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marjoram

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Everything posted by marjoram

  1. Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Whether or not is helps you, if you are on SSRIs for a long time you should be getting an annual bone density check. These drugs can (but do not always) cause some bone thinning over very long periods. This is especially important for women as menopause can also effect bone density so there could be an increased risk of osteoporosis. I'm not trying to cause anxiety, just suggesting you get regular checkups as part of maintaining your general health.
  2. If you are autistic and living in Norfolk, this is your chance to have a say about improving services for us. There is an "All ages autism partnership board" being formed at the moment and I am the only autistic adult on it so far. We need autistic adults to participate, so we can have a say in what services we need and where improvements should be made. One of the Aspergers East Anglia employees is a member but never turns up to meetings, so we cannot rely on anyone else. At the moment, there is very little provision for adults and the local authority really needs pushing as they have not allocated any budget for us. If you are interested, please send me your contact details in a pm and I will pass them on. You must live in Norfolk to join.Thank you.
  3. Hi, I posted a message a while back, about a survey that wants autistic people to participate in deciding priorities for future research. Many of us think we should have a say and now there is a chance to do so, as the survey is now open. Check out the survey. https://www.autistica.org.uk/research/top10/survey/ It is conducted by the James Lind Alliance. They do not conduct autism research themselves. I was involved with the initial setting up stage of this survey and am a member of Autistica's Science Advisory Group. The JLA process is supported by Autistica, The National Autistic Society, Autism Alliance and the Autism Research Trust.
  4. I have been contributing to a new collaborative project which aims to direct research with practical outcomes, to improve the lives of people on the autistic spectrum. It is a James Lind Alliance (JLA) project. This is a non-profit initiative. It takes specific health conditions and brings together people with that condition, families, support networks and clinicians to identify and prioritise the top 10 uncertainties, or 'unanswered questions', about the effects of treatments that they see as most important. This information will help ensure that those who fund health research are aware of what matters to us and to clinicians. It has also proved to increase government funding in other conditions that have previously carried out the initiative. Now, in partnership with the National Institute for Health Research and Autistica, the JLA are looking at autism. If you are interested in having your voice heard, there will be a survey opening in mid-April, where you can let the project know who you are and what issues you think should be researched. To find out more, become a partner on the project or register for updates click here. I hope that like me, you feel it is important that autistic people and those close to us participate in decisions which may affect our futures.
  5. I am participating in the NAS "I'm One" campaign. This is an attempt to meet the candidates standing in the next general election, to make them aware of adult autism and the need to improve local services. I live in the Norwich South constituency (Simon Wright is our present MP). So far, I have meetings with the Green Party candidate on Tue 24th Feb at 2pm.The Labour candidate has also agreed to meet me and this will probably be for a coffee at the Forum, either the week beginning Feb 23rd, or the week beginning March 9th. I met Simon Wright (Cons) about a year ago so have not asked to see him again. I'm hoping some of the other candidates will also agree to meet at other times. If anyone else lives in this area and would like to join this meeting, please PM me and perhaps we can meet before that, to talk about what we want to say to him. Thanks and best wishes Cos Michael Autism Age
  6. Hi Climber9, I am in a similar position, in that I'm also in my 50's. diagnosed 5 years ago and finding my working life has begun to tail off. When I was young I enjoyed writing poetry, drawing and going to the theatre, walking, etc. But work took over and I haven't had a hobby for 30 years or more. And having no friends, I'm very isolated, but also wary of allowing others in (bad past experiences). Basically, I'm in danger of getting lethargic, or taking to the bottle etc. So now I'm trying to schedule in "fun". It's incredibly difficult. I'll sit and play online solitaire for hours, rather than pick up a pen, or go for a swim. There's nothing stopping me apart from myself - it sounds pathetic but life without a job structure and deadlines is truly scarey. Last week I bought a timer - the sort cooks use. I'm setting it for an hour at a time and trying to fill each hour with gardening, housework, etc. It is a good discipline for a couple of hours each day. I am planning to join some group activity like aqua aerobics, or a green gym, to be among people without having to socialise as such. I think that might suit me better than sitting with other aspies discussing aspiness - I may be wrong. The only adult asperger social group here in Norwich is very paternalistic and the one time I went, I was the only person over 40 and didn't fancy being "escorted" by some keen social worker type, to 10 pin bowling, like a child on a school outing. What recreation or sport did you enjoy when you were a teenager? There may have been something you let go of that would be interesting to look at again.
  7. Hi, Re your block management's response. this is disability discrimination, pure and simple. I suggest you get in contact with Citizen's Advice, taking your paperwork with you, to show what they are doing. The Autism Act gives you rights and they are being abused - it is against the law. About the rest of your family - they sound like a truly ignorant bunch. Perhaps you could post them some information about autism? The NAS Helpline will send you some, if you ring or email them. Then they might learn something upon which to base their responses. The sad truth is that many people would rather reject an adult with autism than take the time to reflect on the diagnosis and how that might explain past events and grievances. It has happened in my family too. Perhaps you might find better understanding from others on the spectrum. I found that my diagnosis, when I was 50, caused me to look at my life and the people around me and ask myself, do I stay in contact because I like them, or because I think I ought to like them? Then I decided to use my new viewpoint, as an adult with AS, rather than as an adult with problems, to redesign the way I live, from how I decorate my home, to how I spend my time and who I am in contact with. It has not been easy, but believe me, it is a revelation. I know fewer people now, but I know them because I want to. And I am happier in my home and leisure time too. There are anxious and depressed times, but that is common to us with ASDs - the rest of the time, I am far more at peace with myself. A late diagnosis may be too late for your family, I don't know, but please don't let it be too late for you.
  8. Hi again, How lovely to visit a forum where members respond in such a friendly and positive way - it's a first for me and I really appreciate it. I'm going to look into 5HTP - I'd never heard of it before. I know I'm fortunate that I can work, but I wonder how much the constant stress is shortening my life. Has anyone been prescribed beta-blockers for stress? I was wondering whether to ask for some, I hate drugs, but it's a vicious circle - I get stressed then I get anxious about how stressed I am. I often wish I could just stop working, but I've proved myself capable so I'd just be seen as a skiver. I don't think anyone with an ASD who can't work is skiving, because I know others who are affected in an even worse way. I'm one of those who always responds before I realise I'm being got at, so get pushed around over and over again. Looking forward to laying on a beach for two weeks and letting the sun do its biz.
  9. Hi all I'm new here and not sure what to say. I was diagnosed about 3 years ago, in middle age. I work and find it incredibly stressful, but it seems to be a treadmill that I cannot get off, even if I wanted to. I go to the GP for stress and am prescribed anti depressants - they don't stop my depression, just work as sedatives, so I won't take them. GPs in this region won't acknowledge that AS causes problems such as stress and sleeplessness. If they can't drug it or cut it out, they aren't interested. But it's 1am and my heart won't stop racing. One day I hope to retire and spend some time catching up with who I am, because I haven't had the headspace to really do that yet. I'm off on holiday next week and I'm hoping some warmth and colours will raise my mood. England has been grey and joyless for so long now that my very bones feel cold. I promise the next posting won't be so down - I am only like this on bad days.
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