Trying to find a job was hard. There are a lot of jobs that I can’t do, for both clear and unclear reasons. Sometimes it requires a lot of driving, but I haven’t been able to get my license yet. But then there are jobs that require a lot of social interaction. A lot of fast-paced, high-stress jobs. Things that just require you to “come out of your shell” or “have a little hustle”. Jobs that I can’t really do. And that’s frustrating for both myself, and the people around me.
Trying to do that kind of work doesn’t really work for me. It’s extremely stressful and rapidly burns me out. It’s bad for my mental health, and it isn’t the sort of thing I can keep up regularly.
I tried a social assistance program for job placement and training. It seemed like a good idea, but it went way too slow for me. Meetings and appointments that were scheduled for a few months out, and that I didn’t get the results of until a few months after that. Results that, more often than not, involved scheduling and attending another appointment in another few months. It was frustrating, and like a lot of autistic people, I had to go for an alternative solution.
I started my own LLC, doing writing and editing as a contractor. It was a heck of a lot faster than waiting for an appointment, and it has a few big benefits. I can decide on my own hours. I can choose my working environment. If I start to get overwhelmed, I can step away from my desk to reset. It’s still work and it can still stressful, but it’s infinitely more doable than a retail job is for me. And I think that a lot of people have similar experiences, even if they may not have the same profession or interest.