Dealing with the Unexpected

As I sit here writing this blog, I am in the process of not only dealing with some jet lag, but also having to return two hours behind schedule due to severe weather in Charlotte, NC as I was returning from Tampa, FL. It was not what I had planned, but those were the cards I was dealt with.

Now what happened to me yesterday was an unexpected event and it’s something that anyone whether they are autistic, neurodivergent or whatever have to learn to deal with because it’s a part of life. We all have to deal with the unexpected in more ways than one. Unfortunately, some of us cannot deal with the unexpected simply because we don’t want to deal with the unexpected. Neurodivergent individuals like myself prefer things to be predictable as much as possible. There’s something about predictability that makes us feel secure and safe and when something unexpected happens, we react to it badly.

Of course, the best way to deal with the unexpected for autistic and neurodiverse people is to use coping strategies. For me, it’s listening to music on my 7 year old I-Pod and to stim. Stimming is a very useful coping technique that autistic and neurodiverse people do. Whether it’s walking around back and forth, playing with a fidget spinner or the aforementioned listening to music, it helps me get through whatever situation I find myself in whether it’s getting stuck at an airport or when there is a sudden change in my routine.

Naturally, it’s not just airport delays that are unexpected and disruptive for autistic and neurodiverse individuals. The unexpected can come in a variety of ways whether it’s a professional or personal environment. But I will say that sometimes the unexpected can be a good thing as well.

Take yesterday for example, I originally was looking at booking on 10:15am flight to Providence via Charlotte that would have gotten me back at 4:35pm yesterday afternoon. The second leg of that original selection from Charlotte-Providence ended up getting cancelled first due to mechanical issues and then due to the storm in Charlotte last night. Had I taken that original option, I would have been screwed and my situation would have been much more worser than it already was.

Still the unexpected is just that…the unexpected. We want things to be predictable but it sadly doesn’t work out that way. What happened yesterday was unexpected and I just went with the flow because it is the nature of the job that I do…which is going to towns and cities to share my story with you.

And if it helps, have someone be there with you for when the unexpected does arrive so you don’t go through it alone. Remember that your family and friends have also been through the unexpected many times and can be helpful in helping you navigate through it.

Catch you all later!

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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.