Well, I just had one of those REALLY tricky moments last weekend... The kind of thing someone my age is *supposed* to have under control... but I really didn't feel very "high functioning" last Saturday :(

We had to go to a wedding, and I KNEW I was going to be overwhelmed by it (because it was a long do, starting early afternoon and lasting into the evening), I had even told my partner that I would struggle if there was no break (between the do and the evening meal), and that I would go home early if it wasn't for the fact that the evening do included my favourite meal (curry) in a fantastic restaurant.

I managed to keep it together until the end of the meal but, "thanks" to being squished right into the middle of it all (I tried to get a seat out at the edge away from the hustle and bustle but was squished forward and ended up next to the bride whom I didn't really know) I kinda fell apart... apart from being very tired (I hadn't drunk much but was exhausted as we'd been there since half one) I seem to have totally "switched off" and was stimming like mad (physically) as well as vocally.... my partner later told me I was "making weird screeching noises"...

Oooops... I know I did a lot of vocal stimming as a kid but thought I had it under control! When we finally got home I was fine again, tired but fine... I just hope the bride was too drunk to remember... what with her being a psych nurse I guess she must be used to that kind of stuff :eek:

Anyone got any tips on how to avoid stuff like that? By the time I realised I was overstimulated (ironically stimulants help with this but as I was drinking I had only taken half the daily dose of Ritalin and stopped once we got to the venue) it was too late...

The only positive thing about this is that it seems to have shut him (my partner) up about the whole "well everybody does that, doesn't mean you're really autistic" affair. (A diagnosis obviously didn't convince him...)

I have had similar experiences.

I have discovered that I can often tell when I am about to overload. I mitigate it by avoidance and by trying to work around it as best I can. Sometimes I just have to get away from it all and find a place where I can recover.

I like to retreat to my apartment , or some place quiet. I may just find a comfortable chair to try and relax in, and I may wrap myself snugly with a blanket to help ease the load a bit. If I am very, very overwhelmed, I might go to bed and wrap myself in a blanket and opt to take a nap (if I can).

If I am in public, wearing my favorite denim jacket and a pair of sunglasses helps me to feel more comfy and secure and reduces my sensory load just a little.

In any case, I try to get away from the oversimulation and into a quiet, comfy, softly lit place to recover in. I don't know if any of this will work for anybody else, but it sure helps me a lot.

I don't know what to tell you about vocal stimming. As far as I know I don't do that. I sometimes catch myself rocking, but I am trying to learn to not do that and I try to shake my leg or cross my arms and "hug" myself to burn the excess off without rocking. I am having mediocre results with that.

I am so humiliated when I rock at work or in a public place. I don't want people to think I am a nutcase, so I am trying to teach myself something that won't be so visually offensive to the average person. Sometimes I fold my arms and "hug" myself. That seems to help a litte sometimes and people do not seem to react negatively to that. As far as I know I never flap, spin, or make noises.

Yes, I have also had friends tell me "everyone does that". Over time they have come to understand that I do have issues with sensory and they try to help me out. On one occasion I had a friend spot that I was overloading and rescue me from the situation.

I am still trying to adjust to the "high functioning" label, but it looks like truth to me so now I am learning how to cope, and trying to ease my friends into accepting me as "just a little autistic".

In time , I think they will accept it. Myself, I have no choice but to accept it, and adapt.

Me :D


Well, I just had one of those REALLY tricky moments last weekend... The kind of thing someone my age is *supposed* to have under control... but I really didn't feel very "high functioning" last Saturday :(

We had to go to a wedding, and I KNEW I was going to be overwhelmed by it (because it was a long do, starting early afternoon and lasting into the evening), I had even told my partner that I would struggle if there was no break (between the do and the evening meal), and that I would go home early if it wasn't for the fact that the evening do included my favourite meal (curry) in a fantastic restaurant.

I managed to keep it together until the end of the meal but, "thanks" to being squished right into the middle of it all (I tried to get a seat out at the edge away from the hustle and bustle but was squished forward and ended up next to the bride whom I didn't really know) I kinda fell apart... apart from being very tired (I hadn't drunk much but was exhausted as we'd been there since half one) I seem to have totally "switched off" and was stimming like mad (physically) as well as vocally.... my partner later told me I was "making weird screeching noises"...

Oooops... I know I did a lot of vocal stimming as a kid but thought I had it under control! When we finally got home I was fine again, tired but fine... I just hope the bride was too drunk to remember... what with her being a psych nurse I guess she must be used to that kind of stuff :eek:

Anyone got any tips on how to avoid stuff like that? By the time I realised I was overstimulated (ironically stimulants help with this but as I was drinking I had only taken half the daily dose of Ritalin and stopped once we got to the venue) it was too late...

The only positive thing about this is that it seems to have shut him (my partner) up about the whole "well everybody does that, doesn't mean you're really autistic" affair. (A diagnosis obviously didn't convince him...)