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Overstimulation

Overstimulation…it may not seem like a big deal to others, but to us on the autism spectrum it is a big deal. Behavior that is typical with normal minded people can really be harmful to us autistics.

This is especially true in my family where my folks like to ask me ten thousand questions whether it’s about what’s going on in my day or if that they want to try and understand something about what is going on with me. My psychologist also is sometimes guilty asking me so many questions as well.

The truth of the matter is that overstimulation is not just related to verbal sounds but also to other kinds of sounds whether it’s loud noises or specific environments. When we get overstimulated, we have meltdowns or sensory overloads. Trust me, I have had overstimulations that have resulted in overloads or meltdowns and let me tell you…they are not fun.

Some parents and those around us can often misinterpret overstimulation as misbehaving or throwing a tantrum. This is a major problem because when we have meltdowns or overloads, we can’t express what we are feeling very well. This is why we need to express awareness to the public that when we have meltdowns, we aren’t being rude…we just can’t process very well what we are feeling.

Some families may not want to believe the truth and may be in denial about it, but it’s true. We do have these episodes and its sadly a part of how we function as autistic individuals.

We don’t need discipline or reprimanding…we need understanding and acceptance! To do that, we ask you to listen to us…to be understanding what we are feeling. It may take longer for us to process our information…but when we are having a meltdown, we are not being rude in any way, shape or form. It’s just how we feel in specific situations!

Catch you all later!!

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Jeff Snyder

Jeff Snyder

I was born in 1989 in Providence, RI, and have lived my entire life in Seekonk, MA. I was diagnosed with Autism in 1990 and ever since then, I have achieved multiple successes in my life in areas of education, long-term employment, independent living, and speaking/panel engagements.