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Being overly sensitive as an autistic women is embarrassing

bignosegirly0bignosegirly0 Posts: 436 Listening Ear
in Neurodivergence
Like what do you mean I’m holding back tears because a coworker got mad at me and now I think they hate me and that I’m a failure in life?!?!

And what do you mean I couldn’t hold back my tears because someone asked me if I was okay?!?!

🙃🙃🙃🙃

Comments

  • Sian321Sian321 Community Manager Posts: 2,800 Boards Guru
    Hey @bignosegirly0 , thanks so much for making this post and for opening up about what your shift was like. It sounds like your shift felt really overwhelming, and you were on the edge of tears after your co-worker got mad at you. That sounds really upsetting.

    How are you feeling today, and I wonder what it was like for you when someone asked if you were okay?

    We are here for you, and we're listening.
  • RedemptionRedemption Community Connector Posts: 5,847 Part of The Furniture
    It's completely ok to be sensitive @bignosegirly0 Im quite sensitive myself, it took a while to realise it, I can see why you feel embarrassed but its definitely not embarrassing. I've been close to tears or held back tears in multiple situations, a lot of people probably have and thats ok. Hugs to you ❤️.
  • bignosegirly0bignosegirly0 Posts: 436 Listening Ear
    @Sian321 im feeling a lot worse. I think the person who asked was making fun of me because one, she was smirking and looked like she was trying not to laugh. And two, she was joking with the person who yelled at me and said that she was a “bully”. So I feel worse about crying.
  • Blue_lilyBlue_lily Posts: 58 Boards Initiate
    edited September 26
    Hi @bignosegirly0

    I am sorry you felt as though you were being made fun of and that this made you feel worse about crying. Feeling overwhelmed and on the verge of crying in response to someone being mad at you at work is a completely valid, especially as at times work environments can be very tense.

    And to second what redemption has said its completely ok to be a sensitive individual and to be more reactive to peoples actions. It doesn't make you're response wrong, its just the way you process info and that is completely ok.

    How has work been recently?

    <3
  • bignosegirly0bignosegirly0 Posts: 436 Listening Ear
    @Blue_lily work has been terrible. Cant stop having panic attacks and I’m unable to get medicated because I have to see my GP in person. I don’t have a car or anyone to take me.
  • Sian321Sian321 Community Manager Posts: 2,800 Boards Guru
    Hey @bignosegirly0 , that sounds so overwhelming, and thank you for posting about it here. If you feel comfortable sharing, I wonder if you notice any specific triggers for those panic attacks?

    What in the past has helped you to feel even 5% more grounded or safe when you're panicked?
  • bignosegirly0bignosegirly0 Posts: 436 Listening Ear
    @Sian321 my main triggers are busy hours. Because of labour laws, we had to cut short on staff, even on busy days. We’re ridiculously understaffed to the point where my workplace would have to call staff from other stores when possible.

    So when I’m the only person on front preparing orders with a pending screen, Ubers to complete, spare orders to run and hand out at the car park when drive thru couldn’t finish it in time, fries and hash browns to make all at once with a massive group of customers waiting impatiently, that’s when I panic.

    Nothing has helped me during those moments, because I don’t know how to stay relaxed in a situation like that
  • Blue_lilyBlue_lily Posts: 58 Boards Initiate
    @bignosegirly0

    Those busy and understaffed times at work sound really overwhelming and like everything around you is moving at hundred miles an hour, so it's completely valid that this is making you feel overwhelmed and triggering your panic attacks.

    I hear how you don't know how to stay relaxed in these situations, do you think grounding techniques may possibly help you?

    I've listed some examples below there quite quick to do so you may be able to squeeze them into your shift and they may help you feel a bit more relaxed.

    - 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 grounding technique: basically stop and pause and identify 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch or feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste
    - slow breathing:
    Box breathing is where you inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4 and then hold again for 4 before inhaling again, you can repeat these 4 steps until you feel your breathing/ heart rate start to steady
    Or
    There's something called a psychological sigh where you take a big deep inhale through your nose hold for a second or two, take another short inhale through your nose and then exhale slowly through your mouth until it feels like your lungs have emptied out the air and repeat this around 3 times or until you feel your stress and anxiety start to reduce

    The Mix also has this page on panic attacks if you want to have a read I've linked it below
    https://themix.org.uk/explore-our-topics/mental-health/panic-attacks/

    Hope this helps
    <3
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