Confusion from Distraction
I have a very chatty family. I used to wonder why people said things that had no purpose. I still don’t understand, but hubby explained to me that small talk is a way that people connect. I have learned to do it on purpose at times.
Beyond the lack of purpose, the constant or intermittent flow of chatter distracts me, and I become either immobile or roam the house doing little things because it’s hard to have my own thoughts. I feel angry, but as an adult with autism, I have learned to keep it to myself to a point. Children usually don’t know how to regulate themselves to not “act out” or have a “melt down.”
Once I added my business to the mix, the interruptions increased to a degree that I hadn’t dealt with before. They are normal and good interruptions that are par for the course of a day of a business owner. It took two years to learn strategies to cope so I could get projects done.
Okay, I’m not super adept at it and may never be, so I find time to hyper-focus. Such intense concentration on a topic or project is a feature of autism, and it relaxes me so I can deal with the rest of the world. It takes me away from distraction and envelops me in serenity. It quiets my mind and my feelings.
Maybe hyper-focus is autism meditation.
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Exactly! I know without my hyper-focus time (my art) I am overloaded, tense, grumpy and have more of a challenge to operate in the NT world. I agree its good medicine!!!
I call it being “in the zone”. I love it when I am so focused that it feels like coming up for air when I disengage from a project.
I do miss doing art. Now, I find hyper-focus projects to do at work.
good content
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Good and in depth article but full of useful information
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Hi Eileen,
Just wanted to say that I think your blog is VERY interesting and inspiring and I think that its a great resource for readers to have a window into the day to day of an adult with autism. Hearing how you “enter the zone” and think of chit-chat and social gatherings gives such an insight into the behaviors of children with autism in similar situations.
If you ever need additional resources, stop by & say hello http://fb.me/rethinkautism we believe in supporting progress in the autism community.
Best,
Kent
Thank you very much for that dazzling article
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