One of the things that autistic people struggle the most with is anxiety. The times that I feel when it comes up most is when things are unexpected or unknown. It can be hard when the who, what, when, where and why of something is unknown. Sometimes you just have to do what you know you can do to fight it. Remember that your best interests are always in place, even when you don’t think they are there.

Letting go of thoughts or feelings can sometimes be difficult. These emotions arise about something that is hard to digest. It can be difficult to release the worst-case scenario. Often, it is what we think will go wrong with something unknown or unexpected. Sometimes anxiety causes us to think the worst things will go wrong. Still, they most often do not. We sometimes need to step out of our comfort zone. We must do what is necessary. Even if we doubt ourselves, we can do it.

The past few years have been showing me that I can do what I need to do. I have learned to be a part of what is necessary for my job. Anxiety has definitely held me back. It has stopped me from doing some of the tasks I need to finish for my job. I think about the possibilities that occur and need sudden decisions. I realize I need to step out of my comfort zone to do what is necessary. It is after those moments when things get flowing that they become better for me.

Without a doubt change is hard for autistic people. Unpredictable events occur, which can sometimes make us uncomfortable. This discomfort can make it difficult to take the leap to do what we need to do. We ruminate and overthink about what can go wrong when we face difficult tasks. Nevertheless, we have to be responsible and take one for the team. We must be brave. Doing what is right benefits not only ourselves but the rest of the team too.

It can be hard to adapt to what makes us feel uncomfortable. Yet, overcoming it eventually becomes easier as time goes on. The reality is that change is inevitable and happens. We, as autistic people, are creatures of habit. It can be hard to accept things that either critique us or make us step outside of our comfort zone. Still, they can also be what makes us straighten up for the better. We learn from those lessons. We grow and mature from life experiences. These are experiences that we really should have had a long time ago.

Over the past several years, there have definitely been many changes. Some changes came without notice, while others hurt me. Still, I had to face certain realities to do what was right for me. This allowed me to have the things I want and need to live the way I am. Being brave means fighting the terror of my anxiety. It also means doing what is right by being the person I know I can be.