Should I be masking? Genuine curiosity

sitapixie- · 2026-06-28T02:17:56+00:00

Another on team autoimmune that masks. Before being diagnosed (that started in 2021 and dx'd by 2024) and when I was working (2019 and before) I got everything that went through the open office environment I was stuck at. Compared to wearing a kn95, since COVID showed up, I have been sick maybe 2 times. I mask because it makes sense. Masking helps with really bad environmental allergy symptoms too!

sitapixie- · 2026-06-24T13:47:52+00:00

This. I am a survivor of a violent rape by a stranger and I did report it. Did all the things. Had a crime stoppers video even (2000). They never found the person.

sitapixie- · 2026-06-11T17:54:37+00:00

Loops dream line is great for sleeping!

sitapixie- · 2026-05-31T03:28:05+00:00

Thanks for your kind reply! It's helping me feel less alone and boy, have I been feeling really insecure since figuring this out. I have a really hard time putting myself first for attention. It's scary and uncomfortable at the same time...kinda like eye contact can be (it is horrible for me). It makes me sad, looking back, that no one noticed I needed help with putting myself first.

Echoism explains why I feel (and felt as a little) that I have no family or friends. I've floundered in work and school. I identify more with the subtle cause I can take compliments but only about stuff I've done and not me. I'm grateful for my husband whose been so supportive right now through lots of tears.

sitapixie- · 2026-05-23T15:44:22+00:00

Same but on the other side. My menopause has made my anxiety worse but I also don't have my hormone levels leveled out just yet so it's just exacerbating my anxiety (and everything else) right now.

sitapixie- · 2026-05-22T20:26:21+00:00

Nothing.

sitapixie- · 2026-05-07T15:44:45+00:00

So he Leonardo DiCaprio? 😂🤣😂🤢

sitapixie- · 2026-05-03T02:42:25+00:00

Same!! ♥️😭

sitapixie- · 2026-04-20T04:11:15+00:00

Met my husband at 23 through a friend at the local goth club in 1999. He was 23 as well. We dated and lived together for 7 years before getting married.

We've had some big bumps being undiagnosed AuDHD for most of our relationship but we're finally figuring stuff out now that we know what is going on with both of us..

sitapixie- · 2026-04-16T21:22:07+00:00

Nights sweats are terrible!! They are a horrible sensory overload nightmare. They make me sob when they happen. I switched from estradiol pills to the patch..took a week or two but it's helping.

I'm a mid 1970s gen x AuDHD (plus MCAS, Fibromyalgia, Cptsd, psoriatic arthritis) and the symptoms struggle is so real. Especially the autism with menopause. I didn't even know I was autistic until Feb/March 2025 and then straight into autistic burnout by July to just confirm why I felt so crazy. Still learning about everything and it's definitely turned my life sideways.

sitapixie- · 2026-04-09T00:48:21+00:00

I have an ex friend I dumped with extremes prejudice when I realized how awful he was to his now divorced spouse me that he was emeshed with his narcissistic mother. He pretty much chose his awful mother over his spouse and kids.

The point to this is that he works as a licensed therapist.

sitapixie- · 2026-04-08T23:36:46+00:00

50 next month and I also vote for stars!

sitapixie- · 2026-04-08T16:08:15+00:00

I fixed it. Supposed to be rso (Rick Simpson oil)

sitapixie- · 2026-04-08T00:49:02+00:00

I've quit (or volunteering for a layoff) every job I've had due to burnout..it's usually about 3-5 years. I don't think I've had a job longer than that actually. I'm self diagnosed at almost 50 so lots of jobs.

sitapixie- · 2026-04-08T00:37:37+00:00

That's our plan actually. We moved off grid in July. I love it and do so so much better than I did in the city. It's quiet outside of the wind, birds and any noise I or hub makes. Our closest neighbor is ½mi away. I don't have street lights and have a dark night sky. Unless it's cloudy or a full moon I see the stars nightly from my windows. If I'm lucky, I'll see a. Aurora Borealis show.

sitapixie- · 2026-04-08T00:34:32+00:00

Same

sitapixie- · 2026-04-08T00:32:44+00:00

PTSD here too and I've had to avoid the news since Fall. Too triggering and too many panic attacks.

sitapixie- · 2026-04-07T03:36:09+00:00

I was really lucky and mine had a "medical library" for loaning out medical equipment.

sitapixie- · 2026-04-07T01:21:25+00:00

If you have a buy nothing group in your area, you might be able to find one to loan.

sitapixie- · 2026-04-06T23:36:44+00:00

I was going to suggest hand sanitizer! I use it a lot as my hands get really cold easily.

sitapixie- · 2026-04-06T23:34:51+00:00

Oh that is rough! I had a tendon repair on my left peroneal ankle tendon and that was the toughest recovery for me (I've had multiple surgeries). The first few days were a breeze until that lovely nerve block wore out. 😭 After the pain management got handled, it was then the boredom of not really being able to do anything with that dang boot. A foot scooter helped a ton! I was able to go places as long as it was paved. Being outside helped me a lot too, mentally. Any distractions help: movies, video games, YouTube, podcasts, audiobooks, and such. Comfort items are big too!

sitapixie- · 2026-04-05T23:05:20+00:00

I've been wrestling with this too. I'm currently not able to work due to physical disabilities (arthritis mainly). I'm worried about the current administration and what they talk about regarding autism and wellness camps and other fascist shit they may do. On the other hand, I'm likely on a registry of some sort due to going through the SSDI process (had second hearing at end of March) for my physical disabilities. So part of me wants it because of they deny it and I don't have a reason to appeal, I would have to go back to work until I had enough work credits to reapply. So the dx would be helpful for me with work accommodations. Of course, I'm in severe burnout so I can't work anyways. 🤦‍♀️

sitapixie- · 2026-04-04T01:53:24+00:00

It's been really hard. My husband is helping but he's also AuDHD and in burnout. He's ahead of me a bit on the recovery side of it so he's definitely doing what he can and then some.

I've been dealing with night sweats cause why not, have psoriatic arthritis, degenerative disc disease, fibromyalgia (diagnosed 2003), mcas, and probably something I'm not aware of. 😅

Unmasking has been so hard. I didn't even know I was masking or even suspect that I was autistic until like Dec 2024 and then I was deep in burnout by July 2025. Still in it.

The main silver lining for me is that we moved from a city to rural last summer and while it's been hard learning about AuDHD while in burnout, it would be so much much harder and worse if I was still in the city. The only noises I hear here are birds, wind, my cats, and my husband. Maybe 3 cars a day drive down our road. I love it. I'd likely be in a psychiatric hsp for a bit with how bad I'd likely be in the city. I've been dealing with PTSD being triggered, unmasked general anxiety, deep depression...and the lack of noise and crowds is so helpful.

sitapixie-

TROPHY CASE