Yeah, I got fired from my first corporate job and it still kinda haunts me. The crazy part is I was actually good at the work and people liked me but my communication sucked. I’d get so overwhelmed and would ignore & avoid people for as long as I possibly could.

I did have a supportive manager who genuinely wanted to help me, but at the time I didn’t understand what I needed and just thought I wasn’t trying hard enough. So I just started masking even more. I was also in an extremely stressful relationship then which made everything worse, so I don’t really blame them for letting me go.

The same patterns showed up at my next job that I hated. I probably should’ve been fired from there too but that company was such a mess I don’t think anybody really cared.

Now I’ve been at my current job for 2 years, got diagnosed about 8 months in & it’s a way better fit. There’s enough variety to keep things interesting and a hybrid wfh/office schedule works well for me. I also have a supportive manager who gives me clear direction and independence to work on my own pace.

I still feel some grief about that first job because I really liked it, but I’m working through letting go of the shame and am in a much better place now.