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We live in stressful times.
Stress kills.
I want me fellow autistic people to live as long and healthily as possibly, so here is a thread of what helps ME to cope with stress (and sometimes even relax, wow!).
And I invite all of you to reply with what YOU do to cope!
Stress kills.
I want me fellow autistic people to live as long and healthily as possibly, so here is a thread of what helps ME to cope with stress (and sometimes even relax, wow!).
And I invite all of you to reply with what YOU do to cope!
AVOIDANCE
„Professionals“ say avoiding things only leads to becoming more sensitized, leads to becoming more distressed.
They don’t understand my autistic brain.
I have other limits and don‘t desensitize like non-autistics.
Avoidance is a key stress management tool for me.
„Professionals“ say avoiding things only leads to becoming more sensitized, leads to becoming more distressed.
They don’t understand my autistic brain.
I have other limits and don‘t desensitize like non-autistics.
Avoidance is a key stress management tool for me.
STIMMING
I know autistics are constantly taught to suppress their stimming in our society...but it is a key stress management tool for us!
My distress stims like pacing, rocking, flapping, humming, wiggling my feet all help me to manage my stress level and help me cope.
I know autistics are constantly taught to suppress their stimming in our society...but it is a key stress management tool for us!
My distress stims like pacing, rocking, flapping, humming, wiggling my feet all help me to manage my stress level and help me cope.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Stimming can be physical activity, but other forms of physical activity also help me cope with stress.
I have a treadmill which I hop onto pretty much daily. Going for brisk walks helps. I jump up and down. And doing cleaning chores is a go to tool for me!
Stimming can be physical activity, but other forms of physical activity also help me cope with stress.
I have a treadmill which I hop onto pretty much daily. Going for brisk walks helps. I jump up and down. And doing cleaning chores is a go to tool for me!
DISTRACTION
My brain never stops. Things like mindfulness and meditation don’t work for me.
I don‘t need MORE awareness of my surroundings or my body, because I constantly have too much of it.
I need distraction!
My go to is a familiar movie or TV show.
Crafting also works.
My brain never stops. Things like mindfulness and meditation don’t work for me.
I don‘t need MORE awareness of my surroundings or my body, because I constantly have too much of it.
I need distraction!
My go to is a familiar movie or TV show.
Crafting also works.
LET IT OUT
Because my brain keeps thinking about stressful things over and over and I cannot control that from the inside, letting it out helps me.
I usually tell my husband what distresses me.
Turning thoughts into words and moving them from inside my body to outside helps.
Because my brain keeps thinking about stressful things over and over and I cannot control that from the inside, letting it out helps me.
I usually tell my husband what distresses me.
Turning thoughts into words and moving them from inside my body to outside helps.
CHECK ON MY FOOD AND DRINK STATUS
Hyperfocus, hyperfixation, memory issues, etc. all mean that I often forget to eat and drink.
So when I feel especially crappy I try to remember to check if I have had enough food and drink.
A body running on empty can‘t cope with stress!
Hyperfocus, hyperfixation, memory issues, etc. all mean that I often forget to eat and drink.
So when I feel especially crappy I try to remember to check if I have had enough food and drink.
A body running on empty can‘t cope with stress!
TAKING A BREAK
I often overestimate how much I can do.
I often notice that I need a break when it‘s already too late.
So one key stress management tool for me is to regularly stop, say out loud „I need a break!“, and take a break.
It helps when others prompt me as well.
I often overestimate how much I can do.
I often notice that I need a break when it‘s already too late.
So one key stress management tool for me is to regularly stop, say out loud „I need a break!“, and take a break.
It helps when others prompt me as well.
CW: SELF-HARM
When I‘m distressed, self-harm helps me stop getting more distressed. It can prevent escalation into meltdown and worse self-harm later.
Bite my hand now, or bang my head later.
Pinch my skin now, or hit myself later.
Self-harm is (sadly) often necessary for me.
When I‘m distressed, self-harm helps me stop getting more distressed. It can prevent escalation into meltdown and worse self-harm later.
Bite my hand now, or bang my head later.
Pinch my skin now, or hit myself later.
Self-harm is (sadly) often necessary for me.
CW: EATING
I don‘t have much joy in my life anymore, but my favorite foods still make me happy.
Texture, taste...the entire sensory experience effectively distracts my brain from the distress and lets it focus on something good for a bit.
Happy foods are a key tool for me.
I don‘t have much joy in my life anymore, but my favorite foods still make me happy.
Texture, taste...the entire sensory experience effectively distracts my brain from the distress and lets it focus on something good for a bit.
Happy foods are a key tool for me.
ACKNOWLEDGING DISTRESS
I was taught not to show weakness or be a bother, to pull myself together, etc.
This means NOT acknowledging distress and pretending I‘m fine.
This is bullshit.
Acknowledging that I am distressed to myself AND others is necessary to manage my distress.
I was taught not to show weakness or be a bother, to pull myself together, etc.
This means NOT acknowledging distress and pretending I‘m fine.
This is bullshit.
Acknowledging that I am distressed to myself AND others is necessary to manage my distress.
OUR CATS
I stay away from our cats when I am TOO distressed to not stress them out or accidentally harm them...but if I am only lightly or moderately distressed, cuddling our cats really helps.
Their fur, smell, purring, all are calming and make me feel more relaxed and safe.
I stay away from our cats when I am TOO distressed to not stress them out or accidentally harm them...but if I am only lightly or moderately distressed, cuddling our cats really helps.
Their fur, smell, purring, all are calming and make me feel more relaxed and safe.
GET SUPPORT
I lived 30 years unsupported, and taught that needing support is bad.
I don‘t try to do things I need support with without support anymore. It only leads to burnout and hospitalization.
I need support and that‘s OK.
More support = less distress.
Worth it for me.
I lived 30 years unsupported, and taught that needing support is bad.
I don‘t try to do things I need support with without support anymore. It only leads to burnout and hospitalization.
I need support and that‘s OK.
More support = less distress.
Worth it for me.
AAC, SCRIPTS, PREPARE
A big cause of distress for me are appointments. I struggle processing, responding, asking questions, advocating for myself...
Preparing helps.
I create buttons on my AAC device for the appointment, and go over the appointment in advance with my support.
A big cause of distress for me are appointments. I struggle processing, responding, asking questions, advocating for myself...
Preparing helps.
I create buttons on my AAC device for the appointment, and go over the appointment in advance with my support.
SENSORY ACCOMMODATIONS
My autistic brain constantly processes more input than non-autistic brains.
That means I have less capacity left to cope with stress.
Managing sensory input is vital to managing stress levels!
Things like polarized sunglasses and ear defenders helps.
My autistic brain constantly processes more input than non-autistic brains.
That means I have less capacity left to cope with stress.
Managing sensory input is vital to managing stress levels!
Things like polarized sunglasses and ear defenders helps.
INFORMING PEOPLE THAT I AM AUTISTIC
Using my tools is one thing.
Having them accepted and not getting mistreated for using them is another.
Informing people that I am autistic and thus do certain things differently can help people be more accepting, and not mistreat me.
Using my tools is one thing.
Having them accepted and not getting mistreated for using them is another.
Informing people that I am autistic and thus do certain things differently can help people be more accepting, and not mistreat me.
RECOVERY TIME
I am pretty much always under stress. That‘s what living in a world actively hostile towards me does to me.
So it is vitally important to at least allow myself the recovery time I need between appointments. This means always spacing appointments WAY out.
I am pretty much always under stress. That‘s what living in a world actively hostile towards me does to me.
So it is vitally important to at least allow myself the recovery time I need between appointments. This means always spacing appointments WAY out.
That‘s all I can think of for now.
Feel free to ask questions, request more details, and add your own stress management tools/techniques in the replies!
#ActuallyAutistic #autism #NonSpeaking #AutismAwareness #AutismAcceptance #AACUser #stress #MentalHealth #autistic
Feel free to ask questions, request more details, and add your own stress management tools/techniques in the replies!
#ActuallyAutistic #autism #NonSpeaking #AutismAwareness #AutismAcceptance #AACUser #stress #MentalHealth #autistic
