Comments on: 5 tools to get through Christmas (and other family holidays) https://wrongplanet.net/5-tools-to-get-through-christmas-and-other-family-holidays/ Autism Community Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:24:43 -0600 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.40 By: Tom Huppe https://wrongplanet.net/5-tools-to-get-through-christmas-and-other-family-holidays/#comment-594 Sun, 22 Jan 2017 18:18:34 +0000 http://wpt1301.bptest.net/5-tools-to-get-through-christmas-and-other-family-holidays/#comment-594 thanks, this is a great post

]]> By: Sjero https://wrongplanet.net/5-tools-to-get-through-christmas-and-other-family-holidays/#comment-353 Tue, 22 Dec 2015 04:09:47 +0000 http://wpt1301.bptest.net/5-tools-to-get-through-christmas-and-other-family-holidays/#comment-353 The whole family knows that I’m a little “weird” and “shy” and that’s just how things are with me. So I could probably get away with this a lot more easily Bryan others but I like to bring a book or some sort of activity like to do. An artistic activity or a music player can give you an out to focus on. It gives me an excuse not to have to make eye contact all the time and have to be as active in conversation as the average Neurotypical person would be expected to be. I find it easier to talk to people in a busy environment when you have something you can focus on in your hands that grounds you. Mints, hard candies, and gum are the same thing for me, they sort of dominate my sensory field and let me block out all the yelling family members.

Did I mention that the adults in my family literally speak at a volume level at which the average person would be yelling? It even hurts my voice to try to compete with them and speak in a conversation. So I don’t feel as bad about coming off as rude because I think they’re uncouth. Taking breaks is one of the best things that you can do, I think.

I have a tricky way of getting a break in every 10 minutes or so and that is to appear to be a social butterfly flitting from group to group. Rather than trying to find a quiet space and hoping that people won’t invade and take over and start yaking away, I think it’s easier if you give yourself an excuse to be very mobile and keep walking between groups of people, ostensibly, so that you can visit everyone.

This way you can take little pit stops to the area where the food is or the restroom or an unused room that id sort of quiet or hang out in the hallway or even outside to “look at the beautiful winter snow” (or whatever you can come up with).

]]> By: Jaloria https://wrongplanet.net/5-tools-to-get-through-christmas-and-other-family-holidays/#comment-317 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 12:47:27 +0000 http://wpt1301.bptest.net/5-tools-to-get-through-christmas-and-other-family-holidays/#comment-317 Eliviate * (don’t really intend to worsen it )

]]> By: Jaloria https://wrongplanet.net/5-tools-to-get-through-christmas-and-other-family-holidays/#comment-316 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 12:46:02 +0000 http://wpt1301.bptest.net/5-tools-to-get-through-christmas-and-other-family-holidays/#comment-316 Id really like it if someone could expand on this topic an list a specific collection of stratigies you can use within the party area to elevate anxiety caused by sensory overload, beyond leaving or pre-discussion of a leaving time. I feel adressing the primary issue an minimizing the discomfort is more effective than.only avoiding it. Most of us learn.to hide in.our rooms our bathrooms on Christmas from.a young age. few of us have compiled adequate coping strategies. That’s not to say prediscussion isn’t an.insightful an great suggestion .

]]> By: Duthsa https://wrongplanet.net/5-tools-to-get-through-christmas-and-other-family-holidays/#comment-262 Wed, 22 Jul 2015 18:01:09 +0000 http://wpt1301.bptest.net/5-tools-to-get-through-christmas-and-other-family-holidays/#comment-262 I don’t keep typical holidays, but even so, this could work in these situations, My family does keep them, and either way I end up being kind of picked on, avoiding certain topics, is a good idea. ATM they are still mad at me, and won’t let me explain, that I can’t handle these parties. I just avoided them the whole season,and that got me in deep doo with them. I’ll try this, if I ever get re-invited. One big obstacle is they do not want to believe I’m an Aspei, so trying to get them to do anything is like, even now I am losing trying to explain… Thanks for the article, I like the advise, hope I can remember to use it!

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