living on my own again

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cherrytree78
cherrytree78 Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
in Mental health and wellbeing

Hi everyone. I'm a 25 year old enby with autism, ADHD and a global delay. I'm living with family at the moment and looking into assisted living. I've been to uni but I stayed on campus, it's been a while since I've lived on my own. I'm nervous about living in the "real world." I want to be independent but I know I need so much support. Can you send me words of advice and affirmation to make me feel more confident that I can live on my own again despite my difficulties and nerves.

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  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 10,002 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Heya @cherrytree78 and welcome to the community. 😁

    I'd say "don't be scared" but I know how much the unknown can be the enemy to us autistic folk. But please try not to worry, you've done uni, which is a HUGE thing, so that will have given you a tonne of life skills already, so I'd say you're over half way there!
    You totally can be independent and still need support. The world's not set up to make things easy for the disabled, so a helping hand or three is totally ok!

    Sure, it may be scary for a bit, but you'll learn more each day and soon you'll be horrified at the thought of living with relatives. 😆

    You've got this!

  • Hopeless
    Hopeless Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 839 Empowering

    Assisted living sounds like a good stepping stone towards independent living. At 25 I left hospital and moved into supported housing as a half-way step. I stayed there for 7 years before moving into more independent housing. I love living alone now but couldn’t have done it without the supported housing bit first. I still need some support - that will never change - but I’m out here doing better than the doctors ever thought was possible

  • Legwax
    Legwax Online Community Member Posts: 161 Empowering

    @cherrytree78 You have uni living on campus under your belt. You know what you need. Plan I suggest. Get contacts of services and trusted people who you want to help you. Every day will be an unknown and that means an adventure! You can control how you live in your space but never how others exist around you. You know that so maybe you could use that as a point to go forward with your plans. I imagine that before going to uni you didn't think you would be ok living on campus. Look how far you have come since! It's healthy to be nervous as it means you are aware you need to plan to make life easier for yourself. Wishing you the best!

  • rubin16
    rubin16 Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 869 Championing

    Hi, I have Autism and ADHD and other difficulties and lived with my step dad upto the age of 29 before going into assisted living. I now have my own flat with an ongoing support worker that visits twice a week and takes me to anything I need. At first it was daunting to live on my own, but now I love it and its the best thing. I will probably always need ongoing support but I am somewhat independant now and alot happier having my own space. As with anything new we always fear the unknown, but I'm sure once you get settled and find a new routine in your area you'll enjoy your own space.

  • Annesha
    Annesha Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    You can be independent. Tell your heart that you can do everything on your own. Being independent has no connection with ADHD.

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