I have both autism and ADHD, and I just feel pretty awful since I graduated college. I’m really low-functioning; most of the time, I can’t even get basic household tasks done, much less find a job. My funds are dwindling, and soon paying for HRT will be a challenge. I feel like it wasn’t this bad when I was younger; I’m now 21 and it’s starting to get unbearable. I cannot really get meds cause I don’t have insurance.
Have you checked to see if the state you live in offers state assisted healthcare? There are certain states that will provide free health insurance if you fall below a certain income. From there you can choose a primary care physician within the state provided health plan and get everything from referrals to specialists as well as prescriptions. See if it exists in your area and apply immediately if so. It can be complicated depending on where you live but there are representatives that are paid to help you navigate the application process if it starts to feel overwhelming.
A pretty significant majority of states took the Obamacare expansion, so the likelihood is OP is in one of those states
Sorry you’re struggling. Early 20s are a bit rough, keep your head up, set goals for yourself and always set something for yourself to look forward to(like a trip, etc)
When I was 21 I was working construction jobs for shit pay, wondering if this was all that my life would amount to. I had a son I could barely afford to maintain, a shit relationship with his mom, and an estranged family. The people I knew only lived to get absolutely wasted drunk/high on the weekend. My ADHD/combative attitude got me fired from most jobs I’d had. I constantly had suicidal thoughts.
I had to humble myself, learn to listen, learn to follow, learn to teach, then learned to lead. I still humble myself every day.
I found something that interested me, studied it, practiced it, mastered it, and am always learning. In March I’ll turn 30 and recently accepted my first six figure salary offer. Still no college degree.
Even when it feels like you’re taking one step forward and two steps back, invest in yourself, find something you enjoy doing and then be the best at it. Life is timing. Once you finally catch wind, you’re off the ground for good.
Take care.
So, as much as I wish I could do something directly to help, (this is where Reddit really shines due to the large user base). There are likely support systems in your area. If your have a diagnosis for your specific conditions I would expect a disability support might be available at least for the ADHD meds. Can’t say for the HRT. it might be useful to those that can help too list where you are in the world as a starting point. Perhaps someone who is in the field can point you in the right direction. Otherwise I would consider trying a post on Reddit. As much as the site owners are garbage, the users can often be extremely helpful. Hang in there, you can only move forward one step at a time, and taking small steps is still moving forward.
Hugs, hun. You have a lot going on, and early 20s are rough emotionally. You need and deserve help. Without knowing where you live it’s hard to give exact info, but this site is reputable and even used by social workers to help their clients: https://www.findhelp.org/
Do you have goals you want to achieve in life?
Do you have a love interest?
Do you go to the gym?
Is there stuff you usually enjoy doing as a hobby?
Those are the kind of questions you should be asking yourself right now.
If you can’t give a positive answer to those questions then you should definetly go see a therapist.
“Go to the gym, it will cure your depression!” Is one of the least helpful things you could possibly say. So is suggesting a romantic relationship to someone who is not doing well.
Going to the gym as a hobby helped mine. Off mySSRIs and feel much better physically and mentally. Ymmv
Exercising has been shown to have massively positive benefits for people with depression.
It won’t cure you, but all the evidence points to it being a very worthwhile thing to do.
Agree on the romantic relationship however.
Your body and mind are more in sync than you think. A lot of people’s lethargy and low energy can be attributed to poor diet and exercise. It’s not a cure but it treats many symptoms of depression.
So sorry to hear you’re struggling.
Try contacting charities, maybe related to your conditions, they may be able to offer guidance.
Chances are there are some social systems that can help you. But it can be really tricky to find out about them.
Sorry to hear…
FWIW, you’re doing awesome. You’re valuable and you have a lot to offer the world. Please keep going.
I’m in the exact same boat. In my 30’s, but if you need a friend to talk to, a kindred spirit, please feel free to reach out to me. I’m looking for new friends, too. Everyone I know is too neuronormal. 😆
