• Welcome to Autism Forums, a friendly forum to discuss Aspergers Syndrome, Autism, High Functioning Autism and related conditions.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Private Member only forums for more serious discussions that you may wish to not have guests or search engines access to.
    • Your very own blog. Write about anything you like on your own individual blog.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon! Please also check us out @ https://www.twitter.com/aspiescentral

My Asperger’s Syndrome And The Summer

AGXStarseed

Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)

BEACH-660x350.jpg


I didn’t always love the summer. In fact, for many years, it was my least favorite season. I know. That’s weird, right? I mean, most kids love being out of school, spending days with their friends, and going on vacation. But for me, summer always means a break from the norm where I feel most comfortable.

I thrive on structure and routine, and when summer rolls around, all that goes out the window. And while most kids love spending time by the pool with their friends, going to camp, and joining their families on vacation, when I was younger, all those experiences made me very anxious.

But a couple of years ago, all that changed. Here’s how:



Swimming. Many of my feelings about summer changed as I became a better swimmer. When my parents put me in swim lessons just before I went to middle school, I was very nervous about it. I liked being in the water if I could just stand by myself in the shallow end. I didn’t feel safe when there were a lot of other people around. But as my swimming skills improved, I began to really love it.

As this guide on aquatic therapy for kids with autism supports, swimming and other water activities have multiple benefits for kids with autism. For example, it can help with motor skill development, improve mental health, and most importantly, keep us safe. And I’ve certainly benefited in all these areas. Swimming has been a great form of exercise for me and it has given me a mental health boost because it has provided a gateway for me to form friendships. And while I get to swim almost year-round as a member of my high school swim team, now I view summer as an opportunity to swim even more.



Working through my Sensory Processing Disorder. For many families, summer is the time of beach vacations. And of course, being at the beach means sand, lots and lots of sand. A lot people like the feeling of sand between their toes, but when I was younger, I hated it. In fact, I’d wear socks and tennis shoes any time I had to be on the beach with my family. The reason sand was so unpleasant for me is that I have sensory processing disorder. It’s fairly common in kids with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. And for me, it means I’m sensitive to how certain things feel on my skin.

But as I became a better swimmer, I wanted to try spending more time in the ocean. And in order to do that, I had to walk in the sand. I expressed my desire to my Occupational Therapist and she began working with me to help me be able to manage walking in and touching the sand. I still don’t like the way the sand feels on my feet, but I’m able to get through it so that I can spend some time in the ocean.



Finding a comfortable way to travel. Usually, a family will go on at least one vacation during the course of the summer. And the same is true for my family. While, for the most part, I liked our vacations once we arrived at our destinations, getting there was always unpleasant. Air travel made me anxious and antsy. There were too many people and the noises were too loud. But I worked with my parents to develop an air travel routine.

As this article on traveling with a child with Asperger’s notes, knowing each step of the process is helpful. So, before our trips, my parents always give me a rundown of what’s going to happen at each stage of the process—from arriving at the airport to going through security to the flight itself. I also discovered how helpful using my iPhone and iPad can be. Listening to music on my phone helps me block out the loud plane engine and playing a game on my iPad helps keep my mind occupied.

I think it’s important for other kids with Asperger’s Syndrome to understand that if you find some aspects of summer upsetting, you aren’t alone. I felt the same way once, too. But also know that there are steps you can take to make the season an enjoyable one.

---

Allie Gleason, a teen with Asperger’s Syndrome, is part high school student, part volunteer-intern-extraordinaire at EducatorLabs, part cheerleader for all those affected by ASD. Writing articles to help other teens and kids with AS and ASD has become a huge outlet for her.


SOURCE: My Asperger’s Syndrome And The Summer
 
Summer has always been my favorite season. Summer camp, on the other hand, was hell. I couldn't stand being forced to socialize with other kids. I would invariably find myself at the bottom of the social hierarchy and subjected to the cruelty of the mob. Some of my camping experiences would have been pretty good were it not for all the damn kids.
 
I don't like summer. It's my least favorite season. I don't like how blasted hot it is. I can deal with the biting humid cold, but the suffocating humid hot not so much. :confused:
The only good thing about summer is my crickets and frogs are back in my yard and woods. Although I may try to build a few dozen bat houses to help cut down on any chance of mosquitoes. I hate mosquitoes. Almost as much as I hate fire ants. And summer grows all the veggies and stuff that go on grand display during my favorite season, autumn. So many colors and smells and yummy things to eat!

Sand ain't got nothin' on how terrible the ocean tastes.
 
Fortunately, living in the UK we don't really do summer, although the occasional one slips through and we wilt as a race. It is my least favourite season. I overheat and get irritable unless I can get into water.
 
Summer is not my favourite season,here in Australia especially where I live it can get up to 40 plus degrees and I'm very susceptible to heat stroke,as for the beach I think it's pretty and even had my wedding near the ocean but on the grass and not the sand,but I not a good swimmer and don't like the waves crashing on me,I prefer what I call the inbetween seasons of autumn and spring,the temperature is not too extreme and you still have sunshine.
 
Fortunately, living in the UK we don't really do summer, although the occasional one slips through and we wilt as a race. It is my least favourite season. I overheat and get irritable unless I can get into water.

Apparently you have spring like weather in summer! :)
 
I hated most of the summer other than my week at church camp, I wasnt forced to socialize, spent many hours alone with a canoe exploring the lake the camp was located on. And, while I was undiagnosed back then, the one person I "clicked" with was a boy 1 year younger than me that was autistic. We found each other my 2nd year there, and I had someone to go out on the canoe with. Most the time we didn't talk much, just paddled and enjoyed the solitidue of being out on the water. Mike
 

New Threads

Top Bottom