No kidding; I'd hate to be restrained. Actually, I *do* hate to be restrained, though it hasn't happened to me since I was a child. I would just panic and struggle until I was so exhausted I couldn't move any more.
So... let's see. Options.
Well, first of all, mittens or similar would do the job, but they'd also stop you from using your hands, which is no good unless you use it for night-time. At night, you wouldn't need to use your hands, and it might be more comfortable.
If you hit your head, you could wear a helmet instead of using arm splints, so that when you hit your head you wouldn't hurt yourself. I read that you are also hurting your hands, so you might want a helmet that is padded on the outside as well.
Arm splints... I don't know where to find them, but I'm pretty sure a doctor who treats joint and bone problems might be able to help you; or else an occupational therapist. You would want ones that hold your elbows at a comfortable position, so that you won't punch your head; and you'll want to take them off sometimes so that your muscles in your arms don't get weaker.
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I have extreme sensory issues that involve using the toilet and underwear which means I wear tena pants I am not embaresed about it because it is who I am I do not know any different
Good for you. Don't ever let anybody make you feel ashamed. Disability is not something to be ashamed of or pitied; it's just a normal part of your life.
I agree with the people who are talking about finding out why you hurt yourself and what might be changed so that you do not hurt yourself as much. Keeping yourself from physical harm is naturally important, but if you can protect your head, then all you've got left are minor injuries to your hands and arms, and that means you have some time to figure things out. Try to figure out what makes you more likely to hurt yourself, whether it's too much sensory input, or emotions overloading you, or socializing too much, or even just thinking too hard or being forced to talk too much.
If you're going into a care home, you and your mom will want to make sure that you know their policy on restraint. You say you don't like it, and I don't blame you. Ironically, people have been badly hurt because they were restrained too roughly or by people who didn't know how to do it safely, and if you can stay away from needing restraint at all, that would be the safest thing to do. Talk (write?) to your mom. You want to work together, because sometimes they don't listen to the person with the actual disability (which is stupid but happens a lot), so your mom might need to back you up so they'll actually listen. You want non-restraint alternatives, preferably ones which you can control--you can decide when you need arm splints or a helmet and when you're okay and you don't. You are the one who has lived with your particular type of autism your whole life and you know more about it than anybody else; so they should listen to you.
We do have a helmet but its all chewed up from how much I hit it its a foam sort of one
17 Mar 2013, 1:55 pm
