Small steps, small wins! 💪 I left a very challenging 1 hour thing at work (loose social gathering, very packed with lots of people and loud) after 30 mins, announcing that I am getting overstimulated. Really proud to normalize this tactic for myself and colleagues and communicate my needs. Made me proud of myself! #ActuallyAutistic #ActuallyAutisticAtWork

So guess who avoided rush hour in the morning to accommodate sensory issues & came in later just to have a meltdown because the room reserved specifically for this reason was occupied (big sign). I am so, so tired of fighting and I am pissed. I know this person doesn't mean harm but I don't think they know how much it impacts me negatively and I feel like I need to justify my needs. I do leave a note for days I don't come in at all (except when sick).
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Most of this week already had end-of-week energy, alas it is only Thursday today... I need rest. I got only lab work today (aside from one "listen only meeting") I think, so at least peopling should be at a minimum. I'm exhausted.
#ActuallyAutisticAtWork

Bit anxious sleep with weird dreams. The upsetting Friday still needs to be sorted out and need to talk to my manager. Feeling a on edge. 😬 #ActuallyAutisticAtWork

They are "reminding" us of the guidelines of activity based working... I couldn't feel more alienated. During this whole meeting (starting off with not being able to eat the 1 breakfast option) I thought "there is no space for me in this". There is no personal space, there are no safe spaces. It's all FUCKED! I hate it. I just went out of the meeting and cried in the bathroom.
#ActuallyAutistic #ActuallyAutisticAtWork

Trying to be more authentic at work to increase comfort and decrease masking. It is still mostly edited looks and only workplace acceptable Bandshirts usually, but I try to dress a bit more casual (which is fine in our work culture or at least for my position) and more myself (mostly black, sometimes green). While I'd consider today's look a bit nicer/formal (as jeans are not washed out yet) it has been giving me "authentic self"-euphoria!!
#ActuallyAutistic #ActuallyAutisticAtWork

Started off early today due to a breakfast meeting and feeling a bit tired now.. today is packed with meetings and social stuff and a training 🙈 all the while I still need to find time to gain an overview over all my support requests and sort out what and how I can support stuff. 😬😬😬 Wish me luck and social energy!
#ActuallyAutisticAtWork

Small personal win at work: some pretty urgent data analysis is taking me longer due to a bit worse signal demanding more manual work. Instead of stressing and working longer today I have just explained it, given the heads-up and will deliver data tomorrow instead. It was fine, no one was upset. It's all not THAT important.
Yay! I need to practice this and am happy over the positive experience!
#ActuallyAutisticAtWork

It's a short week this week, as Thursday is a bank holiday and we get Friday off in my company! Still, work is kinda stressful - I got some requests to me that are not at all realistic, even if I had the time to support their request at their desired time... Will involve my manager, this is above my pay grade to deal with. Still, have to deal with it in some way 🙈
#ActuallyAutistic #ActuallyAutisticAtWork