Autistic and moving house. Please help.

[AutisticHouseMove]

I'm autistic (diagnosed with AS when it was still a thing).

I'm moving house tomorrow and I'm dreading it
My anxiety is sky high.

I've lived in my current house for 15 years and I've never really felt settled here. It took 8 years for me to even begin to feel like 'home' and it was horrible.

I've packed nearly everything. I've just got a few things but my executive functioning is so poor. I've had two different friends round this week t help pack and we got loads done but, when I'm on my own, my anxiety paralyses me into inaction. I'm just 'stuck'.

I like the house I'm moving to but it's not perfect and all i can see are the flaws. I picked up the keys today and went for another look around. I feel like I've made a big mistake. But can't pinpoint anything in particular that's making me feel like that.

It's the change and the moving process. All of it. It takes me so long to adjust to new circumstances.

Does anyone have any suggestions for things I can do to make it easier?

Sounds like you've done great getting packed up etc, well done! Moving is hard on anyone. I have no experience of autism I'm afraid but I do move a lot and often find it unsettling. Are you using professional removals? If so, they will be doing all of the leg work tomorrow and you just need to say where things are going. If you can't decide, put them in the biggest room and you can slowly work it out over the next few weeks. The only things you need to achieve tomorrow are making your bed as soon as you move in so it's cosy to get into that night and making sure you put a box with kettle, tea bags, mug and some easy to eat food in etc together so you can have a drink and some food. That's it. Give yourself small tasks in the days after - you don't need to think you have to unpack in a day!! You'll feel paralysed again. Just little bits at a time. Congratulations on your new home OP, and good luck with your move.

Thank you. Yes, I've got the tea stuff sorted! My friend made sure I did that.

I'm not using professional removal people, I've got a couple of very trusted friends doing it (all masked, sanitised and distanced as far as possible) because having strangers in the house would just send me over the edge.

Its helpful to know that it's unsettling for other people too. I'm just worried about how long the feeling of being unsettled will last for. It was years later time and I couldn't have friends into the house because it didnt feel 'safe' with them in there for nearly 8 years.

Slightly different as dc was 16 but when we moved we set up a walk in cupboard as a safe space with dcs things, we specifically packed them last and unpacked first and when things got to much dc had this safe space to go to. We also got dc involved in the unpacking /furniture positioning etc (but small bits every day) this helped dc get used to the spaces and have a say in what dc felt comfortable with. May be setting up a safe space would help but also you know you have to unpack maybe a plan would help. You could set yourself a target of so many boxes unpacked each day. Also know that it will be hard but will get easier dc now is very settled but never wants to leave home! Best of luck with the move and do seek support from friends /professionals if needed.