Request for Activism Advice

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I'm not sure where to post my request for advice, but this one says activism, so here goes.

My question is this: should I give up a volunteer activist position and focus on ASD rights instead?

Here's the story:

Two months ago, I volunteered to be a representative in an activist group connected to my job. The group focuses on legislation for part time rights. I am very supportive of this endeavor, but I find I may have been a bit too hasty when I raised my hand to volunteer. It was the first time I had met with the group and when they asked for a volunteer, I happened to glance at a colleague and he gave me the go ahead look--or that's what it looked like to me--so I raised my hand.

I realized later that I did it impulsively, but only after missing the next meeting because it was at the beach and I got too panicked about being out in the mid-day sun for two or more hours. This was clue one that I may have bitten off more than I could chew.

All in all, I don't think I can handle the politicking going on. Also, I feel like very few of the people are actually involved for the sole purpose of social justice. I can give detailed examples, but for the sake of brevity, I won't list any here. The main problem is that all the mind games raise my anxiety and I end up spending time detoxing when I might be able to attend to other things.

I am at a point where I am thinking of telling the group that I was too hasty in volunteering for such a huge obligation, but I don't want to completely alienate them. I'd much rather work on ASD issues, but I don't know if I should tell them.

I just don't know what to do, and your advice, comment, support, or question would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Even NTs often have a problem with saying "No" to demands on their time and energy. If you take on more than you can handle, then you will be tiring and stressing yourself out, and you will also not be able to do the job well. It is best for both you and them that you tell them that this is more than you can handle right now, but that you would still like to be kept informed of any upcoming events, so that you can attend when possible.

As for two competing demands for your time and energy, when you can only handle one, it is up to you to decide which one you most want to do, and then do it.

From now on, when someone asks for a commitment of your time and energy, first figure out if you can handle it before answering either "yes" or "no." And remember, you are under no obligation to anyone to over commit yourself to things. Before you can do a good job for anyone, you need to take care of yourself.

Thanks for the help and support. Looking back, it was an impulsive move I made without thinking. My impulsiveness almost always gets me in trouble, and I forgot I had put myself on fast decision-making restriction, a rule I made that helps me remember to give myself time to make important decisions. So if a decision I have to make seems big or I get stress from it, I make myself wait at least a day before taking any action.

Now I need to put myself on volunteer restriction. Or is it raising my hand restriction? I will have to think about the feeling I get in my stomach when I feel like impulsively doing something. Maybe if I pinpoint a feeling a bit better, I can put myself on that certain feeling restriction.

Meanwhile, I am going to research ASD issues, rights, and programs.