Emily Katy on her mental health journey, tips for fellow autistic people, and more...
 

The past few years have been difficult for a lot of us. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, we want you to know that you are not alone. We have plenty of mental health guides and resources on our website. If you would like more information on seeking professional support for your mental health, please visit our seeking help with mental health page. We hope you find these pages helpful.

With this in mind, we caught up with Emily Katy, one of the speakers at our recent mental health conference. Emily is an autistic advocate, mental health advocate and blogger. Here, she writes about her own experience of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression, and shares some handy tips, resources, and contacts for fellow autistic people who may be struggling with their mental health.

Sometimes the demands placed on me are too much to handle and I get overwhelmed. Sometimes navigating life is just too difficult. Sometimes I just really struggle to regulate my emotions, which isn’t helped by the fact that half of the time I can’t even identify what I am feeling!

My journey with my mental health is complicated. When I hit 13, my anxiety spiralled and suddenly I couldn’t go anywhere without having a panic attack. This developed into OCD and depression, and I was hospitalised. During these times I felt deep loneliness, because I felt misunderstood and like I didn’t fit in.

A lot of the mental health advice shared is helpful for general wellbeing, but if you have a mental illness, it isn’t enough. Going for a walk isn’t going to cure depression, but it might lift your spirits temporarily. So, my first, and most important, piece of advice is to seek professional help if you need it. There is absolutely no shame in asking for help. Finding the right therapy and medication, if you need it, can be life changing.

However, waiting lists are long. In the meantime, there are other services which can help. Many local areas have crisis cafes and there are charities you can reach out to such as Mind. There are crisis lines such as Samaritans and you can always call 111 option 2 to speak to your local mental health team. There is always someone on the end of the line to talk to – you don’t have to suffer alone.
 

Finally, something which has been priceless to me, is connecting with other autistic people. Sometimes non-autistic people just don’t get it, and it can be tiring to explain over and over that our brains just don’t seem to work the same way.

Finding a community of other autistic people can make a world of difference. This could be on social media, such as the #ActuallyAutistic X community, the National Autistic Society’s online community, or in virtual or face-to-face peer support groups.