Read Online The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida - Free Book Online
Authors: Naoki Higashida
Tags: Psychology
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way we can learn to do this is by practising, a little at a time.
Q56 D O YOU NEED VISUAL SCHEDULES ?
I understand that any plan is only a plan, and is never definite, but I just cannot take it when a fixed arrangement doesn’t proceed as per the visual schedule. I understand that changes can’t always be avoided, but my brain shouts back, No way, that’s not acceptable . So speaking for myself, I’m not a big fan of having visual schedules around the place. People with autism may look happier with pictures and diagrams of where we’re supposed to be and when, but in fact we end up being restricted by them. They make us feel like robots, with each and every action pre-programmed. What I’d suggest is that instead of showing us visual schedules, you talk through the day’s plan with us, verbally and beforehand. Visual schedules create such a strong impression on us that if a change occurs, we get flustered and panicky.
Observing out that the new change can also be shown on the schedule is beside the point, I’m afraid. The message I want to get across here is: please don’t use visual things like pictures on our schedules because then the activities on the schedules, and their times and timings, get imprinted too vividly onto our memories. And when that happens, we end up stressing ourselves over whether what we’re doing now is or isn’t matching up with what was on the schedule. In my case, I end up checking the time so often that I’m no longer able to enjoy what I’m doing.
People who don’t live with autism often think that the rest of us won’t be able to understand the plan for the day just by listening. But have a go, and although we might ask you the same questions over and over, we will get the hang of it, and ask you less and less. Sure, this will take time, but I think it’s easier for us in the long run. Of course, when it comes to explaining the order that you do certain actions in, or instructions about how to make such-and-such an object, visual aids, like pictures, can help us a lot. But being shown photos of places we’re going to visit on an upcoming school trip, for example, can spoil our fun.
Q57 W HAT CAUSES PANIC ATTACKS AND MELTDOWNS ?
I don’t know if you can understand this one. Panic attacks can be triggered by many things, but even if you set up an ideal environment that gets rid of all the usual causes for a given person, we would still suffer panic attacks now and then.
One of the biggest misunderstandings you have about us is your belief that our feelings aren’t as subtle and complex as yours. Because how we behave can appear so childish in your eyes, you tend to assume that we’re childish on the inside, too. But of course, we experience the same emotions that you do. And because people with autism aren’t skilful talkers, we may in fact be even more sensitive than you are. Stuck here inside these unresponsive bodies of ours, with feelings we can’t properly express, it’s always a struggle just to survive. And it’s this feeling of helplessness which sometimes drives us half crazy, and brings on a panic attack or a meltdown.
When this is happening to us, please just let us cry, or yell, and get it all out. Stay close by and keep a gentle eye on us, and while we’re swept up in our torment, please stop us hurting ourselves or others.
Q58 W HAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON AUTISM ITSELF ?
I think that people with autism are born outside the regime of civilization. Sure, this is just my own made-up theory, but I think that, as a result of all the killings in the world and selfish planet-wrecking that humanity has committed, a deep sense of crisis exists.
Autism has somehow arisen out of this. Although people with autism look like other people physically, we are in fact very different in many ways. We are more like travellers from the distant, distant past. And if, by our being here, we could help the people of the world remember what truly matters for the Earth, that
Q56 D O YOU NEED VISUAL SCHEDULES ?
I understand that any plan is only a plan, and is never definite, but I just cannot take it when a fixed arrangement doesn’t proceed as per the visual schedule. I understand that changes can’t always be avoided, but my brain shouts back, No way, that’s not acceptable . So speaking for myself, I’m not a big fan of having visual schedules around the place. People with autism may look happier with pictures and diagrams of where we’re supposed to be and when, but in fact we end up being restricted by them. They make us feel like robots, with each and every action pre-programmed. What I’d suggest is that instead of showing us visual schedules, you talk through the day’s plan with us, verbally and beforehand. Visual schedules create such a strong impression on us that if a change occurs, we get flustered and panicky.
Observing out that the new change can also be shown on the schedule is beside the point, I’m afraid. The message I want to get across here is: please don’t use visual things like pictures on our schedules because then the activities on the schedules, and their times and timings, get imprinted too vividly onto our memories. And when that happens, we end up stressing ourselves over whether what we’re doing now is or isn’t matching up with what was on the schedule. In my case, I end up checking the time so often that I’m no longer able to enjoy what I’m doing.
People who don’t live with autism often think that the rest of us won’t be able to understand the plan for the day just by listening. But have a go, and although we might ask you the same questions over and over, we will get the hang of it, and ask you less and less. Sure, this will take time, but I think it’s easier for us in the long run. Of course, when it comes to explaining the order that you do certain actions in, or instructions about how to make such-and-such an object, visual aids, like pictures, can help us a lot. But being shown photos of places we’re going to visit on an upcoming school trip, for example, can spoil our fun.
Q57 W HAT CAUSES PANIC ATTACKS AND MELTDOWNS ?
I don’t know if you can understand this one. Panic attacks can be triggered by many things, but even if you set up an ideal environment that gets rid of all the usual causes for a given person, we would still suffer panic attacks now and then.
One of the biggest misunderstandings you have about us is your belief that our feelings aren’t as subtle and complex as yours. Because how we behave can appear so childish in your eyes, you tend to assume that we’re childish on the inside, too. But of course, we experience the same emotions that you do. And because people with autism aren’t skilful talkers, we may in fact be even more sensitive than you are. Stuck here inside these unresponsive bodies of ours, with feelings we can’t properly express, it’s always a struggle just to survive. And it’s this feeling of helplessness which sometimes drives us half crazy, and brings on a panic attack or a meltdown.
When this is happening to us, please just let us cry, or yell, and get it all out. Stay close by and keep a gentle eye on us, and while we’re swept up in our torment, please stop us hurting ourselves or others.
Q58 W HAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON AUTISM ITSELF ?
I think that people with autism are born outside the regime of civilization. Sure, this is just my own made-up theory, but I think that, as a result of all the killings in the world and selfish planet-wrecking that humanity has committed, a deep sense of crisis exists.
Autism has somehow arisen out of this. Although people with autism look like other people physically, we are in fact very different in many ways. We are more like travellers from the distant, distant past. And if, by our being here, we could help the people of the world remember what truly matters for the Earth, that
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