Autism Regression
Hello, for background, I (21F), was late diagnosed a few years ago. I am AuDHD along with having anxiety and MDD. I have a counselor, a psychiatrist and am going to be starting with a psychotherapist in a few months.
My Aim For This Post: There have been a lot of big events in my life recently, which has led me to what seems to be regression. I would like to know about other people's experiences, advice, and also possibly comfort.
Context For The Past Couple Of Years (point form so I don't overexplain lol):
- Live with mom and grandparents for around a decade now. (I have a place I am renting of my own in the city I go to university in).
- University Student (lightened load which helps burnout)
- Had a concussion my first year of university and had to be off a year to recover. Caused depression to worsen during that time.
- My new first year (after recovering from concussion), developed celiac disease. In the hospital for 4 days after 3 weeks of not being able to keep food down and forcing myself to go to the major things I needed to (labs, midterms, etc.). Ended up missing the majority of the second half of my first term but crammed enough to do exams and pass with decent grades.
2nd year university:
- Grandpa developed Dementia (had to force family to bring him to the hospital when he had rapid onset confusion, was UTI, which probably was going on for a while). Happened right before I left to start my second year of university.
- Mother burnt out while caring for grandparents and went into the hospital. After I came back home for reading week (2nd term) I couldn't handle going back because I was scared of losing my mom (she was not mentally well). I ended up taking a leave of absence because I had to take on a lot of responsibility regarding my grandparents and trying to stay strong for my mom in the hospital. She is now doing a lot better.
The Regression:
- Very very very sensitive to sounds, routine, any form of stress, touch, people in general. Emotions are a lot bigger.
- Stuttering. Repeating words over and over or the first sound of a word, it gets worse when I'm more stressed or frustrated. This also leads me to swearing because it frustrates me that I cannot get sentences out.
- Unable to think clearly when not alone. Also plays a part in my inability to talk as well.
- Shaking a bit, and being overly paranoid/anxious. I am very jumpy now and also am constantly looking over my shoulder because I don't want people around me or looking at me, and it makes me a lot more uncomfortable right now.
- Tired, very very tired. I have been only leaving my room to make myself food, since I don't trust others making my food and washing it in a way that won't have cross contamination. I am very very sensitive to any cross contamination regarding gluten or anything of the sort, so I am very careful.
I apologize for the long post. I also apologize if some things I didn't explain as well as I could have, as my mind is still struggling. I have read up on some things, and I'm happy that rest is what I should be doing and have been trying to continue to rest. I have been feeling really nervous though, since though I have had difficulties with things before, I haven't been like this. I have a low social battery and am sensitive in general, but this is to a new level.
I was debating posting something, but I thought that it may be helpful to reach out to others who may have also experienced something like this.
Thank you for your time. If there is more clarification needed or anything of the sort, I will try to answer as best as possible.