Simon Baron-Cohen can stuff right off

[Dutchie]

Sorry to see you'll be unemployed in a few weeks Smun. Are there more job prospects where you are? Hope your increased meds will do their thing soon!

Yes, I think a more flexible job would be great for J but unfortunately at his age he is unlikely to find something like that. This morning I spoke to the psychologist and one of her clients has fallen ill so she can fit him in on Friday! When I spoke to J about it, he immediately said he doesn't see that helping him at all but I really hope he will learn some ways to deal with certain aspects of his ADHD.

[Smunder Woman]

Hopefully he comes round to the idea and finds some strategies that work for him.

I'm not too hopeful about the job situation right now, but I'm telling myself that everything works out in the end :))

[Bat Macdui]

What meds are you on, Smun? I am on standard issue methylphenidate 54mg and a meds check up a few years ago recommended upping it but it turned out not one had the actual authority to do that as that exceeded guidelines. :)) I couldn't be bothered fighting for it, as they work well enough. I take a couple of days off a week, though, so it can hit me nicely on a Monday morning when I need it.

Best of luck with the job thing.

[Smunder Woman]

I'm now on 60-70mg methylphenidate, split into 3. I was on 45, which was definitely not enough. Just as well K has the patience of a saint, because he's definitely asked me quite a few times if I've actually remembered to take it I take less at the weekends, but I'm a total chaotic anxious mess if I take none, and I need it to sleep.

It's just as well nobody notices when academics are a bit chaotic and weird really.

[Smunder Woman]

Fucking hell, the difference

[Jet]

I’m glad it is helping!

I thought I’d take it less on weekends but I have the same thing - it’s not worth the anxiety that comes back to skip it for me. Especially sundays.

I forgot to take it yesterday and remembered 5 mins before a 2.5 hour committee meeting that I was mcing too late! I don’t usually forget entirely but sometimes I leave it too late because I get busy.

On your family comments smunder, I suppose I didn’t have to talk to my family but I’m glad I did. My mums perspective is that I’ve always been ‘hard to reach’ and that’s the thing she thought she had caused somehow (because her own mother was emotionally detached, they didn’t talk about things or feelings). It was a bit sad to hear (but mainly that she thought it was her fault) but it’s also true that I am and have been that way so… I do think there’s a bit of it that she’s has some responsibility for but it’s not something worth getting into (I mean things like her way of being about things helping perpetuate my retreating or avoiding her focus/attention, especially if negative, not being a problem, staying under the radar etc - much of that was intentional and part of coping). I do think some of it’s just my personality.

Lily - I have time issues too. I get focused on something and it’s like nothing else exists so I have to be careful with time. Everything always takes longer than I estimate. I function more efficiently in a time crunch and or panic. That’s why I was initially alarmed that the adhd meds got rid of my anxiety - I got nothing now

As for Mr J - I’m sure lots of this explains some stuff (just like the adhd stuff) but overall he just wants me to be happy and supports whatever that needs to be. At first I didn’t tell anyone I had the appointment on the autism, including him. I did in the end though as I thought me being mia or ignoring messages for 3 hours might be a concern.

It been funny with my one coworker that knows because I can see her wheels turning sometimes now when I give her a me style explanation of something or assessment of a situation and I can tell she’s sort of nodding like ‘oh yes I SEE it now’.