Living with 22q11 (Ages 18+)

Life changes as we get older, and we experience new challenges. For people living with 22q11, these changes can be exciting, but it’s natural to be nervous too.

When you finish school, it can be hard to say goodbye to old friends and meet new ones: change is difficult sometimes, and can make us feel a little anxious. Lots of us have mental health problems, including anxiety, stress, panic attacks and depression. It’s important to know that we can get help for these issues, and there is support available when we need it, through 22q11 Ireland and other organisations.

Some people want to go to college or do a course when they leave school: this is a great way to learn new skills and meet new friends.

Getting a job is a big part of growing up, but we can work in lots of different ways: some of us have part-time jobs, some of us volunteer and others drive to their jobs in their own car. Everybody has different skills and abilities, but there are people who can help us find the right job for us. We can learn how to write a CV, how to talk in an interview, and how to save our money from our wages.

Adult life means learning lots of new skills, like cooking, grocery shopping, making a personal budget, managing personal hygiene and doing laundry. We’ll learn how to manage our health ourselves, by making our own doctor or dentist appointments, and managing our own medication. Some of us might move out of our parents’ house and maybe start living alone, or with housemates. This can be a lot of fun, but hard work too, as we have to pay rent and bills and learn how to live with new people. We will meet new people, and maybe date a nice person, or find a long term partner.

Leaving school and going into the world can be hard sometimes, but it’s also very exciting, and a lot of fun. At 22q11 Ireland, we have lots of support to help guide you through this process.

If you live with 22q11 and would like to get in touch with other people like you, just call or text us on 087 7412856 or message us on our social media pages @22q11Ireland on Facebook and Twitter. We would be happy to hear from you.