Autism, From Someone Who Is On The Spectrum

Autism: How it is Superpower Instead of A Disability (2017) (Part 2)

Now that you know a little bit about me, I am talking about Autism as someone who is on the spectrum because most people, that do not have autism, do not know what it is like to have something in your body go haywire on you. "Autism spectrum disorders represent an abnormality of brain development and function, most appearing within the first three years of life. There are three main types of Autistic Disorder (Classic Autism), Asperger's Disorder, and Atypical Autism (PDD-NOS). Most people recognize Autism as impairment of social interaction, impairments of communication and play, and restricted or repetitive interests and activities" according to CDDH Victoria's Fact Sheet about Autism. "Impairment of Social Interaction includes aloofness and failure to develop friendships and relationships, seeking people's company but lacking the ability to engage in two way social interactions, one-sided or repetitive social interactions, awkward, avoidance or indifferent eye contact, inability to understand social rules, impaired understand of other people's motivations, and lack of spontaneously seeking to share enjoyment with others. Impairment of Communication and Play includes a delay in or lack of development of speech without any compensatory forms of communication, for example gestures, significant difficulty in initiating and sustaining a conversation (in those with speech), and lack of imitation of others. Restricted or repetitive interests and activities includes interests that are excessively narrow, intense or unusual, adherence to rigid routines, intolerance of change, stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms." 

For example as a college student, I disliked having to go the testing center on campus because I can hear every single noise even if someone else cannot hear it, for example that mean the rattling fluorescent lights and papers, and that is very distracting when I trying focus on taking a test. Almost all the social skills I have as an autistic adult, I was taught over many years of therapy. I still have issues with being obsessed with a topic, this is a part of my autism that drives many people crazy in my life. It is worse when I am stressed or anxious.
Imagine this "The ammonia of glass cleaner, the smell of recently microwaved salmon advancing down the hallway, the staggered shock waves of closing lockers, a cold machine pulse of fluorescent lights, the blast of air conditioning, the loudspeaker announcement echoing through every solid surface, the scrape of a clothing tag, an unrelenting bouquet of perfume stuck on someone's jacket, the glare ricocheting from the passing cars through metal blinds, the person twenty feet away that seems an inch and a half from your face, the ticking on the clock no one else hears...all while trying to focus on someone speaking to you." 

This situation for a person with Autism is what it can feel like on a regular basis in the classroom. My teacher never thought about the fact when I would have a meltdown it was because I was overwhelmed with everything at once. I figured out when I feel overwhelmed by too much going on in my environment, that is when I put my headphones and to listen music and take a half hour break from what I was doing at the time. This one of my ways to stim which common with an autistic individuals.

"The word stim is short for self-stimulation. It is associated most commonly with autism. Some neurologist's call it "autistic stereopathy." It is also sometimes called "stereotypical." Why does an autistic engage in this behavior? 1. Stimming can help BLOCK out excess sensory input. 2. Stimming help provide EXTRA sensory input when needed. 3. Management of emotions-positive and negative EMOTIONS may trigger a burst of stimming. 4. SOME stims serve the purpose of soothing or comforting."