrelatable colleagues, sensory issues ie fluorescent lights and burn out from having to get up early and deal with commuting. I feel the whole work system is not designed by or for people like us and it can be so difficult to find a work path. I think remote work is a big help plus for me being able to start work later is massively helpful as I'm a creative night owl. I've felt huge shame at my work situation so thank you for talking about this. I've never understood how other people can do these jobs as they made me ill and each time I had to recover.
Thanks for sharing. I'm 44 next week and iirc I've had 9 jobs and more failed interviews and trial days than I can count! I'm currently officially a "homemaker" with my art and books as a side hustle (although I make barely anything on it), as luckily my husband earns enough to cover our bills, and I'm also struggling with chronic illness (EDS and endometriosis). Many of my later jobs have been part time and for a while I did my polymer clay business part time alongside a part time retail job. I struggled to earn enough as an artist alone at that point which is the only job I've ever enjoyed and I would have vastly preferred as I really struggled with retail for similar reasons to yours. Retail was completely unsuitable for me and even part time was so, so draining due to dealing with people, often angry people, sensory overload and task switching etc. Also experienced lots of worplace bullying as well.
I've always found it difficult to be in work and in an office. Always had issued dealing with customers and colleagues. And never knew why I was only diagnosed this year at 37. Luckily I have a job that I now enjoy and a supportive employer but I've decided to go down to 4 days a week from next year to help with recovery I have fairly low support needs but it's so difficult. I can't think how hard it could be for others
Thank you for sharing, and my diagnosis has helped me make sense of how I've struggled with customer-focused work too. I don't doubt that reducing your hours will be helpful for you.
Sitting on a four year waiting list for a diagnosis I think might explain my decades of stuggles and watching videos like this and thinking, oh, yes, this really does sound familiar 😂. Always avoided phone jobs, had one interview, told them their campaign was immoral 😂
I am 53 and have had 44 jobs. Currently I work at a university doing a job that I am overqualified for and underpaid, but love. I would starve if I were in sales. Want it? No? Ok. I was employed at a child care center for one day. It ended in what I call a mutual agreement of non-employment. I did not belong there and we both knew it. I've also been bullied out of many jobs.
Love your channel and this video was helpful. Struggling with my current job where the people are wonderful but just the social component in a school as an aide is so hard for me socially and with the noise. Love how you do your hair too and you speak so calmly that calms me. So thank you.
Most of my jobs have been in compliance, which is great, in theory; you learn the rules and then you can easily see when they're not being followed, so you can be really good at the job. Details 💗The nightmare has been where employers don't follow the rules which they state they operate by, and which employees are bound by. I spent a year in the civil service and was completely traumatised by the everyday, persistent misalignment between the rules and the reality. It was like being told to wear stout walking shoes, then discovering you actually need to go for a swim. I'm still in therapy four years later.
I did a CV type list of jobs/employment for my adhd/autism assessment and it was 12 pages long 😮😂 I've also started so many many courses and moved house so many, many times 😬
10 jobs (that I can remember) since 2010... I average about 1 year, 2 years at most at every job. It's always people and dealing with others that makes me quit. I had one job where I was in my little room doing my little projects for 3 days a week. Unfortunately, it didn't pay enough to survive because it was considered a low effort, low skill job (it was not). I tried to quit my current job about 8 months in, and they gave me a raise, so I didn't leave. I also didn't get that other job I interviewed for, so I guess it worked out. I should try to leave again so I can get another raise.
I have only worked two jobs- both with kids- for a total of 4ish years. I relate to the “carrot” comment- when I worked at a gym, they would try to hype us up with goals etc, and I couldn’t care less. I have been able to be home with my kids (I know that’s very lucky!), but it won’t be too long til they are out of the house, and I don’t know if I want to get employment/what I would want to do once I am not focused on my kids as much. I did tend to stick with one job for a length of time because I didn’t want to relearn a new company/boss/system etc, which I think can also very autistic- not wanting the change.
Being in a friendship with a woman from work turning into something bizarre. PLEASE share your story because this happens to me constantly. I do have women who are my friends and have been for years, but they're typically also autistic, so we speak the same language and appreciate each other's quirks. But sometimes I can tell when someone is going to get tired of me. I don't know what it is that makes them get sick of me, but I imagine it's my... extra... personality...? 🤷 In other words, I think I'm too much for a lot of allistic women. I try not, but I'm sure it seeps through the cracks.
I'm so sorry to hear of your struggles and I agree that many allistic women are *really* hard to figure out. My stories are slightly different to yours but I'll be sure to tell them at some point 👍
Yes my (female) partner who is ADHD constantly has awkward friendships that go weird ways with female colleagues! I'm occasionally asked to come in and try and soften things but I get so confused as to what has actually happened 😅
@@Dancestar1981 I find men to be a lot more straightforward. I wouldn't call women's style of communication to be BS, but it involves a lot of unspoken communication that is hard to pick up on. Come to think of it, all of my women friends that I have the most success communicating with are also most likely also autistic and have a more plain way of communicating. Except for my BFF, she's got that psychic gift of wordless female communication, but she only does it with other people (men and women with the gift. Not sure if it's body language or just a shared emotional understanding of certain scenarios, no one will tell me. 🤣) She knows she can't do it with me, she tried in the beginning and I was like, "That driver is broken, please reinstall windows." She still loves me though, she's a real one.
I work as a bemefits specialist processing insurance claims I disclosed my disabilities and got my doctor to fill out the accommodations form. My team leader has been very rude to me on many occasions and I am always sent home first when inventory is low She would not give me my accommodations until December 1st which is very soon and then they stop. I am so afraid that once they stop that things are going to get worse. I am always filled with anxiety at work trying to stay below her radar so she cant be rude to me again.
Funny. I have done type setting for magazines, sales, customer service, nursing assistant, construction, massage therapist, marketing manager, doula. Massage and construction has been the best. I have my own construction company so I only have to make eye contact while selling. I can look like I am concentrating and do not need to interact on jobs. I can take time off if I need to. I also do not need to be around people long-term and take breaks as much as I need or focus in and not take a break. Massage was great. I worked for myself and at chiropractic clinics. People are on the table. I do not have to talk about myself and there is relaxing music and dim light. If I work with a dr, I do not have to interact with them either.
11 different jobs in 4 different professions within 20 years. Also ongoing my fifth burn out within last ten years and only this summer doctors started to suspect I might have some neuropsychological issues underneath causing all of this. So off to the tests and well, well, well, what do have here: AuDHD. No wonder I constantly ended up in these vicious cycles of burn outs... Retrospectively thinking all of my burn outs have probably been Autistic burn outs rather than just "average" work related burn out.
Thank you! This really is a lot to digest. In other hand this diagnosis was a relief and it surely explained a lot of things in my past but then again at the same time it's kinda devastating because there isn't any "cure" for these issues. And as much as I would want to read all of those self help books or go to therapy there is only so little I can change in myself. I just have to try to cope with them. And what was also surprising to notice was the anger and feeling of unfairness that rose from remembering all of those times I was scolded or criticized and (yet again in retrospect) turns out those were my Autistic and/or adhd traits I was criticized for. But thank you for making these videos! It really helps to understand myself, my history and maybe some day have some reconciliation just by seeing that others have fought with these same issues as I have.
@@ExerciserInFutilityTrust me you are not alone. I've been pulled into meetings, put on performance improvement plans (everyone knows why employers do this) the door was half open for me so I left before it was slammed in my face. Neurotypicals don't get what we go through at all. The world of world of work was designed for neurotypicals for neurotypicals. We are the imposters in the workplace and it needs to change. So don't feel bad, embrace your autism, be proud of who you are. I'm sure you have qualities that many don't possess. We see the world differently, we see it for what it is
Thank you for posting this video. This video really helped me ❤️ I've had a terrible day at work... I'm in trouble with my boss at work so I really resonated with that point. I'm thinking of going back to self-employment for all the reasons you listed.
I'm so sorry to hear this. I remember this feeling so well, and it's horrible. I hope you're able to either sort things out at work or move on to a position that makes you happier/more comfortable 🧡
Wow..............Heading towards the big 50 and suspect now that I'm Autistic (NHS are not helping me at the moment), you have described my work feelings to a tee. I spend most of every shift waiting in anticipation...... Of what?? I do not know. Fun fact.....I enjoy night shift (I actually hate it) as there aren't any managers around to do the old 'can we have a chat'.. It is even worse when I have time off....The worry, the dread.....btw, just had a rough count up and I'm at 30+ jobs, with the longest being 16 years working for my Dad and the shortest being 2 hours, several times, even having a mortgage to pay I have found myself just walking out and never going back..... Regarding the 22%, I'm sure it is very different once we take into account the great undiagnosed........................................................................................................................
I can totally relate. I am a very late diagnosed Autistic and have had almost 60 jobs in a twenty five year span. Now i am living solely on disability because i am so damaged from decades of madking and trying to survive.
Recommendation: exam invigilator It's quiet If you need to put on sunglasses during the test , people will assume it's so the candidates don't know who you're looking at when You do need to high-mask briefly at times. But if you are "cold" or direct people will just see it as formality and taking the exam seriously, so it's harder to faux pas than usual
@@StephanieDefinitely it means you hand out exams and watch students taking their exams. If someone appears is cheating you clearly and directly communicate with them. With some exams there might be some instructions that need to be given. Also, people rarely cheat.
I've had 4 jobs in 4 years. I can't keep a job for even a year. I always end up quitting because I think everyone at work hates me, and I cant stand to be around the hate.
You have a really nice speaking voice which is unusual for an autistic person. I know I was shocked the first time I heard a recording of my voice. It sounded monotone which in my head, it most certainly did not. Nice voice, very lyrical.
I'm 30 now. I had 8 jobs in passed 7 years after I graduated. I’m unemployed now, really wanting to have a job for a longer time, but struggling a lot in interviews. I find out people start to lost trust in me because I changed jobs that frequently. I worry lots about my future, how my life can work out if I'm not able to work.
I've had 6 jobs in my life. The first 5 were within 2 years (one of them lasting 3 days) and then it was 12 years before my next (less than 2 weeks). I want to have a job, but it's hard when you fear getting kicked off of social programs because of it. I know my history hasn't been great and I don't want to hang myself out to dry. 🙍
I’ve just figured out I’ve had 8 primary jobs since graduating college in 1991. But I’ve had numerous part time jobs and side gigs along with the primary jobs. But I don’t list the part time jobs on my resume. It would just confuse the interviewer. Predominately retail jobs. (As main income source)
Hey I'm neurodivergent (Tourettes, possible ASD suggested long ago by my neurologist never diagnosed) and have done prison time in the United States. Want to mention that a vast majority of fellow prisoners are also neurodivergent, now that I know what stimming is I recall MANY people stimming or also showing tics, special interests and so on. I think MANY people turn to drugs and crime to cope with the harsh reality of late stage capitalism and the neurotypical world. HATE to sound like a victim, I always try my best to take responsibility but the more I realize besides my own failings, it isn't being neurodivergent lol
Thank you for sharing and I absolutely believe this to be the case, too. I think it's commonplace for autism assessors to ask about previous criminal convictions, along with drug use - I was asked during my assessment. I think this certainly needs highlighting more so that autistic people can better understand their experiences.
I am visually impaired and have breathing problems (not asthma-too complex to explain here) but I suspect I’m on the spectrum as well because it has taken me decades longer to have a grasp on some basic things. I wanted extensive help when I was in my early twenties but it just wasn’t there for some reason. I am long term unemployed, no romantic relationship, and still live in my childhood home. I cannot drive and there is no bus nearby. I am 49.
No offence, but how can you say you have autism if its undiagnosed? Unlless you habe been diagnosed then its impossible to say. It also belittles all the people who really DO have autism like my nephew who was diagnosed when he was 5. Hed 33 now.
If you've been able to find work as an autistic person, how many jobs have you had? 🧡
Soo relate, I've worked 9 years in customer service of all kinds, phone work, mostly, tech support, and you use a script, you get good but it wears on you after a while. And voices off multiple people at the same time is real problem in social jobs. Radio situations, even worse than the phone jobs, I've had more easier times working Security armed and unarmed. Office jobs are terrible, plants are in bearable and I have a degree in industrial maintenance, should have stayed more in programming from home. Great video
14 jobs in my 39 years of life.
working in commercial kitchens from the age of 21 to 36 . I think at least a dozen.
Thank you for sharing. I agree that without any accommodations in place, office jobs are mostly not suited to autistic people.
5 jobs over 11 years
Okay but the "constantly panicking because you think you're in trouble" hit me hard. I've spent my entire working life utterly convinced that I'm one step away from being fired and it's so stressful.
It's so awful - sorry to hear you suffer with this too 🧡
With at-will employment, we literally ARE one step away form being fired at all times. It's great "fun."
Same. And I never knew why.
Oh, ABSOLUTELY!! I spent 30 years working at jobs I loathed but needed because I had to survive, and I always did the very best job I could, even going above and beyond because that's my personal work ethic. Yet I spent literally *every minute of every day* terrified that any minute my boss or HR was going to walk up to my desk with the dreaded, "Do you have a moment?" and I'd be fired. The one job I eventually got fired from (after 8 years successfully working there), was part of a setup to get rid of everyone in our department, and my then-unknown autism worked against me. I still have PTSD from that to this day. In fact, I have severe PTSD from my entire working life, decades of struggling just to get by by heavily masking and trying to fit in, yet never understanding the corporate world (and not caring a whit about all those figures and quotas and goals that made no sense to me, except for the fact that it meant me keeping my job), never understanding the politics of office work, and what worked and was expected in one company was utterly taboo in another -- NEVER figured any of it out. It always reminds me of what Miri says in the Star Trek original series episode "Miri": "I don't know the rules! I've got to know the rules." It was a "game" I never understood the rules, and if I started to figure them out, the rules changed.
I didn't find out I'm autistic until after I stopped working when the company I was working for was shut down at the end of 2020 (unrelated to "the event" which I don't talk about because that's a whole different trauma). But while I was there, one time I was severely stressed to the point of mental and physical breakdown due to unreasonable workload, and when I asked HR for a reduction in hours (rather than extended time off), I was told, "I can ask, but I just want you to know, *we're not trying to screw you over.*" Meaning, we're not going to give it to you, and probably we'll just fire you. I had to continue to work full time despite I was falling apart.
Even four years later, I have a hard time thinking about or talking about work; i.e. day jobs, aka unimaginable daily torture. As I write this I am in tears, triggered by the trauma of the subject. I watch these types of videos because I hope to better understand my experience, now that I know I'm autistic, and maybe one day heal.
I've had over 30 jobs. I am 47 years. Some of them I shut down and never went back. I walked out during my shift with a few, but not because I couldn't do them I could not handle the social aspects of it and the environment was toxic. The gossiping and name calling and bullying was exhausting, if not from co-workers it was customers. Others I was pushed out.
Thank you for sharing. I'll be making video on social dynamics in the workplace at some point as it's an area so many of us struggle with.
One thing I’ve learned. Never ever befriend coworkers. They are NOT your friends.
Not always
I work in a theatre and my wonderful coworkers prove themselves to be excellent friends who have really earned my trust, time and time again. I'm so sorry to hear you've had a bad experience.
Oh you've just described the difficulty with "hearing everything at the same volume" problem so well! Now I think I finally have the words that describe this experience!
Im glad you've been able to relate 🧡
When talking to people in a café or restaurant or other busy place, I have to ask "I'm sorry what???" so many times it's embarrassing.
I have never heard another person have this exact experience that i've had. And have never been able to explain it to any of the loved ones in my life when they ask why i don't work. Thank you for this video 💖
I'm glad you found it useful - it's helpful to know I'm not alone in this too! 🧡
i loved laundry in a nursing home. i could work my behind off doing loads and loads of laundry. run gather up all the dirty clothes. all by myself. i was so busy and it was lovely. i had a horrible person the other shift who was jealous i guess or mean spirited. funny thing is my hubby had worked with this lady in a different era...and sort of the same job. in laundry. well he told me about her...she hid the mop from me so i couldnt do my job. she told all the elderly people if something was missing it was cause of me. it was so hard...i didnt talk about her at all. just did my job. i think i am very much on the spectrum. my grandgirl is autistic too. anyway. yes i have had alot of jobs.i do a great job. i am so glad i made it to retirement. i dont know how i ever did.
Thank you for sharing, Denise. Some people are just awful 🧡
@@CreativeAutistic thank u so much. love your channel.
At 52 years old, and having been on disability benefits for the last 12 years, I've relegated myself to being a lost cause with Aspergers and heart failure. I'll never ever be able to get another job ever again. It never helped either when I was younger that I was called a "useless bastard" by one manager and told to get out of his sight just for accidentally knocking over a bottle of vodka. I quit that job the same day.
I'm so sorry to hear this and that comment was clearly unacceptable. I'm glad for your sake you left on the same day (I'd have done the same)
@CreativeAutistic Aye, that comment happened whilst I was a trainee as I was only 20 years old, and it damaged me quite badly as far as self-respect goes. I didn't have a diagnosis back then, but even so, people don't realise just how quick to the bone comments can be.
@@leepshin Wow. That's horrible.
Sounds exactly like me. I have lung problems, kidney problems, leg ulcers, varicose veins, diabetes, and like you, I will never work again, but, unlike you I am so very happy I will never work again. I love being retired. You couldn't pay me enough to go back to work.
Me at 43 been on disability 20 years
As a 58 year old autistic female, diagnosed in 2020, I thank you enormously for this video about work. Not only did I get sacked from lots of jobs and coped with jobs I wasn’t sacked from, with drink and drugs, and feeling guilty for being on benefits, your video validated me. I also have an artistic talent. You have a new subscriber.
Thank you for sharing and I'm so sorry to hear of your experiences (and welcome) 🧡
@@CreativeAutistic You're welcome, thanks for the warm welcome.
Well said. You just described MY work history - which is much like yours. I’m sure I have had 50 jobs also. The jobs are easy enough but I struggle with the people dynamics. Gossip. Petty inter office squabbles. Etc. That is where I find my overwhelm and stress.
Thank you for boldly sharing this info!
You're welcome - glad you found it useful (and I'll be making another video on social dynamics within the workplace at some point) 👍
You're terrible to work with, and make people like me do all the work.
Was diagnosed late last year at 57. I've never been unemployed, luckily. My first job was working alone in a lab, which suited me fine. For the last 33 years I've been in a laboratory job again. Career progress has not been stellar because of my total inability to network or bullshit, but I have stayed employed despite some extremely stressful times. However - masking is now impossible because I'm burned out, so I expect to retire as soon as I can.
Thank you for sharing. Oh crikey, the horrors of networking 😱
I worked at my last job for over 11 years which was by far the longest time I had spent at any job. I was a medical laboratory technician. The lab that I worked at was large enough for me to gravitate to what was for me my niche working in the hematology department which I enjoyed and became very good at. This was the best employment fit for me out of all the jobs I ever had. I was allowed to be my "different" self and was treated well there.
@@JAYSCHULBERG-b9u Pretty much the same for me. There are a lot of neurodiverse folks in science and I have always felt accepted even when my mask slips
Yes iv'e had quite a few jobs in the past, and i never felt secure mentally stable or content in any of them. And as for the bullying !!!!......🙌🙋♂️
Oh man, bullying. The stories I could tell! Sorry you've been through a rough time too, James 🧡
second video ive watched of yours and again im resonating with every single bit! held multiple jobs, experienced bullying, had burnout after burnout, difficulties with communication.... I am fortunate enough to have disability in the US, but that still keeps me well below the poverty level and the only reason i have a safe place to live is because of my two siblings.
volunteering was my ultimate happy place, namely volunteering at a wildlife rescue. that was my most joyful, fulfilling "job" and I wish every day I had started so much sooner and turned it into a career. I would have had to move to a position where I managed social media or something bc of my debilitating and ever growing list of chronic illnesses, but if i had a completely different body and was able to do the work, I'd be working there again in a heartbeat! I made so many wonderful human and animal friends there!
Thank you for sharing, and I'm sorry to hear of your chronic illnesses as I totally get how hard it can be. And yes, if only we could choose to do jobs we're actually interested in and are good at. 🧡
Unfortunately, I struggle to hold down a job. And even though I am a level 2 autistic human, I cannot get a legal diagnosis because, where I live, it's extremely challenging to have one. Psychiatrists and psychologists really deny and brutally dismiss you, if you ask for help and support. And without a legal diagnosis, it's impossible to receive job accommodation and basic support.
This sounds rough, I'm sorrry. Where I am based, it should be fairly easy to get an assessment, but let me tell you, the psychiatrists are biased and/or have outdated views. I hope you will find a way!
@@SimoneEppler Thank you friend.
@@passaggioalivello of course!
I'm just so sorry to hear this. How on earth are autistic people expected to survive, let alone thrive, when views like this are commonplace. 🧡
@SimoneEppler my partner has been trying to get a diagnosis for both ADHD and Autism for a while now. They have trouble expressing themselves, and instead of listening to what they have to say, the psychologists just keep telling them they probably just have anxiety. Which they literally have a diagnosis for already. They just shut them down every single time and wont let them elaborate on their issues. Which is great because none of these appointments are cheap!
Like, I dont care if people come in and say they have Autism 10 times a week, if you dont LISTEN to them (one of the most important tools you use in your job as a therapist!!!!!) and determine if their concerns really sound like autism, you are statistically going to be turning actual autistic people away and killing their hope for things ever getting better. It's disgusting. These doctors need to get over their annoying, useless biases becauee it is making them bad at their own jobs.
This was interesting and it really highlights many of the challenges faced by autistic people in the workplace. I hope your channel takes off so this can be your job.
Ha! Thank you! 🧡
Hard relate!!! I've struggled to work my entire life - I'm 38 now and haven't worked for over 10 years (diagnosed at 31) - I'm resigned to the fact that I'm pretty much 'unemployable'. I'm going to try freelance work like background acting because it's adhoc work that doesn't create the demand avoidance in me the way a 'contracted job' does. It's incredibly stressful being poor, unable to work but looking like you're just being lazy or have no work ethic - I'm not choosing to be unemployable and poor, believe me!!!
So sorry to hear this, Beth - I can certainly relate! 🧡
i have had so many jobs, my dad would say i don't have 'stick-to-it-iveness' The only one i could handle was assistant innkeeping, mostly cleaning, making an easy 'set up' breakfast, but i really dreaded having to deal w/guests though i think i did pretty good...just so completely stressful, high masking of course. All my co-innkeepers moved up, had their own Inns or bought them from the owners of the B&Bs we worked at. I'm in my late 50s unable to find any work...except cleaning one lady's large home (i dread it each month)
Thanks for pointing this out.. i feel a bit better about myself.. learning about why i am the way i am ..so late in life is a bit of a whirlwind, confusion, happy sighs, heavy sighs and things making more sense
Thank you for sharing, and I'm so sorry to hear of your experiences. 🧡
Happy sighs and heavy sighs. Spot on description! ❤
I have only been accommodations in mabe three jobs out of nearly 60 and i have never been able to make substantial gains in any job. So because of that, now that i have to survive on disability, i am only allowed the bare minimum that they are allowed to give which is about three thousand dollars a year under the federal poverty line. Even though I have a near mensa level IQ, a college education, and a phenomenally overdeveloped work ethic, and even though i excelled at most of my actual jobs, i was either fired because I could not meet the social expectations or I had to quit because of sensory issues or from being bullied. And even in the jobs that i did manage to do, I was never able to hold a job for longer than two years, I was never paid enough to be able to survive on my own. And there were also instances where people who were younger than I was, less experienced, and less qualified, got paid much more than i did and they were promoted when I never was simply because they were able to play the social games and because they did not struggle with sensory sensitivities .
I've had 13 full time jobs in 20+ years. All finance or operations, for the most part limited contact with people, limited presentations, lots of time wearing headphones. I'd still burn out bad after a year or so but it's improved a lot since the early days.
Thank you for sharing. I'm glad things have improved for you 🧡
I am an a design engineer and find it both creative and fun working with 3D-CAD and to be autistic in that environment works quite well as i get along easy with men and many people are introverted and similar to autistic. I have bean able to maintain employed but struggled with repeated burnouts and/or depressions/panic anxiety when overwhelmed or too much stress. I am now working 50% with the help/advice from my doctor and that has been working really good for my health and overall wellbeing🙏. I am on the same workplace as i started after university, 16 years ago.
That sounds so interesting! Thank you for sharing and I don't doubt that working 50% of the time is really helping 🧡
Oh wow! Just like me! I’m also a design engineer. I do the exact same thing. I have spent the last 12 years working with 3D modeling and design. I seem to just naturally fit these types of jobs. I don’t do well working in the office though, as I get easily over stimulated and burned out. I use noise cancelling headphones which help. A lot.
I have found self employment to be an amazing route to take.
It’s national disability employment month- every year during the month of October. I put it up at my work and then my management asked to speak with me. I thought I was in trouble. Nope. They thanked me for putting that up and asked me what they could do to be more accommodating for me (audhd) and some of my peers who are also neurologically different/disabled. ❤
During my interview here I told them outright what I was diagnosed with; I told them I won’t look them in the eye and I will use my stim toy to help me manage my thoughts to slow down. I was open about my struggles with interviews, so I hoped it would not reflect on my abilities to do the job. I thought I wouldn’t get the job cause everyone told me not to say anything and just “be normal”. I got hired though. I’m very lucky. Not many have had my experience at all…
I had issues with phones too! It would send me into fits- I’d be there for ten minutes and an outside perspective would appear like a panic attack. It was tears and sobbing- hitting myself in the head (once I ran to the bathroom so no one would see me)- I then asked for a quiet spot to do phone work if I couldn’t avoid phone work all together. It took some “fighting” cause fairness was brought up. But I asked, “How fair is it for me with the disability to suffer just so I don’t get ‘special treatment” to avoid these adverse reactions that my fellow coworkers don’t experience.” It was then a light bulb response and I got my accommodation!
Thanks for this video! I’m (as yet) undiagnosed but I strongly suspect autism/adhd. I have had a very difficult work history including a serious burnout a few years ago after working as a prison librarian - I don’t feel I’ve quite recovered from it even now. I work part time at a school now and make art which as you say is a huge struggle. I would like to talk about these things in relation to being autistic on my channel but don’t feel I can until I have a formal diagnosis - and that’ll take a long time to afford probably. 😩 I really appreciate your channel, though!
Thank you for sharing and I'm so sorry to hear of your experiences 🧡
Same, I def have autism and getting work is hard but I feel like no one will believe me unless I have a formal diagnosis, but talking to doctors and making appointments and things is one of my biggest triggers so idk how I'm going to get it done.
Even working with other autistic people is difficult for me. Most autistic people are hypersensitive to light and need lights to be dimmed. However, I'm hypo-sensitive to light, and need lights to be brightened! Thus, working with other autistics is another mismatch I have.
I have had 6 jobs with large gaps between. This makes it so difficult. Now I am just at a loss. 😢 My favorote job was housekeeping. I could put my headphones on and just clean and fold laundry.
I'm so sorry to hear that. I totally get why housekeeping would be appealing 🧡
I worked in the non-private sector several times. Unfortunately, these were especially hostile environments for me because workers there expect you to show empathy. As an autistic person, I had problems showing empathy in the appropriate socially acceptable way. Getting fired was not the only worry working for charities, it was getting sued or being criminally charged for appearing to be a creep.
Thank you for posting this, I've been in a cycle of self-hatred for having had, and lost, so many jobs.
I've found something to love in every job I've had but I kept getting bullied and sacked for "poor performance " "too many absences" "not fitting in with the team." Etc. Some employers have found sneaky ways to get rid of me too, but it hurts to talk about that. I've always gravitated towards jobs with a theme that involve handling and presenting information, but it was always the people and their attitudes that drove me out.
I have a voluntary position now and it's been brilliant to be accepted, appreciated and to use the massive range of skills I've collected.
Thank you for sharing. I'm sorry to hear of your experiences but I'm glad to hear you're now in a role where you feel valued 🧡
They always discriminate against you they did me
Ok, now Ive gotta count all my jobs. Currently finished training to teach English online and am making art and working in an art shop 2days a week. I am feeling unwell after working in the shop and I think its the massive fluorescent lights and competing music from our shop and other shops nearby. Lordy be, I am sensitive! (ive counted up to 23 different jobs and, at age 55 , I am sure Ive forgotten a few, lol).
Ha! It's heartening to know I'm not alone in this 🧡
I’m sorry you’ve been bullied so much. My immediate supervisor during my UN Tour got in such a state that he tried to end me. I think I was dealing with a narcissist, and learning about narcissistic wounds maybe I just triggered him. He made my life miserable for 10 months and weaponized his position to create an environment that others in our section (mechanized infantry) targeted me as well. People can be … weird. Me AuDHD/PTSD/cPTSD/GAD/MDD/Trauma. I had came in first at my basic course at 17, was in 17 advanced placement courses in high school, score a few divinations over norm, and interviewed and tested so well for Regular Officer’s training program that when I nearly failed calculus (undiagnosed PTSD and I had never done calculus before) when I returned to finish high school that they said go to the local Uni for a year, pull up my marks and they’d live to have me . Ling way of saying no matter how competent you are bull135 can still come for you :(
If I count all the places I panicked and walked away from, some before I could even get started, I lose count. Never been fired but mostly because I would remove myself if I so much as feared it happening. Mostly been retail, preschool worker, and very short lived stints in telephone sales and hotel desk/housekeeper. Preschool finally lasted longest. I think my boss empathized with my single mom status (at the time) and worked with my deficits, genuinely pleased with my creativity and hardworking ways. I stayed there till my EDS got bad enough I could not work. I turned to writing from there and had a memoir published by a small traditional publisher but it did not do well mostly because I cannot handle the nightmare of trying to sell my work. So I gave up promoting it at all. Same issues come up with any of my creative efforts. I sketch and paint as well but cannot handle trying to sell them either. Now, I am busy honeschooling my youngest while my husband helps with financial support but would love to be doing something...
Thank you for sharing, Marisa, and I'm sorry to hear of your struggles. I think it's an amazing accomplishment that you've had a memoir published, regardless of numbers. 🧡
I certainly quit McDonalds within 3 weeks because of meltdown when I was quite young. I don't think my experiences are completely typical. My first big job was related to my special interest, 2d animation and TV. So I did masking to get through the doors (literally) but once I was among my own people, I felt quite comfortable. Other jobs though have been kind of like, keep quiet, keep in the background and see if I can hold the job as long as possible just because I absolutely dread change. The last time this happened though I stuck around even though the boss had stopped paying me two years worth of super (like pension) which is very illegal and immoral, but I was so afraid of jumping into a new social / skill learning situation I put my head down and kept going. It was very hard doing full time though because i'd need items around me to feel comfortable, my colleague would make fun of. My boss even put a picture in the bin that I had on the wall to keep me comfortable in the workplace. A great video! Always makes me think. Now I am in a place of self diagnosed autism possibly, it's making me feel more... picky about jobs... which is kind of bad.. bad for the wallet, bad for my rural living situation and having children. But now I know that my stress should be avoided because it could be double the amount of others... well anyway! Sorry for the rant at the end there. I agree with everything you said! Especially with sales, it sort of requires lying/false relationship, which is very difficult.
Thank you for sharing. The struggle is real! 😩
Glad to find your channel! I'm diagnosed with a few other conditions, not sure if I have asd but I'm definitely neurodifferent. I worked hard at school and did well but have struggled so much with working. Like you I've had a lot of jobs including sales, reception, call centre, customer service, admin plus I worked in the education sector a lot. Repeated themes were either way too much workload and stress or not enough which felt mind numbingly boring, plus bullying, unrelatable colleagues, sensory issues ie fluorescent lights and burn out from having to get up early and deal with commuting. I feel the whole work system is not designed by or for people like us and it can be so difficult to find a work path. I think remote work is a big help plus for me being able to start work later is massively helpful as I'm a creative night owl. I've felt huge shame at my work situation so thank you for talking about this. I've never understood how other people can do these jobs as they made me ill and each time I had to recover.
Thank you for sharing 🧡
Thanks for sharing. I'm 44 next week and iirc I've had 9 jobs and more failed interviews and trial days than I can count! I'm currently officially a "homemaker" with my art and books as a side hustle (although I make barely anything on it), as luckily my husband earns enough to cover our bills, and I'm also struggling with chronic illness (EDS and endometriosis).
Many of my later jobs have been part time and for a while I did my polymer clay business part time alongside a part time retail job. I struggled to earn enough as an artist alone at that point which is the only job I've ever enjoyed and I would have vastly preferred as I really struggled with retail for similar reasons to yours. Retail was completely unsuitable for me and even part time was so, so draining due to dealing with people, often angry people, sensory overload and task switching etc. Also experienced lots of worplace bullying as well.
Thank you for sharing, Kris, and I'm sorry to hear how much you've struggled too 🧡
Interviews should be bypassed for the neurodivergent just let us demonstrate our skills instead
I've always found it difficult to be in work and in an office. Always had issued dealing with customers and colleagues. And never knew why
I was only diagnosed this year at 37.
Luckily I have a job that I now enjoy and a supportive employer but I've decided to go down to 4 days a week from next year to help with recovery
I have fairly low support needs but it's so difficult. I can't think how hard it could be for others
Thank you for sharing, and my diagnosis has helped me make sense of how I've struggled with customer-focused work too. I don't doubt that reducing your hours will be helpful for you.
Sitting on a four year waiting list for a diagnosis I think might explain my decades of stuggles and watching videos like this and thinking, oh, yes, this really does sound familiar 😂. Always avoided phone jobs, had one interview, told them their campaign was immoral 😂
Ha! Nice one 👍
I am 53 and have had 44 jobs. Currently I work at a university doing a job that I am overqualified for and underpaid, but love. I would starve if I were in sales. Want it? No? Ok. I was employed at a child care center for one day. It ended in what I call a mutual agreement of non-employment. I did not belong there and we both knew it. I've also been bullied out of many jobs.
Love your channel and this video was helpful. Struggling with my current job where the people are wonderful but just the social component in a school as an aide is so hard for me socially and with the noise. Love how you do your hair too and you speak so calmly that calms me. So thank you.
Aww, that's lovely feedback, thank you Regina 🧡
Most of my jobs have been in compliance, which is great, in theory; you learn the rules and then you can easily see when they're not being followed, so you can be really good at the job. Details 💗The nightmare has been where employers don't follow the rules which they state they operate by, and which employees are bound by. I spent a year in the civil service and was completely traumatised by the everyday, persistent misalignment between the rules and the reality. It was like being told to wear stout walking shoes, then discovering you actually need to go for a swim. I'm still in therapy four years later.
I'm so sorry to hear this 🧡
I did a CV type list of jobs/employment for my adhd/autism assessment and it was 12 pages long 😮😂 I've also started so many many courses and moved house so many, many times 😬
Gosh, that is long! Relate on moving house many times too 🧡
10 jobs (that I can remember) since 2010... I average about 1 year, 2 years at most at every job. It's always people and dealing with others that makes me quit. I had one job where I was in my little room doing my little projects for 3 days a week. Unfortunately, it didn't pay enough to survive because it was considered a low effort, low skill job (it was not).
I tried to quit my current job about 8 months in, and they gave me a raise, so I didn't leave. I also didn't get that other job I interviewed for, so I guess it worked out. I should try to leave again so I can get another raise.
I just thought of like 4 other jobs that I had forgotten about lol
Yep, I've remembered another job since this video! 🤪
I have only worked two jobs- both with kids- for a total of 4ish years. I relate to the “carrot” comment- when I worked at a gym, they would try to hype us up with goals etc, and I couldn’t care less. I have been able to be home with my kids (I know that’s very lucky!), but it won’t be too long til they are out of the house, and I don’t know if I want to get employment/what I would want to do once I am not focused on my kids as much. I did tend to stick with one job for a length of time because I didn’t want to relearn a new company/boss/system etc, which I think can also very autistic- not wanting the change.
Thank you for sharing, and yes, I think some autistic people would be way more comfortable sticking with one or two jobs for sure 👍
Being in a friendship with a woman from work turning into something bizarre. PLEASE share your story because this happens to me constantly. I do have women who are my friends and have been for years, but they're typically also autistic, so we speak the same language and appreciate each other's quirks. But sometimes I can tell when someone is going to get tired of me. I don't know what it is that makes them get sick of me, but I imagine it's my... extra... personality...? 🤷 In other words, I think I'm too much for a lot of allistic women. I try not, but I'm sure it seeps through the cracks.
I'm so sorry to hear of your struggles and I agree that many allistic women are *really* hard to figure out. My stories are slightly different to yours but I'll be sure to tell them at some point 👍
Yes my (female) partner who is ADHD constantly has awkward friendships that go weird ways with female colleagues! I'm occasionally asked to come in and try and soften things but I get so confused as to what has actually happened 😅
Do you find friendships with men easier because there’s less bs I know I do
@@Dancestar1981 I find men to be a lot more straightforward. I wouldn't call women's style of communication to be BS, but it involves a lot of unspoken communication that is hard to pick up on. Come to think of it, all of my women friends that I have the most success communicating with are also most likely also autistic and have a more plain way of communicating. Except for my BFF, she's got that psychic gift of wordless female communication, but she only does it with other people (men and women with the gift. Not sure if it's body language or just a shared emotional understanding of certain scenarios, no one will tell me. 🤣) She knows she can't do it with me, she tried in the beginning and I was like, "That driver is broken, please reinstall windows." She still loves me though, she's a real one.
@@Kipicus that’s what I meant but probably didn’t express it well there’s all these nuances that can be so hard to get a handle on
Very useful video and you are really well articulated your thoughts. Thanks a lot!
That’s lovely feedback, thank you! 🧡
I work as a bemefits specialist processing insurance claims I disclosed my disabilities and got my doctor to fill out the accommodations form. My team leader has been very rude to me on many occasions and I am always sent home first when inventory is low She would not give me my accommodations until December 1st which is very soon and then they stop. I am so afraid that once they stop that things are going to get worse. I am always filled with anxiety at work trying to stay below her radar so she cant be rude to me again.
I've had at least 40 jobs, I estimate. It's been terrible. I can relate to practically everything you're saying!
Thank you for sharing 🧡
@@CreativeAutistic no problem. I'm trying to decipher what to do with it next.
Funny. I have done type setting for magazines, sales, customer service, nursing assistant, construction, massage therapist, marketing manager, doula. Massage and construction has been the best. I have my own construction company so I only have to make eye contact while selling. I can look like I am concentrating and do not need to interact on jobs. I can take time off if I need to. I also do not need to be around people long-term and take breaks as much as I need or focus in and not take a break. Massage was great. I worked for myself and at chiropractic clinics. People are on the table. I do not have to talk about myself and there is relaxing music and dim light. If I work with a dr, I do not have to interact with them either.
Thank you for sharing 🧡
11 different jobs in 4 different professions within 20 years. Also ongoing my fifth burn out within last ten years and only this summer doctors started to suspect I might have some neuropsychological issues underneath causing all of this. So off to the tests and well, well, well, what do have here: AuDHD. No wonder I constantly ended up in these vicious cycles of burn outs... Retrospectively thinking all of my burn outs have probably been Autistic burn outs rather than just "average" work related burn out.
Thank you for sharing and congrats on your recent diagnoses. It's such a lot to take in but it really does help reframe things as time goes on. 🧡
Thank you! This really is a lot to digest. In other hand this diagnosis was a relief and it surely explained a lot of things in my past but then again at the same time it's kinda devastating because there isn't any "cure" for these issues.
And as much as I would want to read all of those self help books or go to therapy there is only so little I can change in myself. I just have to try to cope with them.
And what was also surprising to notice was the anger and feeling of unfairness that rose from remembering all of those times I was scolded or criticized and (yet again in retrospect) turns out those were my Autistic and/or adhd traits I was criticized for.
But thank you for making these videos! It really helps to understand myself, my history and maybe some day have some reconciliation just by seeing that others have fought with these same issues as I have.
@@ExerciserInFutilityTrust me you are not alone. I've been pulled into meetings, put on performance improvement plans (everyone knows why employers do this) the door was half open for me so I left before it was slammed in my face. Neurotypicals don't get what we go through at all. The world of world of work was designed for neurotypicals for neurotypicals. We are the imposters in the workplace and it needs to change. So don't feel bad, embrace your autism, be proud of who you are. I'm sure you have qualities that many don't possess. We see the world differently, we see it for what it is
Thank you for posting this video. This video really helped me ❤️ I've had a terrible day at work... I'm in trouble with my boss at work so I really resonated with that point. I'm thinking of going back to self-employment for all the reasons you listed.
I'm so sorry to hear this. I remember this feeling so well, and it's horrible. I hope you're able to either sort things out at work or move on to a position that makes you happier/more comfortable 🧡
Wow..............Heading towards the big 50 and suspect now that I'm Autistic (NHS are not helping me at the moment), you have described my work feelings to a tee. I spend most of every shift waiting in anticipation...... Of what?? I do not know. Fun fact.....I enjoy night shift (I actually hate it) as there aren't any managers around to do the old 'can we have a chat'.. It is even worse when I have time off....The worry, the dread.....btw, just had a rough count up and I'm at 30+ jobs, with the longest being 16 years working for my Dad and the shortest being 2 hours, several times, even having a mortgage to pay I have found myself just walking out and never going back.....
Regarding the 22%, I'm sure it is very different once we take into account the great undiagnosed........................................................................................................................
Thank you for sharing 🧡
Really enjoy your channel. Keep up the amazing work! ❤
Thank you! 🧡
I try not to make friends with co-workers. If people at work know me, it ends….
Solid advice 👍
I can totally relate. I am a very late diagnosed Autistic and have had almost 60 jobs in a twenty five year span. Now i am living solely on disability because i am so damaged from decades of madking and trying to survive.
I'm so sorry to hear this, but I totally get feeling damaged by it all 🧡
Recommendation: exam invigilator
It's quiet
If you need to put on sunglasses during the test , people will assume it's so the candidates don't know who you're looking at when
You do need to high-mask briefly at times. But if you are "cold" or direct people will just see it as formality and taking the exam seriously, so it's harder to faux pas than usual
What’s an invigilator…?
I totally get the appeal of this role!
Oh man, I think I could do this! I will look and see if it’s called by the same name where I live 👀
@@StephanieDefinitely it means you hand out exams and watch students taking their exams. If someone appears is cheating you clearly and directly communicate with them. With some exams there might be some instructions that need to be given. Also, people rarely cheat.
@@therabbithat ahh, I know what you mean now-in the US we call those exam proctors/supervisors. 😄
I've had 4 jobs in 4 years. I can't keep a job for even a year. I always end up quitting because I think everyone at work hates me, and I cant stand to be around the hate.
I can relate for sure 🧡
You have a really nice speaking voice which is unusual for an autistic person. I know I was shocked the first time I heard a recording of my voice. It sounded monotone which in my head, it most certainly did not. Nice voice, very lyrical.
Thank you so much. I think it's the result of being obsessed with relaxing voices on RUclips 🧡
Great video. Many thanks for sharing. ❤
Thank you - I'm glad you found it useful 👍
I'm 30 now. I had 8 jobs in passed 7 years after I graduated. I’m unemployed now, really wanting to have a job for a longer time, but struggling a lot in interviews. I find out people start to lost trust in me because I changed jobs that frequently. I worry lots about my future, how my life can work out if I'm not able to work.
I'm sorry to hear this. I think a lot of autistic people feel very similarly.
I've had 6 jobs in my life. The first 5 were within 2 years (one of them lasting 3 days) and then it was 12 years before my next (less than 2 weeks). I want to have a job, but it's hard when you fear getting kicked off of social programs because of it. I know my history hasn't been great and I don't want to hang myself out to dry. 🙍
Thank you for sharing. I totally get this.
I am currently on job number 30 and I am 57 . I will be getting assessed in a couple weeks.
I’ve just figured out I’ve had 8 primary jobs since graduating college in 1991. But I’ve had numerous part time jobs and side gigs along with the primary jobs.
But I don’t list the part time jobs on my resume. It would just confuse the interviewer. Predominately retail jobs. (As main income source)
I relate to this SO much.
🧡
Hey I'm neurodivergent (Tourettes, possible ASD suggested long ago by my neurologist never diagnosed) and have done prison time in the United States. Want to mention that a vast majority of fellow prisoners are also neurodivergent, now that I know what stimming is I recall MANY people stimming or also showing tics, special interests and so on. I think MANY people turn to drugs and crime to cope with the harsh reality of late stage capitalism and the neurotypical world. HATE to sound like a victim, I always try my best to take responsibility but the more I realize besides my own failings, it isn't being neurodivergent lol
Thank you for sharing and I absolutely believe this to be the case, too. I think it's commonplace for autism assessors to ask about previous criminal convictions, along with drug use - I was asked during my assessment. I think this certainly needs highlighting more so that autistic people can better understand their experiences.
I was diagnosed with Autism last year by a Psychologist.
Welcome to our world 😊
Congrats on your diagnosis 🧡
I am visually impaired and have breathing problems (not asthma-too complex to explain here) but I suspect I’m on the spectrum as well because it has taken me decades longer to have a grasp on some basic things. I wanted extensive help when I was in my early twenties but it just wasn’t there for some reason. I am long term unemployed, no romantic relationship, and still live in my childhood home. I cannot drive and there is no bus nearby. I am 49.
Thank you for sharing 🧡
I can’t work because of all the trauma I suffered from bullying in the past due to my multiple neurodivergent conditions
I’m so sorry to hear this 🧡
42 yo undiagnosed male, I’ve had about 43 jobs just in the last 10 years. My customers usually have me high surveys, but I always had bad KPIs
Thanks for sharing 👍
All of us around the world have been treated like crap
I've had 25 jobs in the last 10 years
Thanks for sharing - it's always comforting to know I'm not the only one with a huge trail of jobs behind me! 🧡
Bright windows. I feel like I might get sunburned.
Yes, I've always felt like this about sun-facing windows.
No offence, but how can you say you have autism if its undiagnosed? Unlless you habe been diagnosed then its impossible to say. It also belittles all the people who really DO have autism like my nephew who was diagnosed when he was 5. Hed 33 now.
I HAVE been diagnosed as autistic. I’m talking about my work history here as a then undiagnosed autistic. I am belittling no one.
The classic “my nephew has it” comment!!
Please listen better 🙏