ASD and trust exercises

[harrietjansson]

I signed up for a course in theatre. This week we had our first lesson or meeting. We were twelve students and one teacher. It wasn't really that much doing theater. We focused mostly on doing trust exercises.

One of the exercises: One person closing the eyes, the other person holding you in your hand walking with you around the room. It was hard for me to not open my eyes when doing this. The thing is: we had twelve people walking around in the room at once.

Have you done trust exercises?
In what way do you think such exercises are good for people with ASD?

My thinking was that many of us people with ASD are not really group people. We are not very good at being in groups. All I know is that many people with ASD have said that knowing what your role are in a group can be difficult and I say even when you are alone with just one person it can be difficult.

How have you practiced being a part of groups and what really helped you?
Will theatre help with this?

 

[Forest Cat]

Trust is difficult. I used to trust everyone, I thought people were nice and I just trusted what they said. I was so wrong! And when trust is broken, it is not easy to fix. But being in a group, a theatre group can be good I think, a group of people working together can have trust.

 

[Owliet]

Trust is difficult. I used to trust everyone, I thought people were nice and I just trusted what they said. I was so wrong! And when trust is broken, it is not easy to fix. But being in a group, a theatre group can be good I think, a group of people working together can have trust.

I am the same . I was all nice and innocent and trusted people too easy because I assumed they had good intentions. I was wrong, now I’m a suspicious person who doesn’t easily trust. Like you said, once it’s broken, it’s difficult to fix and even if it’s miraculously fixed it is never the same.

 

[Suzette]

I have deep trust issues. I could do that exercise in class because I know it is in others self interest to be on their best behavior, but otherwise not so much.
And frankly, that lack of trust us a good thing. You know, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me".

 

[Judge]

"X-Files, Baby!"

- "Trust No One".

 

[OkRad]

Geez. Not to disparage your experience but that's laughable (not that you had anything to do with that!). The trauma people talk about on here is so far off the page. There has been systematic abuse, racism, ableism, and targeted abuse not just by individuals but systems. Having someone lead you around blindfolded won't restore trust in someone who lost a job because of their race or got abused by the priest in faith they used to love and trust, someone who was targeted because of their disability and abused for decades. How makes up these trust games? Clearly untraumatized NTs.

But to your question can theatre help us? Sure. I think it can help anyone get out of themselves. I think I might try to find a group, in fact. It sounds fun. Since we have to mask anyway, it seems like a nice way to find a new way of masking for a while.

 

[Tom]

I like the one where a person closes their eyes and falls backwards and trusts the group will catch you. But instead let them hit the floor. The expression on their face is really funny.

 

[Gracey]

As part of a Leadership Course I took part in a trust exercise once whereby a chain of ten people with eyes closed were led by one individual around an outdoor course using touch only. No speech.

In single file the chain of people closed their eyes and rested their hands on the shoulders of the person in front.
The 'leader' led the front person holding only their hands and walking forwards leading the line around an (approx) 20 sq m course of right angle corners, steps and obstacles.

On the morning of the exercise I was the leader.
Would I have trusted another participant to guide us all safely around the course?

I never got the opportunity to find out but I'd be doubtful



I have to wonder if Theatre will help with acting/ mimicry and scripts?
By which I mean everyone will be training to 'mask' effectively and believably.
(something you may already be a natural at)

What has helped me most in a group setting?

- Knowing I can make an excuse (bathroom) and leave at any time.

-Observation. Getting a feel for the group dynamics and it's characters.

-Self worth. Believing I have somethings worthwhile I can offer the group.


If you pay close enough attention to a group gathering you'll discover every single person in it is as unique as you are. (diagnostic labels or no)
They're all coming together for a common purpose, which is theatre in this instance.

 

[Thinx]

These exercises are to break the ice and help build trust in a theatre group who aim to work together. I guess they will have had that effect to an extent.

I agree we with ASD are not really people who function at our best in groups. However that doesn't stop us being in groups we may want to be in, and getting what we can from the experience. I have got a lot out of some groups, other groups not so much, and some I have left asap, never to return...

Sounds like you got by in this one, for me I would be interested to see how it develops.

 

[harrietjansson]

These exercises are to break the ice and help build trust in a theatre group who aim to work together. I guess they will have had that effect to an extent.

I agree we with ASD are not really people who function at our best in groups. However that doesn't stop us being in groups we may want to be in, and getting what we can from the experience. I have got a lot out of some groups, other groups not so much, and some I have left asap, never to return...

Sounds like you got by in this one, for me I would be interested to see how it develops.

I don't function well in that group.
The teacher often ask us to do exercices and begin on step 3 instead of step 1.
He askes us to act a specific scene without much expanation and I guess I know why:
Most people don't have ASD issues and are better at just acting. When I act I see it more as a scenic thing whereas most people just act as if it was a social situation. This makes things hard for me.
What do you think?

 

[Thinx]

Yes that sounds difficult for you. How do you cope with what the teacher asks you all to do? I would probably hang back, and watch others to get clues. Then join in. But I would not be comfortable as an actor, I am too self conscious, although I have done some comedy acting or sketches with friends.

 

[harrietjansson]

Yes that sounds difficult for you. How do you cope with what the teacher asks you all to do? I would probably hang back, and watch others to get clues. Then join in. But I would not be comfortable as an actor, I am too self conscious, although I have done some comedy acting or sketches with friends.

Self conscious? Isnt that just exactly what we need?