If you’d like to know how we autistic people think, first, let’s explain what we think.
For me, at the beginning of each day, deep in my subconscious, on a normal day, I’m thinking:
Here is how my day is going to go.
The meetings, the tasks, when the kids wake up, what I’ll have for breakfast/lunch.
I take comfort knowing that this is how my day will go.
Welcome to The Life Autistic, where our comfort is in predictability.
But our discomfort? Well…
Since I take some extreme solace in my day’s order, anything that could jeopardize that order really freaks me out. It just does.
I wish it weren’t the case, but even innocent questions like “When are you off?” or “What all do you have going on today?” or “How long do you think you’ll be in this meeting?” just send these tremors through me.
Like I fear my order will be wrecked, and the nice, cozy routine is about to be altered, shaking my foundation.
SO.
If you want to STOP THE PANIC.
It’s easy.
Start with WHY.
Just start with why!
My family has known me for a while, so they’ve gotten accustomed to it.
“Hey Hunter, since we may be having an uninvited guest show up this afternoon, were you planning on heading to The Cheese Shop this afternoon?”
“Hey Hunter, since Mo’s not feeling too well, what time will you be off today?”
“Hey, something came up over at Dad’s and I might need help – how many more meetings do you have left today?”
Folks, this helps us so much.
And frankly, it helps EVERYONE.
Start with why, stop the panic.
The Life Autistic 