When people hear “autistic people don’t like change” they think we mean cancelled events or moving house.
Both true - but it’s much wider. Friendship changes. Loss. Sometimes it’s other things, like being disconcerted by objects being moved. Even changing of seasons.
@AutisticAdam@actuallyautistic I find it very hard when I lose trees from my close neigbourhood. They are not my trees, so I can't decide not to log them down. But it takes me years to get over any trees that are suddenly lost.
@AutisticAdam@actuallyautistic My partner and I call it state change difficulties. It can be as simple as the both of us playing a game for the past two hours, and I suddenly remember we need to get groceries now because the shops are closing in a few hours. WHAM! We suddenly have to state change on multiple levels. Sedentary to mobile, inside to outside, executive function from offline to online, etc. It is difficult every single time. 😵 Yet it is "just” shopping!
As for other changes, I have argued in my blog, that autistic experience of time differs from NT experience. It's less atomistic, for one thing.
I have realized, that in my world, nothing or no one is ever truly lost (unless we turn away from them). What separates also connects. We have frenpockets that can preserve friends over long periods of not connecting, and NT expectations on how to deal with loss clash with that. Wait...that's an interesting thought. Gotta go!👀
I''m a four-season creature and for me, it's very important to be in harmony with seasons. Otherwise, I feel "out of alignment" and get uncomfortable.
Living in a place with very distinct seasons, changing seasons means changes in what I eat, what I wear, my hobbies even what music I listen. I don't really register flowing with seasons as change, because of cyclical nature of the change. October is quite different from June, but this October is not that different from last year or the next year- same fall protocol applies.
My other favorite place in the world, Hawaii, has very subtle seasons (from my perspective, anyway) and that's one of the biggest reasons why I have never dreamed of living there long-term.
@ReimanSaara@AutisticAdam@actuallyautistic I’m so with you on seasons Reiman. Australia is a big country, with a hugely varying climate. I love visiting the more sub-tropical parts, where the sea is warm & swimming is pleasant in late winter, early spring, but I like the more distinct seasons further south. Spring & autumn seem to be getting shorter here as the climate changes, which saddens me as autumn is my favourite season. I actually love change, but on my terms & with plenty of time to plan & prepare. I even like surprises sometimes.
@ReimanSaara@AutisticAdam@actuallyautistic And I suspect that it’s the ADHD part of me that responds well to sudden change & crisis, but then I have to deal with the consequences. 😩
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