Going Out
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Although I am able to walk, due to my physical and mental disabilities I can have problems walking even short distances outdoors. I can sometimes make short trips to familiar places independently, I need prompting, reassurance, and guidance to make good progress on foot. I also stop frequently and make very slow progress. Although walking outdoors is always problematic, the degree of difficulty I have depends on my health and the situation. The longer or less familiar the journey, the more likely I am to have difficulties, but it is not possible to predict when or how badly something will go wrong. Typically, I avoid walking outdoors whenever possible. I find going outdoors at all to be very difficult, distressing, and potentially dangerous. I require supervision, guidance, and prompting because I may fall, become confused, place myself in danger, forget where I'm going, be unable to ask for help, or experience anxiety and panic attacks. Although I can sometimes go to familiar places alone, I have many of the same problems in familiar places as I do in unfamiliar ones and many of my difficulties are unpredictable. I can only get as far from home as I can walk as I can neither drive nor take the bus alone. Prior to Going OutI have difficulty planning and preparing to go out. I may go out to perform a specific task and have difficulty finding or completely forget to take necessary items. e.g. Going to the bank without my bank card. I don't know what order to do things in to prepare myself to go out, and often end up back-tracking because I didn't do things in the right sequence (3c) when I finally decide to go out, I often forget or don't leave enough time for what I am intending to do and arrive as shops are shutting (3d), I am often late even for things that are part of my routine, It takes several days of self-talk and prompting go out at all (1a,3f) and I can tolerate a maximum of one outing every few days.Getting Anywhere and Getting Things DoneGetting StartedI have difficulty getting started walking due to problems with motivation and initiating action. Route Planning, Navigation and ChangePhysicalDistractionI have very strong obsessions (6d) and am irresistably fascinated (7a) by lights and shiny objects. I will wander off to look at, touch, and investigate anything that catches my eye. I can become so deeply absorbed (7a) that I become unaware of my surroundings or danger (7e) (e.g. wander into the road to follow a vehicle with a flashing light).Coping with Being OutAwarenessFears and AnxietiesI can become overwhelmed and terrified by crowds. "shutdown" triggered by fears and phobias. I have anxiety and panic attacks frequently when outdoors. I easily and unpredictably become extremely distressed, anxious, panicky, phobic, overwhelmed (2b) and 'shutdown' (7g) in many ordinary situations, e.g.: simply leaving the house, even when I want to go public toilets (8f) sensory hypersensitivities: high pitched noises, perfumes, etc. any social situation or proximity to people (5b), especially being bumped into unfamiliar places (5b) and unexpected events such as a change in route (5b, 3e, pg. 3) or a shop being shut. need for a spontaneous outing (I will often refuse to go, even if it is important) any disruption of a ritual (e.g. If the door I always go through is broken) windy weather, and certain common objects (e.g. Candles) These incidents can cause me to be unable to leave the house, enter some places or walk without extreme distress, and to behave oddly, self-stimulate, self-harm (9a), shutdown (7g), or otherwise lose awareness.Behaviour ProblemsI can have unusual or problematic behaviours when outdoors. My behaviour when I am stressed makes me obviously vulnerable and I am completely helpless in such a state. Although I am not aggressive, my odd behaviour can be disruptive. I will touch/fiddle/play with items in shops, touch othe people's cars, go out inappropriately dressed or unwashed. (5f,g) I will sometimes shout at people, even in public (6e). I withdraw into myself engage in self-stimulating behaviour (2g), and fail to acknowledge other people. (7b) Self-stimulating behaviour (2g) can cause me to collide with others, look vulnerable, disturb others, or become unresponsiveIf Something Goes WrongOther ChangesI become distressed, panicky (8b), and can't think of alternatives when something goes wrong (3e). e.g. If I have a flat bike tire, I won't go at all rather than walking; if I drop my shopping, I get confused about how to pick it up and continue; I can't plan an alternate route (3e) I stop whenever I hear a siren because I am unable to locate the source of the sound, even if it is a significant distance away.DangerI can't ask for help or directions I sometimes self-harm or put myself at risk while walking My fascination with light and shiny objects can cause me to wander into the road if I see a vehicle with a flashing light on it. I have difficulty crossing the road due to sensory issuesHelp NeededI need prompting to overcome these problems. Oly artificial help is orthotics in my shoes. Reliant on someone else to physically guide me away from distractions and to keep moving. |
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