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Showing posts from 2016

Remedy for sensitive, pierced earlobes

My ears are sensitive. If you have read my other posts, you know this by now, however, instead of talking about sound, I'd like to share with you about skin irritation coming from pierced earlobes. I have triple- pierced ears. Two sets are particularly sensitive to even surgical steel, so I tried coating the earring posts in Neosporin , an antibiotic ointment. I found that my ears don't hurt and turn red, nor do they weep.  Even silver and gold don't irritate.  If you have super sensitive skin, at least on your earlobes, you may want to try coating the backs of your earrings. I hope you have had a blessed Christmas season and wish you a happy, healthy 2017. God bless you.

God works in showers...how I went from virtual house arrest to freedom

I've heard it said that the best ideas often come when in the shower. The hot water massages my head and the steam opens my sinuses. What happened one June night back in 2010 is something that wasn't a byproduct of heat and steam. I had been under what I call "house arrest" since 2006, when a violent meltdown at the mall (which included screaming, swearing, self harm and punching walls), bringing many security guards. My mom had to pull me outside with all her strength. I was not mentally or physically able. A meltdown is such a horrific experience from the total involuntary loss of self-control to the days it takes me to recover. I also have fears based on reality about being arrested or taken, for short periods via ambulance, from my immediate family, which is now comprised only of my sister, whom I live with. Anyway, I pretty much avoided going out in public, to avoid sensory overload and keep both me and the public safe. It was a sad and boring period pu

God, let there be peace!

After a year of intense anxiety, misunderstandings and resulting outbursts mostly online, I am in need of peace. After a summer of major depression and enduring Saturday night M80s from neighbors from summer through fall (which caused suicidal ideation), I am in desperate need of peace. In case you are wondering, yes, I called the police. It caused retaliation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that God won't allow a believer to go through more than they can bear, but will provide a way out. God wants us to rely 100% on Him and not on other people or ourselves. This takes faith and humility. I wonder if God was trying to get my attention with the suffering season I had? I have been relying on Him more lately, praying for Him to give me peace overall, but especially in the area of sensory overload. I think the prayer was answered in part back in the fall, when I asked my APRN to prescribe Ambien for me to use on Saturday nights. I already have peace about New Year's Eve. I'

Finally, housing for autistic adults, ground broken for First Place in Phoenix, Arizona

Ground just broke on First Place, a residential facility for autistic adults that is low sensory and teaches them life skills.  Denise Resnik spent 20 years seeing her dream come to fruition.  Her son is autistic. She worried about what would happen to him before the school bus stopped coming, when her son was still in his single-digit years. This development, expected to open in 2018, is both privately and publically funded. It is for adult autistics who have higher executive functioning but still need support, including a low-sensory environment. Please click the link below to read and share. http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2016/12/06/breaking-ground-work-begins-first-place-complex-phoenix-adults-autism/95046774/

The Autism Site-What those with autism wishes you knew

Autistic adults speak via Reddit about what they wish non- autistics knew. Rainbow infinity symbol, different, not less. http://blog.theautismsite.com/reddit-answers-own-words/?utm_source=aut-autaware&utm_medium=social-fbpc&utm_term=AUTAWARE-PC-reddit-answers-own-words-5cCPM-W35-KWaut&utm_campaign=PC-reddit-answers-own-words&origin=aut_autaware_social_fbpc_PC_reddit-answers-own-words What I wish others knew-that my hypersensitive hearing isn't my fault. Just because I have a neurological disorder doesn't give you the right to EVER take your frustration out on me, be it physical, emotional or otherwise. We live in a fallen world, and sadly, this means people are born with, among other things, wait for it...neurological disorders.

My Christmas Wishlist

The following are things Santa can't fit in a stocking.  1. A friend. An emotionally  stable , laid back person who would always have my back and not ask dumb questions or shun me because of my autistic traits. I already have one true friend. However, she does live an hour away and travel is getting much more difficult for her, especially during the darker winter months. She is in her 80's, though she has the soul of a child, there are limits. 2. Purpose. It isn't uncommon for autistic people to lack meaningful relationships or purpose in life. It is sadly a stereotype of the condition. I am blessed to be able to make stretch bracelets, but I cannot afford to do it constantly, nor is there that high a demand for them. 3. Community involvement. Due to my severe SPD , I cannot function properly or safely for a prolonged period of time in most public places such as movie theaters, restaurants, grocery stores or anyplace where there is a constant, variable of c

One of my hobbies: Making stretch bracelets

In 2015, I began making stretch bracelets. It is simple enough given my fine motor skill impairment. I infrequently make a little cash in the process. I love to make a product that anyone can afford. I enjoy giving them away as well.  I can contribute to a world that is very difficult for me to participate in. I give thanks to the woman who sells them in her store for me. She is one of many blessings in my life. If you want to get into stretch jewelry, I recommend  Michael's craft stores. They have the most variety and cost range. I use Stretch Magic 1mm cord. They also have 1.5mm. Nice and big to hold onto and knot. If you are gross motor skill impaired, this hobby will most likely not be a good fit for you. Michael's has many hobbies, including adult coloring books, scrapbooking and kids crafts. Hobby Lobby has a lot of pretty stuff, but they are a bit more costly and not as varied in their selection, at least when it comes to bead selection. If you have a

On the fringe: autism and family gatherings

Child covering ears Family gatherings are noisey. There are a myriad of voices that range in pitch and volume. There is that one person who laughs so loud that tears well in my eyes. Boys yell and bang on the piano. Someone is taking a photo with flash. Greeting people is part of being polite, even when you are already in sensory overload. Perfumes and colognes combine and foods from the kitchen circulate. Men yell at the football game and women laugh at something funny.  All this is taken in at the door. There is a long way to wade through before I can put my coat in a quiet bedroom. I have to remember to smile and say "hello" as well as accept hugs. There are a few cousins who cannot stand my presence, though, at age 5, I don't know what I could have possibly done to upset them. I am asked, "Why do you plug your ears?" I am told repeatedly that nobody wants me here. I am the only one who isn't part of a group. Sometimes, I get bullied. A parent

Why change is so hard for me and what I do to prepare ahead of this challenge

New things present as an uphill battle. Change is scary to me unless it comes on my terms. Maybe this is why I did poorly understanding Algebra. There's always a variable.  I don't intend to be difficult or selfish. Having a battle plan is how I make sense of life. Adaptation is a skill that comes naturally for some people, but not for me.  I find having a plan B is a good idea. For example, if you plan on going to an outdoor event and it rains, scheduling a rain date ahead of time. The rain date can substitute for an unexpected illness as well. There are some changes that are inevitable like losing a loved one, and that is something that takes prayer and time alone with God. Having family and friends who can help by listening is also key.  Ultimately, trusting in God, not circumstances, to be secure in this life is both necessary and difficult to do, but it is worth the effort. "And we know that God causes everything to work together  for the good of those

Wish for companionship, acknowledgement of emptiness

Taken during a visit to Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois, USA. To me, the empty chairs are the symbol of human connection I wish I could have and the emptiness that is. I can't handle much, but I would like more than I have in my life now. Here is a link to a really awesome and simple free photo editing software site: https://pixlr.com/express/

The Onion in the Petunia Patch

The Onion in the Petunia Patch PDF This is my memoir compiled over the last 2 years. It is one woman's story about growing up with undiagnosed autism. Click on the link to view the PDF file. Thanks for reading! https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=https://www.freepdfconvert.com/result/downloadfile/fbe6b521-dd97-48b0-8086-388847c77bef

Contribution

Recently, I have had the privilege of becoming a contributor to The Mighty, a blog of many voices on all kinds of illnesses, diseases and disabilities. Check out the link here:  https://themighty.com/2016/11/understanding-my-responses-to-sensory-triggers-related-to-spd/ I hope to get the word out about accepting and accommodating autistic people rather than judging and excluding them. The irony is that I do wind up feeling isolated due to the components that make up my autism. 1. My I.Q. is 110, but I struggle with sensory processing disorder in a very life limiting way. 2. Due mainly to the sensory processing, I don't get to do things like go over to people's houses (I also can't drive for the same reason) or go to restaurants. If there is a baby or a dog making noise, I must have a plan of absolute escape. 3. My meltdowns are horrors . They present more like a nonverbal, intellectually disabled autistic person's. Guttural screaming and hitting myself and ot

I am an autistic woman who hates books!

I hate books. I cringe just looking at them. I won't read one unless it is a serious matter like reading the Bible, and I only do so for short bursts. I opt for the audio version any time I can. This means there are tons of books I can't read, as there is no audio book or the audio book is very expensive as is the case on iTunes (usually $40.00 and up for 300 pages). Reading for any length of time makes for a migraine. I am a visual and aural learner. Words bore me silly. Black on white mush. I won't even read a blog post past the 500th word. I skim read after that. I try to keep my own blog posts short and provide visual "breaks". How did I survive school? Textbooks were broken down into chapters, so there wasn't a whole lot to read for homework, which was accompanied by taking notes and/or a worksheet to fill out. Novels and plays were read in class. Kids took turns, myself included, reading brief passages. If there was more book than cl

Crying in the car

I used to cry on long car trips as an infant up until age 5. It wasn’t due to boredom. It was due to sensory processing disorder than accompanied my (undiagnosed back in the 1980’s) autism spectrum disorder. My mom rode in the back seat to comfort me rather than quitting taking me out in the car.             I fortunately outgrew this around age four. I do remember telling my mother later that it was due to the sound of the tires against the road that set me off.             While I am blessed to have outgrown some intolerable sounds like the doorbell, others intensified as my brain continued to develop. Some examples include babies crying and dog barking.             Some experts have theorized that it was solely due to my dad’s sudden death in my teens, but if that were the case, how would one explain the extreme auditory sensitivity before he died? How would that theory stand up in the wake of the progress I have made in the 21 years since his death?             I

Late turning autumn tree

Normally, this tree would be as bald as Mr. T by late October. An extended Indian summer (interrupted by random cold days) has allowed the trees to keep their leaves longer. Sometimes technology lends to nature, as in the case of this photo. I found pixlr express for desktop. I can create different moods and, in some cases, make nature look better. An overcast sky dulled a lot of things such as the hues of the background treeline. I am reminded of Psalm 24:1-2 "The earth is the  Lord 's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,   for he has  founded it upon  the seas and established it upon the rivers."  God also puts His creativity in the minds of men, such as those who created this free software. May He be praised, Amen. Pixlr express:  https://pixlr.com/express/

Working in retail as an undiagnosed autistic teenager

When I was 16, I got a notion in my head that I needed to get a job. I wasn't ready at 15, when most kids in the U.S. start getting "legitimate" jobs-mostly in the retail industry. I wanted a job to prove myself. Nobody made me go to Office Max for an interview. I picked Office Max, because I loved how office supplies smell. I love to organize things and figured that it would be quiet (I don't know why) in an office supply store. My mom let me know that there was no pressure from her. I think she was trying to dissuade me without making me feel like I couldn't do anything. She was willing to let me try. The interview went well. I knew to dress nice and be on time. The man asked me questions like if I was okay with wearing a uniform. Yes. Was I OK with taking direction (that seemed like an odd question to me. I always generally did what was asked of me). Yes. Did I have a set amount of salary? I said no. I didn't know a job candidate had any right to n

Does autism get easier as one ages? A personal perspective

Based on my personal experience: somewhat yes and mostly no. Yes, some of my sensory sensitivities become tolerable. For me, this meant being able to go from screaming and covering my eyes every time a flash fired on a camera to being able to endure purple pupils following a photograph.  By my preteen years, I was able to handle the doorbell ringing instead of freaking out by both the startle and the noise. What a relief it was that my mother could play the organ at mid-volume in the den next to my bedroom and I could handle it with my door closed. Being forewarned, I could even tolerate the vacuum being turned on and even being in the same room. But by the time I turned 14, I began to notice increasing sensitivity to sounds already too loud , especially when accompanied by startle. I began to experience more meltdowns more frequently and much lower overall frustration tolerance. Add to this intense bullying during middle school and high-school years and the sudde

Going for EEG Pt. 2- the test results

My QEEG test results On May 8, 2009, I met with the doctor who did my QEEG (quantitative electroencephalogram) a few weeks ago to get the test results. He told me, in summary, that my brain is in a permanent state of hyper-arousal.   They even have a name for this amount of extreme over-activity as it displays images of the affected brain in vivid yellow, orange and red- THE RING OF FIRE . It is also called this because the brain never calms down. I would like to state that I do not have a sleep disorder. The irony isn't lost on me, and I'm extremely grateful.  In both the absolute and relative images, between 12 hertz and 25 hertz of power is where my brain takes on the all the attributes of a sun-storm . I also show signs of stress disorder and a degree of attention deficit, though it is not ADD/ADHD.  ADD/ADHD is caused by the brain working too slow to process new information. In contrast, my brain is working way too fast to take in much of anything. 

Going for an EEG

Me getting an EEG in 2009 I am wearing a tight-fitting skull cap. The things on the skull cap are injected with gel and then wires called leads are connected to them. Before the skull cap can go on, though, I must have my forehead wiped with a gritty cleanser that will allow for the leads to get a "cleaner" picture of my brain activity.  The skull cap has 2 straps that my mom fastens to my chest. It is now time for my EEG. Unlike EEG's that map out images of the brain, this one will be recording my brain waves. The objective is to find out if there is any disturbance in my brain waves, and if there is, enough to warrant intervention. If you are touch sensitive, I do not see how you could have this test done. I am not touch sensitive, but I found when the gel was being injected into the little red things, it felt like my scalp was getting the injection. I even asked if they were giving me a shot in my scalp. They assured me I was not getting an injection