Celebrations and Being on the Spectrum

Where I live, come the first of the year you cannot even count on being able to hibernate at home any longer in the future. I suppose the elimination of single family zoning is way too controversial to speak of on here, but even the prospect of the inevitable elevated noise level that follows is anxiety provoking to one on the spectrum like myself.

Having crowding next door just won’t work for someone like myself. That & the further declining air quality. As like many people with Aspergers I don’t like change, so moving away from the noise & air pollution would not be a easy prospect either. As I would be moving far away from my family & their support. Not a smartest of moves when older.

It seems unsettlingly out of my hands, and as if it is considered a massive sin these days to want to continue to live in peace & quiet. Now I know how my grandmother felt when too many of the fields of Amherst were not just being plowed up, but cemented over for university related expansion. I haven’t figured out how to cope with this one yet.

Because I was not diagnosed until my 40’s, I was just weird until then. I have developed some coping mechanisms out of self preservation. Never more than 3 or 4 and preferably 2 people at a time, myself included. No parades or parties. Just visits with a few loved individuals. I love the little twinkle lights but not too many, never mixed colors, and never blinking. I really avoid most children that I don’t know, the potential for screeching is too high. I still love the holidays, but on my own terms.

@linh Are you able to place yourself in an environment where you can "tune out" the noise and stimuli? Perhaps some noise canceling headphones or white noise? It sure might make a difference. Where I live now, there is mostly quiet, as we are in a rural area, but before moving it was terrible living in the city. Too many noises, lights, and people for my comfort! Yes, cemented over fields seem to make a lost hospitable environment.
Ginger

The new laws allowing for single family neighborhood racket (I will spare you the details) to occur are being implemented this January. I think everybody has their own differing space requirements as to what makes them feel comfortable.

This reminds me of a friend’s elderly mother-in-law who shared a room in a senior nursing facility. She was stone deaf, although she couldn’t hear one word she still did not want her roommate having the T.V. on after a certain hour when she was asleep. Even though she didn’t hear one word, she didn’t want that noise in her space! I feel the same way. The city slickers are taking over here I’m afraid.

Wow, I can totally relate to all these messages. I might have to find out if I have asperger's. I seek quiet, loud noises totally annoy me bright lights hurt my eyes. I think I need a diagnosis here. Thank you all for sharing.

As someone who is just learning about being on the spectrum, I have always been a homebody. Sometimes it gets lonely, knowing family are out doing things. But I have begun to learn that mentally if I am unprepared or tired then I will just not enjoy myself. I enjoy being asked, or feeling included somehow, and now am beginning to feel less guilty about wanting to stay home all the time. It's just who I am and I need my time to rest and recover from work and the general bombardment of social situations the holidays put on us.

Welcome Robyn, I believe both @auntieoakley and @gingerw were diagnosed as adults and may have some pointers to offer. I think knowing more about the diagnosis also helps those around you understand.

@jonperyer, I extend my welcome to you too. You mentioned that you are just learning about living on the spectrum, too. Did you only recently receive a diagnosis?

Declining social invitations is certainly everyone's right. How do you decline but also let people know that you enjoyed being invited and included?

I saw my doctor about my suspicions at the end of October and am still going through the process of receiving a diagnosis. It's definitely been a journey of self discovery lol, a life time of things suddenly making sense. I think now that I am aware I try harder to explain my thought process to my family, why I react the way I do towards certain situations. It will take time before they understand it, but its nice to finally not feel like I am just crazy, or broken.

Lately if I don't feel like going out, I just let my family know I need to rest tonight. I don't feel as obligated to be a part of the group all the time, now I know rest is important. I still stress out about hurting others feelings, but that's just part of who I am, and I am starting to finally understand more about who I am which has been really nice.

I have found that if I share my diagnosis to those around me, and explain that I just see and learn things differently it does help them to understand. The one thing I make sure that people I care about understand, is that I can not handle being in groups of people. I either shrink away or overcompensate then worry it over and over in my head for days.
When my friends and family invite me, I tell them how grateful and happy I am to be invited even though they knew I would probably decline. Sometime they even send me pictures of the event which then makes me happy. Before I knew why I was this way, it would make me sad, but I have learned to enjoy it. I get all of the fun without the discomfort.
How do you enjoy the holidays without feeling bad about yourself?

I skipped a party Christmas night, expecting too many people and the host's prize fish stew to be unappetizing. Turns out I missed one small child who screeches loudly without any interference from his parents, and at least one person who tested positive for Covid later that night. Biting my tongue to keep from saying "I told you so" and keeping my distance from the partier till he can test in a few days.