Adults On The Autism Spectrum

@gingerw, I sleep under a heavy comforter during all the seasons. if I could, I would have an eighty pound dog to weigh my legs down. ( I have restless legs ad well) Pressure makes me feel better. Period.

In the nineties, we sandwiched a little Spectrumite between two bean bags, while one of us actually leaned on the topmost beanbag. This was done at the kiddos request and permission from the parents. The school system psychologist was in complete acceptance with this method. Primitive, but back then we did not have pressure vests.

More to come
Mamacita Jane .

@mamacita I have a nice spread on the bed right now, and "coccoon" myself in it each night, like a burrito! When my cat gets up here, I know she will lay across my legs, and for that I am grateful.
Ginger

The Gold Standard concerning the value of pressure on the nervous system is Templle Grandin. She invented the "Squeeze Machine" for use in the cattle industry

Just as infants are calmed and soothed by being swaddled, so do we feel soothed and comforted by steady, direct, overall pressure to our bodies. This is true for Neurotypicals as well as Neurodivergent individuals.

You can find this information easily on the internet. But there is a link that I can attach that speaks in her own words of the value of this type of protocol.

If you find it first and post it, you get a gold star from the teacher!

My days are filled with school, appointments, and trying to get my poor Hubby back on his feet. I will try to post as often as I can, here, and in the other sites on Mayo Clinic Connect.

Take care, loves. Talk to you soon.....
Mamacita Jane

@mamacita Good morning to you, and hoping things are settling "down to a low roar" in your household. I had the honor of meeting Dr. Grandin in 1999, and felt like here was someone who finally "got me".
Here is an in-depth article from 1992 that she wrote https://www.grandin.com/inc/squeeze.html, and may contain the quote you are looking for. Personally the whole article was worth a read!
Ginger

@mamacita, Thanks for reminding us about Temple Grandin. I just posted a remembrance on my FB page last week or so. There is also a movie that is quite memorable. I was living in Hawaii at the time and used to see the Boeing 747 airplanes being loaded with many pallets of 6 - 8 cattle in each. I knew they were from the Parker Ranch near Kamuela on the Big Island. And I knew that they came over on barges to Oahu. What I didn't grasp was that they were being flown to New Mexico to the slaughter facility. Mixed emotions with this one. Be healthy and content. Chris

Thanks everyone for the good responses. @ginger W, how wonderful it must have been to actually meet Temple Grandin. When I read her book, " Thinking In Pictures " I felt like someone finally understood me. Until that time I thought everyone thought in pictures. Until reading her book, I thought I was a big mistake.

I always knew something was not right. But I could never figure it out. I blamed myself. It was a long process to discovery. So many years of anxiety, not realizing the link between off the charts hearing and my irritability. Sensitivity to sounds made life almost unbearable at times.

That's why I advocate for the little ones who have gone through so many of the same circumstances as I dealt with.

Talk with you soon,
Mamacita Jane

@mamacita Yes, like you, I always thought in pictures, and figured everyone did. I also found that the response from animals was unlike anything else, since they were excited that someone was "like them".
Ginger

@Chris Trout, I could so easily become a vegetarian. I am not fond of using animals for nourishment. Guess I would have made a terrible excuse for a Native American back hundreds of years ago. I'd be like, "Nah, y'all go on and devour Bambi' s poor Mama, I'll just be over here foraging for nuts, betries, and a few wild greens."

I believe that the way I feel about animals would have reflected poorly on me as a pioneer woman as well. The Old Man would come home to our two room cabin proud of his slew of fish dangling over his shoulder. He'd tell me to skin 'em, debone those suckers, and fry 'em up in an iron skillet.

Somehow I just don't think he would think too highly of my request for corn pone and greens for dinner. Being vegetarian seems pretty easy to be a choice for a lot of folks who see animals as partners for life. I mean, come on, what about that dog trained by a retired psychologist. He understands and follows through perfectly with almost 2000 words of sign language. And therapy/support dogs. They go to school with the children who need them every day. Their pictures are even in the school yearbook. Some are even allowed to stay in the hospital with their companions.

All I am saying is that I do feel a strong connection with our previous and present furry friends. They may not communicate in so many words, audibly, but they certainly speak volumes from their hearts. And if Stuman ever decides to go vegetarian , it won't be the end of the world for this girl who has an oil painted portrait of our long time family member, Franklin, the beautiful Sheltie who went over the rainbow bridge

Until then, we'll be cooking that big ol' turkey for Thanksgiving day. Which brings up a whole nuther discussion, best kept for later.

In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving and/or Indigenous Peoples Day! Love and peace to you all!

Although I agree with much of that, I believe animals speak more clearly than humans. They speak with actions, and they don’t lie. They have no ego, no hidden agenda and they don’t expect you to read between the lines. I find it is much easier to communicate with animals who don’t speak English, than to try and navigate the deceptive world of humans. Because I cannot read what the human really thinks, only what they say, I prefer to spend more energy with the animals who live only in this moment. I do spend time with humans and I love helping where I can, but I always retreat the to the animal world, especially if I have spent long hours in meetings.

@auntieoakley , ahh, yes....You understood what I was trying to say. Animals are not typically deceitful. If you are hurt in any way at all, your furry friend will stay right by your side. Your furry baby does not judge. He practices mindfulness way better than we humans do. We can learn a lot from them.
Love and light
Mamacita Jane