Help! Periods of confusion, disorientation?

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Hi

I am a 31 year old female with Aspergers. I am in grad school studying economics. In an average week I am working intensively for anywhere from 60/80 hours per week on quantitative school work and thesis research. My brain likes being busy and it keeps me feeling more "neuro-typical."

Then Spring break happened. I was tired from working so I took three days off from working. I think it messed up my brain. It is now day 4 and my significant other, who I've live with for 3.5 years immediately noticed that I am acting completely out of it. Almost like an old person with dementia. I get like this sometimes when something dramatic happens to my routine. I almost feel like life is a daze and I am struggling to be present in it. Sometimes I even feel mildly dizzy.

The scary part, other than almost getting us hit by a semi truck when driving, is that I cannot function in school work when I try to go back to it. I have been applying to 10 jobs per week for the past month. Today it took me 3 hours to apply for a job it should have taken me 1 hour tops. I'm not even sure if anything I wrote makes sense. I know I will read it two days from now and be shocked. Another example of what is going on.... I am trying to read an Econ text book and I feel like I am reading Chinese. Finally, I try to talk to my classmate and all that comes out of my mouth is how I have no ideas why I am confused.

It makes me feel upset when this happens, and scared. What if this happens in my career? What if I hurt someone, or mess up something serious on the job?

Does anyone know what is happening, or have similar things happen to them when they deviate from an intense routine?

Thanks
Sheila

try meditation (focus on some slow, deep breaths for 10-20 minutes) or guided imagery to calm down. cut down on caffeine. if this doesn't turn out to be situational anxiety and go back to normal quickly, I'd seek medical help

I can relate to not being able to function when my routine gets changed. It comes as a total shock to my system. I am an all or nothing person. If I am not going at 100%, I am literally doing nothing (laying, staring at the wall, watching TV, or caught up in some obsessive routine). Getting anything done is like trying to walk against the wind while in a blizzard. I try as hard as I can, but literally cannot bring myself to do what I am supposed to do. I get too distracted. This made college miserable for me at the end. I don't know what to tell you other than hang in there, get your new routine in place, and you will feel better. I think this is part of AS (the restricted routines thing).