When I seek medical intervention at these times, my physical illness is typically overlooked, and my mental health is scrutinised – despite me articulately and accurately informing medics that I believe I am coming down with a physical illness. The severity of the depression-like symptoms frequently overshadows my attempts to seek medical help for my physical illness. Interoception is the sense we use to process internal body signals such as pain, hunger, or needing the toilet – and to notice our emotions and the changes they are creating in our bodies (racing heart could mean excitement or anger for instance). Fortunately, I am aware of how my interoceptive processing experiences manifest. I experienced the sudden onset of severe depression-like symptoms. I did not feel hot or cold – although a thermometer indicated I had a fever. Prior to both infections with Covid-19 I noticed a complete change in my demeanour. My own experience of Covid-19 enabled me to reflect upon some of the potential impacts this could have on other Autistic people, and in particular those who use non-verbal communication or are considered to have “challenging behaviour”.
5 MINUTE TIMER BOMB CORONAVIRUS PROFESSIONAL
My professional career has been within social care – developing and delivering services to people who are labelled as having complex needs. I have regained about 5% of my olfactory and gustatory processing ability six weeks on from infection. My most recent Covid-19 infection initially resulted in the common symptom of complete loss of my sense of taste and smell.
My symptoms of early illness did not present in the expected way. I received my two doses of the Covid vaccine during the summer of 2021 and was unfortunate to become infected with Covid-19 for a second time in October 2021. This required a hospital visit which led to my interest in developing resources to support other Autistic people and their families as part of my professional work as a director of Autism Wellbeing CIC. I contracted Covid-19 for the first time in April 2020.
0 kommentar(er)
