I am so glad God led me to this section. I struggle emotionally socially and financially. Like other Aspies, I have a lack of connections, friends, influence and resources, but I have big dreams to Glorify God as a peacemaker/motivational speaker and counselor. I struggle to afford the things I love as my hopes, dreams, desires and goals seem to exceed my ability to meet them. I have a unique blend of strengths and weaknesses that people cannot seem to understand and a unique circumstances/goals ratio that no one seems to identify with. I feel as though I am having to do battle alone. I am trying to change careers to become a counselor but I have so many constraints, that I am lucky to take 1 class a year! I am a working mother who commutes an hour and a half each way and I am away for 12+ hours at a time with an autistic son and autistic husband struggling to care for him. I feel powerless to do anything to change my life, yet I do my best to take steps, make efforts and make good decisions that will benefit me instead of harm me in the long run. I am so exhausted that I hardly have energy for my family. Thankfully we have people rooming with us with unique struggles of their own helping us. Am I alone in being stuck socioeconomically with seemingly no hope to improve my lot or having goals or interests that seem out of reach for me? If anyone can relate and has anything to share, please feel free.
We could not understand how we found each other, but still cannot relate to anybody else until recently. I give God the glory for my soulmate, but I can cleary see that he is not serving me as well as someone without issues would. He has meltdowns as an adult every time he hears bad news. He has severe depression as a result of his life long struggles. He is now 56 years old. His mommy had to take care of him well into adulthood until age 30. He got a job in the State Department only because his father who was a prominent employee there pulled strings to get him in. Ever since, he has had a horrible time! He managed to work there 20 years, while being held back (after a demotion in 1991) until 2009 when he quit to stay at home for our son. He has two college degrees, one in atmospheric science and one in IT. His IT degree is from 1986. He tried out a job in the weather service in the early 80s, but quit after a few months because it was too stressful. Most lines of work are to stressful for him, which is probably a symptom of his autism. He filed for disability in October 2012 and now he is in round 3 after being turned down during round 1 and round 2 and he is now waiting to see an administrative law judge to plead his case. We have a lawyer too. My husband struggles with frustration, concentration, confusion, focusing, and following directions. He also filed for retirement from the job he resigned from in the State Department since he turned 56. Had he quit before getting 20 years in, he would not be eligible for any retirement at all. We are still waiting for his retirement to kick in. Meanwhile, we are struggling financially on just my income alone. Pray for us.
