u/Equivalent-Bid-4591

I (29F) am a late diagnosed autistic person with support needs that fluctuate between level 1 and 2 depending on burnout. When I got diagnosed, I was on a different insurance and my neuropsych at the time had given me an accommodation letter for a 32 hour work week and hybrid schedule. After losing the job that gave me the insurance I used to see her, I could no longer afford her care and had to downgrade to bottom of the barrel insurance to make ends meet. I have been at my current job for a year and a half and while they have offered me insurance, it’s just as shitty as my current plan, but costs more. That being said, on my current plan, I am severely limited. I cant even find a primary care doctor that takes my insurance. I am starting to realize that a fully remote schedule would greatly help me. Thanks to my old accommodations letter, I am able to work two days remote, and those two days are far more tolerable than in office days. On my in office days, I am assailed by the sensory overload of my coworkers talking, bright fluorescent lights, uncomfortable work clothes, and the constant ringing of phones. This overstimulation leaves me drained and I’m terrified I’ll hit burnout again. I feel like if I worked fully remote, I may even be able to shift to 40 hours per week so I can actually afford to maybe see a doctor once a year or two. Unfortunately, the only care I am receiving right now with my insurance is from a psychiatrist who can’t write remote work request accommodations, and I’m worried I’ll be asked to provide another doctor’s note to make this request. I can’t afford to go to a specialist out of pocket, and since I’ve been gaslit about my autism my whole life, I’m worried a specialist would make me fork over $2000 for another autism test, despite already having a diagnosis. I’m barely treading water financially as is and it’s ruining my life and my future, but if I push myself too hard I will burn myself out again and end up with no income. How can I make this request without having to bankrupt myself?

I (29F) carry a lot of trauma around employment and while accommodations help, I have been terminated for asking for them in the past and guilted by family members for asking for them. Recently, my office started using an AI translation system for clients that don’t speak fluent English. I am unable to use this service because it plays both the English audio and Spanish translation at the same time, the transcriptions aren’t accurate, and I am unable to understand any of it because of auditory processing issues. Ive tried to use it and it triggered a meltdown because the sound of hearing the two voices at once blaring through my headphones overwhelmed me immediately. Because of this, my office has paired me with a secretary who can translate for me, but I keep getting dirty looks from my coworkers for not using the translation software. I’m terrified that I’ll get fired for not using this software. My family and fiance tell me that I’m making excuses and I should just suck it up and use the software, but it feels like sandpaper against my brain when I try to use it. I feel like I’m a failure and I can’t afford to lose this job… but be honest with me. Am I just making excuses? Do I just need to get over it? And if so, how do I get over it?

I (29F) am a late diagnosed autistic adult who has been suffering from chronic burnout for the past decade. I got a temporary reprieve from it in 2024, when I was unemployed for 6 months, and was able to recover enough to start working again. in order to make my life more sustainable, I requested accommodations at my current job. I work a hybrid schedule, 32 hours a week, and use noise cancelling headphones when I’m in the office. Thanks to these accommodations, I have been able to survive at this job for a year and a half, a new record for me. Unfortunately, I can feel my symptoms of burnout returning. I’m exhausted all the time, struggle to eat anything that isn’t a safe food, and have been having severe executive functioning issues that has made work more difficult and exhausting. I’ve also been having frequent shutdowns (because if I have a meltdown at work I’ll get in trouble) and have been much shorter and more irritable with clients. I don’t have a support system, and I’m already barely scraping by working 32 hours per week. I can’t afford to lose this job or take a leave of absence. I have no choice but to push through. Any advice on how to push through this? I don’t care if I have to sacrifice everything that brings me joy. I need energy and I need focus. I’ll end up homeless and alone if I can’t keep this job.