Hello @Kindtoyourmind,

Please don't feel guilty for seeking support and accommodations. I was late diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) at around 50 years of age. I only wish I'd known about my ASD at a much earlier age, as I believe life would have been easier for me. Right now, I would apply for NDIS support if I thought I was able to get it, but someone told me that you needed to have a diagnosis of ASD2 or higher to be eligible. I should check up on this!

Life would definitely be a lot better with ongoing support. 

As for being exhausted by a typical working week, apparently that is very common for people with ASD and it was certainly my experience my entire adult life. I ended up only working part time due to this reason. I also worked in healthcare, and although I love people, I finally realized that this was not the right career for me and so I got out of it around 10 years ago. It was very exhausting, and my quality of life suffered as a result of being very tired much of the time.

Having left healthcare and having accepted my limitations I now embrace my autism in my own way. As for "masking" - I have done that since I was 9 or 10 years old and I really don't know any other way to live. Autism is funny like that - it's like being trapped in some kind of dual reality. You know you are masking but it works so you keep doing it. You know you aren't neurotypical, but the neurotypical folks have no idea that you aren't one of them. So - you are a "self-confessed imposter." It reminds me of like being in some kind of spy novel or something, it really is a weird way to live. This is just my own experience and I'm sure others experience masking differently.

I'm sorry if I am raving on! I didn't mean to highjack the conversation by talking about myself. I wonder if you can relate to any of this? Please feel free to reply if you wish to.