I am not coping. Health anxiety and probable autism.

[AnUnlikelyWorldofInvisibleShad]

I'm really struggling now. I have bad health anxiety and am also awaiting an autism assessment. I am ridiculously scared myself or my family are going to catch the virus. I work in a supermarket and I am not coping one bit. Everything has changed. We have strange queueing systems, I don't know what my job role will be from one day to the next, everytime I go in something else has changed. I am scared to go downstairs to buy lunch because I dont really understand what I'm supposed to do. My whole daily routine and structure has been ripped apart in and out of work. I dont know how to cope with this now.

Please take a deep breath and know there are people who care and things you can do. Have you told anyone how you are feeling? Is there someone in your family or at work who you can talk to? It’s so important that you share your worries. Even just posting on here, I hope, will help you to not feel alone and you’re showing that you are strong simply by expressing your thoughts here. Well done. Change is scary sometimes and life is difficult right now but tell people how you’re feeling, your employer should support you if you tell them now you’re struggling.

Is there not a manager at work who might be understanding? You could discuss accommodations e.g. it may (if they're any use at all) be possible to explain things to you more and help you with more of a routine so you know what expect.

I can speak to them but I'm aware everyone else is struggling with this as well. Most of them are coping amazingly well as far as I can tell but I know they are finding it hard. Also I am unsure if work can make any accommodations when I dont have an autism diagnosis as of yet. On the other hand I'm not much use to them at the moment. I want to curl up in a corner there with my hands over my ears and block everything out.
I have been speaking to family but I'm finding it hard because I cant go and see my mum at the moment and may not be able to for a long while.

OP I really can relate to your anxiety. I'm dreading the return to work ( operating theatre). I don't even know what I'll be doing when I get there. The job is complicated enough as it is, working with different anaesthetists every day but I've managed to make a routine for myself so as to practice safely. I've just yesterday been informed that everything has gone right out the window and I could be doing almost anything. I have to learn a whole new slew of procedures and quite frankly I am bricking it, worried I may get something wrong and harm a patient or colleague. We Aspies (if you've been referred for assessment they think it's very likely you're on the autism spectrum) have to stick together and support each other. I found being diagnosed at age 43 helped to explain many things and there are many online support forums worth reading. You're not alone.

Oh I really feel for you returning to a job that feels so new and uncertain. It's an awful sensation. I hope it goes well for you. I scored 9/10 on the questionnaire my doctor asked me to fill out so it seems very likely and the referral was put in about 3-4 weeks ago. I expect I will be waiting even longer now with the amount the NHS has to cope with now. Having done a fair amount of research into autism in adult females myself I can see a lot of the traits in me. Things that I didn't realise I did like stimming and meltdowns that I presumed were panic attacks even though they dont fit the description of a panic attack. I didnt realise how unsettling something like this could be though.

Just bumping this.