How You Experience Autism

@merpreb The opportunity to manipulate the little ring gives me a way to "burn off" excess emotion/nerves, and is something I can control. To almost anyone else, it is simply a decoration, with no link to a calming device. When I am in a situation with anxiety, or masking, or high emotion, knowing that there sits a simple device to aid me, gives me comfort. Don't know if this makes sense, or not.
Ginger

@merpreb, I cannot speak for @ginger, but soft, flannel like materials are soothing to my skin. Almost like a hug. And you've undoubtedly heard about Dr. Temple Grandin, who so wonderfully brought about her theories of firm pressure being necessary for calming us Autues down. (And cattle, too...dont forget the cows!)

From there, we have the weighted blankets and the soft, stretchy lengths of silicone material that Autistic children soothe themselves with in their classrooms. (If it is on their IEP's to do so, that is. ) Swings attached to the ceiling, are helpful to give the children that wonderful rocking motion. Rocking chairs and regular swings should be available to every child on the Spectrum.

Children on the Spectrum should routinely be allowed the "chewy" necklaces, bracelets, and pencils that are specially made just for the purpose of stimming. There are even special brushes made to brush the childs arms, usually done with an OT or in the Special Ed Teacher's room. This releases the pent up energy that builds up because the child is struggling to survive in a Neurotypical setting. With proper supports, these children cannot only survive, they will thrive.

More later.....
Mamacita Jane

@gingerw- It makes perfect sense. Thank you. Do you tune out what's going around you for a bit while doing this?

@mamacita- Wow!

@mamacita, @gingerw- Years ago I was at a woman's house for a board meeting. One of her children, a son, was sitting in front of the tv. Then all at once she shot out of her chair and was holding him calm until he was able to gain controll of himself.

@merpreb , my soninlove does this very thing for my young Grandson.

What we try to do is have these practices in place before a melt down.

With scheduling and inclusion of these simple to use practices, eventually the number of meltdowns we experience is drastically reduced. With these protocols in place at school and at home, working together, the child eventually learns how to self regulate. She has confidence that she can do what the other kids do. Maybe we have to work at it ten times as much as the NT children. But that's only because your typical school setting is outfitted with only the Neurotypical student in mind. We think outside the box. Sooner or later, that kind of thinking is rewarded.

More to come.

Love and light,
Mamacita Jane

@merpreb Actually, I am able to be more "present" in that environment, rather than having an internal war with myself. Does that make sense? I can calm my internal need for flight-or-fight, by fiddling with that little silver ring.
Ginger

@gingerw- Yes, it does. I wonder if this would work for a panic attack I've just started getting them again- infrequent but a royal pain.

@mamacita- I would think sooner!

@merpreb It just might. You won't know until you try it out. People may look at your calming actions as "just fiddling with" something, or "geez, can't you sit still?" Yep, I have heard those comment before.

Have you figured out what is triggering your panic attacks?
Ginger