Autism traits & Depression

[Desperate_Dan]

Hi,

I wanted to reach out to this community for advice and suggestions. I'm a 40 something man, who was diagnosed with severe depression about 10 years ago. Lot of things triggered me spiraling and it took me a long time to recover, however a change in work and medication have seen me stable and "normal" up until recently.

My home life is stable, however I find myself getting agitated and angry frequently and am finding no enjoyment in anything at all. Over the last few days I've caught myself just staring at the clock wishing the time would go quicker in the hope that something might happen, but of course it never does.

My situation is compounded by the fact that I have some autism traits - with the main one being I find it hard to trust people and make friends and as a result, I currently only have my wife and maybe 1 other person I can speak to. Typing this out has also made me realise that part of the problem may be that I don't want to be married any more and one of the reasons I feel so alone.

Is this normal? I don't recall feeling like this when I got my initial diagnosis

[Petal22]

Hi Desperate Dan,

Wellcome to our forums!

Im sorry you are feeling this way.

Have you thought about making an appointment with your gp and discussing the way you are feeling?

Has something changed in your relationship to make you feel like you don’t want to be married anymore?

[Sophie_M]

Dear Desperate Dan,
 
Firstly, welcome to the forums we are so glad that you found your way to this supportive and welcoming community. We hope that you find ideas, options and support from the shared experiences and knowledge of all our members.
 
We are sorry to hear that you feel things have suddenly gotten worse after a period of recovery, fluctuations in your mental state are a normal part of the ongoing journey of recovery and we hope you don’t put pressure on yourself for your current mental state.
 
As recommended, we would suggest talking to your G.P as they are your primary care provider and would be the best person to discuss any changes in how you’re feeling since the change in work and medications
 
We have a few numbers and links that we have provided for you, we encourage you to contact and engage with any of these services that you may feel comfortable with.
 
If you need more immediate contact, please use our Beyond Blue support service 24/7, either via phone 1300 22 4636 or web chat: http://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support
 
The lovely supportive counsellors at Relationships Australia would be a great place for you to reach out and discuss any concerns you may have with your relationship, they may be able to provide advice, suggestions or even recommend a couple’s counsellor if needed. You can contact them on 1300 364 277 or visit  https://relationships.org.au/
 
We would also recommend checking out MensLine Australia at https://mensline.org.au/ or via phone
on 1300 789 978.
 
Alternatively, as you have discussed feeling alone and isolated, we would love for you to look into https://mensshed.org/ this is an organization designed to provide a safe and engaging environment for otherwise isolated men across Australia, in which they can socialize and complete DIY projects.
 
We hope that you find the support and direction that you are seeking on the forums. Once again, we are so glad you have joined the forums and we hope that you feel welcomed into the community.  
 
Warm regards
Sophie M

[jaz28]

Hi Dan,

Thank you for reaching out.

Have you spoken to a psychologist about your depression before?

Do you think it could be time for another few sessions with your psychologist? At least before you make any decisions about your life/marriage.

Stay well,

Jaz xx