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Autism (ASD) | Last Active: Aug 22, 2020 | Replies (171)
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That researching and learning is a great characteristic, @gingerw. I do that a lot myself. I'm wondering if all the preparation from research helps tame the feelings of anxiety about not quite fitting in. I'm thinking in terms of myself more than anyone else right now. It calms my fears to feel "prepared." Does that make sense to you?
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@hopeful33250 Teresa, it used to be a fallback of mine to say I "must have been a Boy Scout in a former life, because I always tried to be prepared". You're right, I do try to learn as much as I can about a situation prior to heading into it to understand what I might be facing. I also try to learn as much as I can about any new place. In three weeks I will be going to a Zentangle workshop 400 miles away. I have looked at maps to gauge where I will be driving/staying and where the workshop will be so that I will not feel so overwhelmed. I thought the workshop will what's going to be at the same hotel but it is a mile and a half away. So during the lunch break I will take a break in my car 2D stress and also to gain my bearings back. That will be important for me to do since it is 2 days of mixing with over 40 strangers. I have explained to the instructor, and I will be seated in the front row on a corner with an aisle next to me. That is my safe space for me in such a situation. Likewise I will not participate in the group dinner, as I need quiet time to myself.
Ginger