Any tips on travelling/crowds etc.

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Hi there,
My son (19, AS) and I are travelling to another city to see a band that he is really keen on. He is so keen to see this band that he assures me he will be fine with all the necessary travelling etc. to get there, but I am not so sure.
We will need to catch a plane to Sydney, then a train from the airport, then a bus to the hotel. Not to mention the venue which will be somewhat crowded and noisy. I wasn't that worried about him, I mean, I'm sure all the sensory overload will be uncomfortable, and he HATES planes, but I know how much he wants to see this band, and when he wants something bad enough he can usually cope with the extra stress.
However, just going for a short trip to the markets on Sunday freaked him out...he had his hands over his ears and eventually walked out leaving me with a armful of veges.
Now, you may think I dragged him along to the market, but I do know better than that. He actually said he wanted to go!
So, I guess what I am asking for here, is if anyone has any advice for us, to make the trip less stressful for him.
Any ideas??

Well, I can say from experience that just really wanting to do something can make all the difference.

I suffered from panic attacks so severe that I was housebound literally for 4 years. It was only when I found someone I really wanted to meet, who lived across the Atlantic from me, that I finally got out of the house. (This was after 2 years of knowing her online and by telephone, after she'd been carefully vetted by my mother - I was only 16 at the time!) I flew 8 hours from London to New Jersey - by myself - to stay for 8 days with this person's family. It was the most amazing trip of my life, and amazingly I managed the whole flight without panicking. I was very nervous... but my desire for the outcome outweighed my sensory issues.

Another thing that helps is having a 'survival kit'. Mine consists of a bottle of water to sip, a pack of mint candies to suck, my Rescue Remedy (this is an AWESOME tincture that can be dropped onto the tongue, or sprayed, at the onset of panicky feelings. It's herbal - no drugs - but it has a definite calming effect), and a familiar trinket (such as my 'calm blue marble'). Just the presence of those items is calming, but they help with panic too. I also make sure to have dark glasses to help with light sensitivity (I have a specific tint that really helps), ear plugs for noise reduction, and my mp3-player to listen to to drown everything else out.

I wish you the best of luck! I'm sure the concert will be great, and well worth the journey

I love traveling, especially on the train. Just sitting there and staring out the window, watching the scenery go by. Some aspects you son is sure to love. Aspies are very good at ignoring their external circumstances, especially when they have something else to think of. Does he have a ipod or a nintendo ds? Or anything else that can absorb his attention for a lot of the duration?


I've long since gotten over my fear of noise etc, but I do have distinct memories of being a child and covering my ears as a motorbike rode by. These days it's loud MEANINGLESS noise thats the worst, intelligible loud noise isn't half as bad. I suppose it's the large amount of people that does it really, so much noise with nothing to lock onto.

if i ever have to fly i get drunk on the plane. hah. although now i don't do that so much because if i go anywhere its on a train

Hi - at 45 I travel a lot in airports and here are a few things to make it more fun.

Take a figit object like silly putty to smush -- it is very calming.
So is chewing gum
Avoid sitting under overhead flouressent lights - near windows if available.
Also see if your son can do early preboard. It is quite normal to preboard people with handicapps etc. that way you are seated and calm when the rest of the hords are packing in.

In stores I get less disoriented if I avoid those with piped in music and choose ones with natural light.

Lastly plan the trip step by step and if you forsee a change explain the change and the reason earlier rather than later.

Foam earplugs.

Thanks Julieme,
I like the idea of pre-boarding the plane, as all the people pushing and shoving in the aisle can be quite stressful...I will phone the airline and see if something can be arrranged.
Also, planning the trip sounds great to Liam...he feels very comfortable with that one!

To Juliekitty...Earplugs can be a problem to Liam, as he finds the sensation of them in his ears too uncomfortable for words. Are foam ones less intrusive? we have tried the gel ones before which were no good.

Take something that is his, something he finds comfort in, make sure he is wearing his favourite clothes, as in comfort clothes. an MP3 player is a good idea. and I would strongly recomend the Rescue remedy. Also a calming tea through out the journey like Valarian or Tranquility, both Herbal and very calming. Don't get stressed your self because that will make it worse for him.
And have a great time. A pack of cards might be a good idea it will give you both something to do and keep your minds occupied as well as a few books that he is reading, or wants to read.

I love travelling, and can just about manage with crowds.

When I was about 2, my mum told me I hated crowds and new places. Crowds can be a problem for me now so I keep my head slightly up but a little down as well as dodge oncoming people.

I always wear long pants and a light jacket to travel. It makes me feel safer in crowds, and it prevents people brushing up against my skin, which is very unsettling to me.

You can get earplugs designed for children or women, who normally have thinner ear canals than men - it may be that your son's ear canals are on the smaller side. You can also get noise-cancelling headphones, or just headphones that will block out some noise.

If he can sit by the window on the plane, no one will be brushing past him while walking up the aisle, or asking him to move so they can get out of their seat. He could also wear an eye-mask during the flight to minimise visual stimuli, which might result in him coping better on the rest of the journey.

Does he have any 'stim-toys' that he can fiddle with on the journey, to distract him from everything going on around him?

It could help to plan some extra time into your trip. For example, spend a few hours in the hotel room before the concert. This will give him some time to rest and recharge before the concert.

You could always recommend my tried and tested method of hand-flapping and incoherant muttering; people stay right away