Does anyone high pressure themselves? executive function issues

[VJCJ0628]

I get in these ruts, Seems like a cycle my whole life, Something no one in my life could ever understand, But for as long as I can remember its like I start good focus very capable and a little here a little there I start to break down over time until I crash, then if the crash is hard enough I cant focas I cant get myself to work, to compleate tasks or anything with efficiency my mind is clouded my anxiety increases so much

When I get this bad seems like it takes time to get out and I feel like I have to high pressure myself in order to get out of it, I just can't find anything else that works, Its brutal though

I have thought about getting therapy after finding out I had Aspergers but I am running into issues as any therapist that is versed in autism or Aspergers does not want to work with adults except one I found but she was just a quack

I wanted to work with someone versed in Aspergers because I have done therapy even meds before and its not helped but I thought maybe its because the only thing they were trying to treat was anxiety and depression as a chemical imbalance (no one ever took blood or brain scan or anything to confirm chemical imbalance) I now realize the Aspergers is probably the cause of the anxiety and depression so I thought treating that would help more but no one wants to work with an adult with this

 

[Sid Delicious]

This sounds like an executive functioning issue. I used to get this constantly until I started using a combination of meditation/yoga, low carb/high protein diet and caffeine pills. I would have to leave things to the very last minute so the adrenalin forced my brain to let me work.

I've never been able to permanently stop the memory/focus problem, but I will take caffeine pills when I need to sit and get something done that my brain doesn't want to concentrate on. Obviously don't take them all the time and be careful not to take more than the recommended amount on the box, but the idea is to just 'zap' your brain a bit to get over the crash (similar to the effect of adrenalin, but without the panic and stress from having to overwork yourself). I tend to find that as long as I'm left alone, then once I actually start whatever the task is I can usually get into the 'zone' and keep going for hours/days. It's normally just the getting started bit that my brain struggles with, as it hates changing task. So I can normally decrease the caffeine once I've been working on the task for a while.

For the record, I did manage to get a lot of help from therapists and psychiatrists both as a child/teen and an adult, but they were never able to help with the above issue and it's something I had to find a solution to myself. Also, be aware that the medication they give you for depression and anxiety can actually make concentration problems a lot worse (which will then make the depression and anxiety worse).

 

[VJCJ0628]

I do use caffeine mostly coffee, and its great when it works but when the crash is at its worst, It doesn't help until I am out of the crash, then the caffeine gives me super focus

When I say crash I don't mean like a sugar crash or a daily crash I mean more like all my focus and confidence crash its not a daily occurrence, it's more of overtime weeks or months when added pressures or other lines of focus take me out of my daily work focus when it gets to the point I cant hold on to my focus anymore

when I am in this state everything is a distraction, Often find myself drifting online when I should be doing other tasks and the only way I seem to able to stop is to be really hard on myself with pressure and just tough self talk, I dont think this a good solution but I am looking for better solution

Thie things you said work unless I am at the bottom of my crash

 

[Tom]

As far as I am aware there still is no medication for autism. There are only medications for the co-morbid conditions that often come with it, like anxiety and depression. Also as far as I know, brain chemical imbalances do not show up on blood tests or brain scans.

But its good you continue your search for a good therapist or shrink. There are good ones that can help. Don't give up the search.

 

[VJCJ0628]

As far as I am aware there still is no medication for autism. There are only medications for the co-morbid conditions that often come with it, like anxiety and depression. Also as far as I know, brain chemical imbalances do not show up on blood tests or brain scans.

But its good you continue your search for a good therapist or shrink. There are good ones that can help. Don't give up the search.

Just don't know how any of past therapist come up with the idea that its chemical imbalance really right away without much to go on

either way I have been on zoloft 2x for over a year the 2nd time was also with wellbutrin, I may have had a little less anxiety but still depressed when I was depressed but also less happy when I would be happy less enthusiastic and more easily tired besides the medicine head

I was hoping maybe it was because they were treating the wrong things the wrong way, Back then I had no idea about Aspergers which I was hoping was the missing piece that I can use to make this stuff finally work

I have called most of the therapist in my area that deal with Aspergers specifically and they mostly tell me they only take children teens or young adults but are not taking anyone my age

I just don't see the point of seeing a therapist that does not deal with Aspergers because I can see not that Aspergers is in the core of everything in my life both good and bad

 

[Chance]

I get in these ruts, Seems like a cycle my whole life, Something no one in my life could ever understand, But for as long as I can remember its like I start good focus very capable and a little here a little there I start to break down over time until I crash, then if the crash is hard enough I cant focas I cant get myself to work, to compleate tasks or anything with efficiency my mind is clouded my anxiety increases so much

When I get this bad seems like it takes time to get out and I feel like I have to high pressure myself in order to get out of it, I just can't find anything else that works, Its brutal though

I have thought about getting therapy after finding out I had Aspergers but I am running into issues as any therapist that is versed in autism or Aspergers does not want to work with adults except one I found but she was just a quack

I wanted to work with someone versed in Aspergers because I have done therapy even meds before and its not helped but I thought maybe its because the only thing they were trying to treat was anxiety and depression as a chemical imbalance (no one ever took blood or brain scan or anything to confirm chemical imbalance) I now realize the Aspergers is probably the cause of the anxiety and depression so I thought treating that would help more but no one wants to work with an adult with this

I'm extremely hard on myself. I feel if I cant please others I'm not acceptable in the human race, or something like that is going off in my head as an alarm mostly 24/7, until I crash. Then I get depressed, and then have to crawl out of the pit all by myself and start over again and again and again. It is said what doesn't kill us makes us stronger... Well there must be some really strong people around here... : )

A "crazy" observation that just hit me like a brick in my face...
I have been on here a while now and the ONE THING I notice that stands out more than all the stuff people worry over is the fact they WANT TO IMPROVE their lives, their memory, their functions, their ability to communicate, and much more... I DON'T SEE lots of people doing this anywhere else...

ASD people (not all but some) seem to be so driven to become better and that is a quality no one should see as a deficit...

I also notice several times people (older adults) who cant find a medical professional, or a therapist who is willing to help them...

Me... I'm a gen X age guy (the forgotten generation as they are now calling us). I was in the mass mix of when the ASD thing first started to "blow up" and people had so many different things about it... Still do, but it was just a mass of opinions with not a lot of science to back anything up... Well, we all grew up and we grew out of the "money band" so we were just sort of left out on the fringes...

It seem SO MANY people think ASD is just a kid thing... Hummm??? We do grow up, and we do still have it, but its like not many people care... Here is one reason why... Follow THE MONEY and you find where people care. Its basic economics and its sad.

You can rally lots of funds for kids for any cause, but after those kids grow up they will be forgotten also.
They will rally more money for the next run of kids and state "how bad it is" and those kids will grow up and be forgotten also... Until the money runs out and then I guess eugenics/or extermination will kick in... who knows???

 

[VJCJ0628]

I'm extremely hard on myself. I feel if I cant please others I'm not acceptable in the human race, or something like that is going off in my head as an alarm mostly 24/7, until I crash. Then I get depressed, and then have to crawl out of the pit all by myself and start over again and again and again. It is said what doesn't kill us makes us stronger... Well there must be some really strong people around here... : )

A "crazy" observation that just hit me like a brick in my face...
I have been on here a while now and the ONE THING I notice that stands out more than all the stuff people worry over is the fact they WANT TO IMPROVE their lives, their memory, their functions, their ability to communicate, and much more... I DON'T SEE lots of people doing this anywhere else...

ASD people (not all but some) seem to be so driven to become better and that is a quality no one should see as a deficit...

I also notice several times people (older adults) who cant find a medical professional, or a therapist who is willing to help them...

Me... I'm a gen X age guy (the forgotten generation as they are now calling us). I was in the mass mix of when the ASD thing first started to "blow up" and people had so many different things about it... Still do, but it was just a mass of opinions with not a lot of science to back anything up... Well, we all grew up and we grew out of the "money band" so we were just sort of left out on the fringes...

It seem SO MANY people think ASD is just a kid thing... Hummm??? We do grow up, and we do still have it, but its like not many people care... Here is one reason why... Follow THE MONEY and you find where people care. Its basic economics and its sad.

You can rally lots of funds for kids for any cause, but after those kids grow up they will be forgotten also.
They will rally more money for the next run of kids and state "how bad it is" and those kids will grow up and be forgotten also... Until the money runs out and then I guess eugenics/or extermination will kick in... who knows???

I'm extremely hard on myself. I feel if I cant please others I'm not acceptable in the human race, or something like that is going off in my head as an alarm mostly 24/7, until I crash. Then I get depressed, and then have to crawl out of the pit all by myself and start over again and again and again. It is said what doesn't kill us makes us stronger... Well there must be some really strong people around here... : )

A "crazy" observation that just hit me like a brick in my face...
I have been on here a while now and the ONE THING I notice that stands out more than all the stuff people worry over is the fact they WANT TO IMPROVE their lives, their memory, their functions, their ability to communicate, and much more... I DON'T SEE lots of people doing this anywhere else...

ASD people (not all but some) seem to be so driven to become better and that is a quality no one should see as a deficit...

I also notice several times people (older adults) who cant find a medical professional, or a therapist who is willing to help them...

Me... I'm a gen X age guy (the forgotten generation as they are now calling us). I was in the mass mix of when the ASD thing first started to "blow up" and people had so many different things about it... Still do, but it was just a mass of opinions with not a lot of science to back anything up... Well, we all grew up and we grew out of the "money band" so we were just sort of left out on the fringes...

It seem SO MANY people think ASD is just a kid thing... Hummm??? We do grow up, and we do still have it, but its like not many people care... Here is one reason why... Follow THE MONEY and you find where people care. Its basic economics and its sad.

You can rally lots of funds for kids for any cause, but after those kids grow up they will be forgotten also.
They will rally more money for the next run of kids and state "how bad it is" and those kids will grow up and be forgotten also... Until the money runs out and then I guess eugenics/or extermination will kick in... who knows???

Wow So many great points on the money

 

[Loren]

You may already know this, but, in case not, it is commonplace for those with AS to experience what is referred to as 'AS burnout'. It can creep up, suddenly, or, be a slow, sort of, snowball effect. It can be situational, or, happen as the result of years of exerting oneself, simply to keep up with life's demands, or, other reasons, such as unresolved effects of past trauma, the burden or overwhelm of tasks piling up, an inability to know where to start, and so on.

The things that are effecting me/my life the most, at this time, are some OCD symptoms, social anxiety, sensory processing and executive functioning. I was working with an ASD psychologist, trying to acquire some new, more effective tools, however, she was not equipped to help me in the specific areas I need help in.

My sister, who was a special education teacher, and now, works specifically, with children with extreme difficulty with executive functioning, has been helping me with some of my current challenges, and suggested I see a colleague of hers, a psychotherapist who works with children and adults, alike, and specializes in executive functioning issues, anxiety disorders, sensory processing disfunction, learning disabilities and other such challenges of which, commonly occur in conjunction with/as the result of ASD. I had my first appointment with him, yesterday. He is completely different from the ASD specific therapist I had been seeing. I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but, I wonder if perhaps, my new therapist would have referrals in other areas of the US/in your state, for the type of therapist that you might benefit from, just as various types of physicians tend to have.

 

[VJCJ0628]

I am coming to understand the whole burnout thing from this site, I have been going through this cycle most of my life, But I didn't understand it, At least now I do

Mostly I get through it and when I do what I do and get through the other side I go into hyperfocus, This is where I am great at all I am trying to do. it was just this time was worse but I understand why now, I have had way more on my plate then to add learning about my Aspergers, this sent me on a trip through my whole life with a new point of view, It was a lot to process but I think I am through the other side of that now too

I think what is need is a balance which I don't know how to do yet.

I may try to seek some therapy, I didn't have much luck yet, But I will try again soon

 

[Loren]

That makes a lot of sense, and good on you for getting through it. It reminds me of what you wrote on your profile page, a couple days, ago. Perhaps, you can simply, refer to how you were able to manage this experience, when/if you have hurdles to get past, in future. I would think that finding a balance will naturally come with further experiences of this type. I'm rambling, now, I think.

: )

 

[Crossbreed]

I wanted to work with someone versed in Aspergers... I now realize the Aspergers is probably the cause of the anxiety and depression so I thought treating that would help more but no one wants to work with an adult with this

You could try these two for provider recommendations,

• The Autism Society of America (they have local affiliates)
• The U.S. Autism & Aspergers Association

 

[VJCJ0628]

That makes a lot of sense, and good on you for getting through it. It reminds me of what you wrote on your profile page, a couple days, ago. Perhaps, you can simply, refer to how you were able to manage this experience, when/if you have hurdles to get past, in future. I would think that finding a balance will naturally come with further experiences of this type. I'm rambling, now, I think.

: )

You know what it is also, I have seen some therapist's when I was younger both as a child and a couple times as an adult ( I didn't know anything about Asperges at the time) I didn't find they helped much, Quick to prescribe dep/anxiety meds. These meds I find don't help much and don't like the side effects, I went to one recently but she was just a quack, Also My youngest not sure his therapy is going the way its supposed to I am going to do a thread on that soon

With that said, I feel its best to take up as much info as I can before pursuing further therapy, This way I am not blindly trusting some therapist

 

[Loren]

You know what it is also, I have seen some therapist's when I was younger both as a child and a couple times as an adult ( I didn't know anything about Asperges at the time) I didn't find they helped much, Quick to prescribe dep/anxiety meds. These meds I find don't help much and don't like the side effects, I went to one recently but she was just a quack, Also My youngest not sure his therapy is going the way its supposed to I am going to do a thread on that soon

With that said, I feel its best to take up as much info as I can before pursuing further therapy, This way I am not blindly trusting some therapist

That sounds wise. I have experienced the same with therapy in the past. Not with regards to medication, as I haven't been to a therapist who suggested I take any. I have managed fine without therapy for most of my life, but, for the past 5 years, I have been in therapy, off and on, as the result of some challenges I have faced, due to psychological manipulation/trauma I experienced at the hands of a work place predator. It magnified my ASD related challenges, that had been managable on my own, up until that point, although, I did go when I was a child, for challenges related to ASD. I hope all goes well with your child's future therapy. And, with yours, if you wind up going. I think it's best to develop our own coping skills and mechanisms, whenever possible, and to utilize therapy, for situations we find unmanageable, on our own.

 

[VJCJ0628]

That sounds wise. I have experienced the same with therapy in the past. Not with regards to medication, as I haven't been to a therapist who suggested I take any. I have managed fine without therapy for most of my life, but, for the past 5 years, I have been in therapy, off and on, as the result of some challenges I have faced, due to psychological manipulation/trauma I experienced at the hands of a work place predator. It magnified my ASD related challenges, that had been managable on my own, up until that point, although, I did go when I was a child, for challenges related to ASD. I hope all goes well with your child's future therapy. And, with yours, if you wind up going. I think it's best to develop our own coping skills and mechanisms, whenever possible and to simply utilize therapy, for situations we cannot manage on our own.

I am so sorry you went through that, My wife had some things too, Tells me a lot of women go through some unwelcome stuff, Nothing burns me more than when someone takes advantage like that or with children.

 

[Mr Allen]

I am putting pressure on myself to get a job at the moment, not just because I could kind of do with the loot, which is one of the reasons, but the main reasons is after about 26 years of voluntary work since I left school, IMO it's high time at my age that I got a proper job.

I applied this afternoon for what might be my ideal job in Waterstones book shop in Town, 15 hours a week including weekends.

 

[Loren]

I am so sorry you went through that, My wife had some things too, Tells me a lot of women go through some unwelcome stuff, Nothing burns me more than when someone takes advantage like that or with children.

Thank you for your kind and compassionate words. I am sorry that your wife has experienced it, as well, and hope she has fully recovered from her experience(s). Most aspects of my brain and mind that had been effected, I have recovered, but, recently, I have had to accept that there may be aspects that are permanently changed. I will never give up hope, however. Fortunately, I am an optimist. : )

 

[Loren]

I am putting pressure on myself to get a job at the moment, not just because I could kind of do with the loot, which is one of the reasons, but the main reasons is after about 26 years of voluntary work since I left school, IMO it's high time at my age that I got a proper job.

I applied this afternoon for what might be my ideal job in Waterstones book shop in Town, 15 hours a week including weekends.

Wow, that is wonderful. I wish you much success, and most importantly, I hope you find it to be gratifying and enjoyable!