I can vividly remember sitting in my living room in the middle of winter, wearing only my underwear sweating under the ceiling fan blowing on high. I mentioned to my primary care provider at the time I had begun having hot flashes and their response was simply that I was too young. Somehow after a lifetime of being told I couldn't trust my own lived experience, I still knew what my body was telling me. And still I wasn't believed.
Oh Kim, that’s devastating. I’m sorry you were dismissed when you had been so honest with your primary care provider about your symptoms. Shame on them.
"As far as you feel safe in doing so, unmask with your doctor and medical team so they are fully aware of the challenges you are facing." I don't know if that's possible for me. The mental dialogue that goes along with attempted unmasking is something like "Don't be so dramatic, I'm just acting, over-acting in fact, how stupid, stop it, I've managed this before, they think I'm weird, how can they possibly be confident in my ability as a parent if I'm this weird, they won't like me, they'll think I'm not very intelligent ACT NORMAL AT ALL COSTS ..."
Yes, I totally get it. I think it depends on the particular doctor and situation. Bearing in mind pre-diagnosis I have had meltdowns in hospitals which was technically unmasking although entirely involuntary.
Post-diagnoses I have one doctor I can entirely be myself with but I’m pretty straight with other doctors too.
I think it’s thanks to autism - I just don’t have the respect for social hierarchy that others do. I see myself as equal to medical staff. As a patient in the exchange, but still equal.
I’m not sure if that makes sense. I’ve definitely had episodes where I’ve only felt safe masking, but it’s generally not worth the stress for me anymore. If they know I’m autistic, they will see I’m autistic and I won’t hide it.
It depends on the dynamic and the health issue though.
A couple years ago while under community mental health services, I asked if they could help me make a suicide prevention plan. They said no because they dont do that anymore because it can make people think too much about suicide and then become suicidal. 😂 I have a history of suicidal stuff and wanted to be proactive and have some safety plans but they were not interested at all.
You are doing such important work. Thank you.
Aw thank you 🤩
I can vividly remember sitting in my living room in the middle of winter, wearing only my underwear sweating under the ceiling fan blowing on high. I mentioned to my primary care provider at the time I had begun having hot flashes and their response was simply that I was too young. Somehow after a lifetime of being told I couldn't trust my own lived experience, I still knew what my body was telling me. And still I wasn't believed.
Oh Kim, that’s devastating. I’m sorry you were dismissed when you had been so honest with your primary care provider about your symptoms. Shame on them.
"As far as you feel safe in doing so, unmask with your doctor and medical team so they are fully aware of the challenges you are facing." I don't know if that's possible for me. The mental dialogue that goes along with attempted unmasking is something like "Don't be so dramatic, I'm just acting, over-acting in fact, how stupid, stop it, I've managed this before, they think I'm weird, how can they possibly be confident in my ability as a parent if I'm this weird, they won't like me, they'll think I'm not very intelligent ACT NORMAL AT ALL COSTS ..."
Yes, I totally get it. I think it depends on the particular doctor and situation. Bearing in mind pre-diagnosis I have had meltdowns in hospitals which was technically unmasking although entirely involuntary.
Post-diagnoses I have one doctor I can entirely be myself with but I’m pretty straight with other doctors too.
I think it’s thanks to autism - I just don’t have the respect for social hierarchy that others do. I see myself as equal to medical staff. As a patient in the exchange, but still equal.
I’m not sure if that makes sense. I’ve definitely had episodes where I’ve only felt safe masking, but it’s generally not worth the stress for me anymore. If they know I’m autistic, they will see I’m autistic and I won’t hide it.
It depends on the dynamic and the health issue though.
A couple years ago while under community mental health services, I asked if they could help me make a suicide prevention plan. They said no because they dont do that anymore because it can make people think too much about suicide and then become suicidal. 😂 I have a history of suicidal stuff and wanted to be proactive and have some safety plans but they were not interested at all.
That’s absolutely absurd on their part! Have you written one since?
Not yet, struggling with executive dysfunction and initiating
It’s so hard, isn’t it? 😭