Coping with change

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I'm almost 20, I still don't like change but I try not to let it freak me out. The thing I have to deal with the most is a change in my routine (like anything happening besides my classes at school), it will stress me out even if it is something I am looking forward to (like going to see my favorite band in concert with my best friend last October). I can't control what stresses me and what doesn't, even stupid little things, that I KNOW are stupid little things, will stress me. Meds help with the emotional side of stress, but my body still reacts to it with stomach aches, headaches, and restlessness. I deal with change a little better now than I used to. I know now that I will survive it in the end and I have learned to call my parents when I'm stressing about somethings because they can help me come up with a strategy for coping or more often they affirm what I was already thinking. That helps me a lot.

In regards to change? I'd say that it has not been easy for me to sometimes cope with moving to new places as well trying to learn new occupational skills however, I continue to do my best regardless though.


Professor X

Spare any change?topic

A change is not always as good as a holiday. I just moved from a home I had for 13 years, and I was not happy, even though it will probably work itself out. New jobs are also a worry. I just get used to one employer and then I have to go to another. I start yet another new job on Monday and
I worry about how well I will do. I was warned that one wrong move and no more job, so I have to be careful. (If I am too slow at this job, I will not be kept on.)

Always optimistic, I continue.

My mom died her hair irish red for a time. It took several weeks for me to recognize her on sight again.
I would be looking for her in a grocery store walking past the aisles, look at her and keep going. I passed her like three times until I remembered exactly what sweater she was wearing that day and looked for that rather than looking for her head.

I think younger Aspies can deal with change a little better than older Aspie's. I and my Dad are proof of that. We're both Aspies.

For instance, I suddenly uprooted myself and moved halfway across Tennessee to move in with my fiance. I am having a damn hard time dealing with the transition but at least I am slowly coming to terms with the move. It's been very hard dealing with the stress but in my youth, I have a certain amount of resolve.

My Dad, however, is 78 years old and he absolutely WOULD NOT be able to acclimate to the sudden change of moving across the state. He would have a proper meltdown just at the mention of moving.

Younger people have a better time at adapting. Seeing myself and watching my father has proven to me that older Aspies have a lot harder time adpating. Older autistic people even.

I would really have struggled with this as a kid... I remember feeling frightened and not recognising my grandmother because I saw her without her glasses on. These days, though, it wouldn't be a problem for me. As for your little guy, who can say? I hope he finds these things easier in the future because it will be difficult for him otherwise.

It has gotten easier for me since I had my diagnosis years back and the knowledge I gained from what went along with this disorder. I usually check out books from the library on how to cope with stressors and other stuff. Changes can still be somewhat of a struggle with me. But I try to grit my teeth and go with the flow. The outcome however, feels rewarding. I've had people tell me I'm so much different than I was say 5 years back.

well i hope so. because i will be living in on my own soon and i dont want to get upset if my routine is changed

Unpleasant and unexpected changes in my routines sometimes stress me. But someone I know dying his hair wouldn't stress me. I would just find the new colour horrible, just because it's new. I always need a bit of time before I get used to new things and it would take me about a week before I could "objectivly" judge a new hair colour.

I just hate new things. New people, new places, new everything,... I have always that strange uncomfortable feeling of being in a unknown unfamiliar environnement. I need to get my beartings and get used to that new environnement and it takes a lot of time.

A few months ago one of my classes went from being a sit-wherever-you-want class to assigned seating, I totally flipped. I was venting to friends of mine that are in the class on xfire and they're all like, "Wow man calm down its no big deal you're taking this way too seriously."

I've been resistant to change my entire life, I just never really questioned it too much. Then a month ago I found out about AS/autism and it all made sense.

I still freak out if someone touches my room, one of the few good things about moving out. I'm fine with any change that I bring about, it's unpredictable change that still bugs me a little bit. I'm better than I was when I was younger though.

I agree with Sid that some unexpected changes are okay. Our boys need to learn to cope with these things. As life is full of unexpected events. It's not planned stuff.