The Spoon Theory

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My new Aspie friend just told me about this. Do any of you go by the Spoon Theory?

lol this is weird.
i mean i understand what it's trying to say...
that people with chronic illnesses and disabilities can easily overburden themselves with things they have to do to maintain their lives. it's trying to make it easier for someone without any disability to understand the constraint of energy distribution through the rigidity of only having 15 spoons.
i can only hope that everyone who just has 15 spoons per day could get lots of help too, because it would suck to have to forgo taking a shower and making dinner in order to get out of bed, get dressed, manage meds, walk the dog, take the kids to school and go to work.
then the next day they have to go to the doctor and pay them the same amount that they would make in a day's work, but you don't have enough energy to actually go to work since they've already been to the doctor and their dog needs to be walked.

I see what you are saying. Maybe someone who uses this method can shed some light on it. I see other posters of it and the spoons can be added or subtracted. There are a lot of posters like the image I put in this thread so the theory must be somewhat well-known I would imagine.

I like the spoons analogy and have experienced it as a blind person. Navigating places, planning transportation, compensating for websites that are visually oriented, ETC. Disability can add more spoons to juggle, for sure. Of course, so can lots of other stuff, like working multiple jobs or having kids.

I think I heard it at some point years ago, thought it was silly, and didn't hear it again until I started coming here. I suppose it's a good way to explain how it can feel to be disabled, but I don't see any other way I could use it.

It certainly applies to my ADD, it's really draining to focus on something I don't want to focus on and when I'm done I think "Yay! I am finally free to think about every random thing that pops into my head again!". It costs a metaphorical spoon every time I have to focus on something uninteresting.

I don't think it applies as well to autism thought, the analogy might need some modifications for that.

Well, each to their own I guess, and if it works for you then fine, but I just don't see how thinking of daily challenges or tasks as spoons would do any good.

Yes, I refer it to quite a bit, and find it very useful. Obviously, for me it's not about things like getting out of bed etc, but the things that are mentally exhausting. I know all about using all my mental spoons for the day (and then some!). The theory really clicks with me, as I have low stamina and get easily stressed, anxious and overwhelmed. I didn't use to be so easily worn out but after my third incident of what I now know was autistic burnout, I have been, I just never bounced back. It doesn't need to be big things either. I have little to go on, so the spoon theory fits me very well once I make it clear than I'm talking about mental things and not physical stuff. (Not that I've ever had much stamina physically either, but I seldom need much either.)

Hmmm... and based on what mikeman7918 and AJishere says, I'm once again wondering if I have ADD. Focusing on boring things drains me completely. Even when I'm highly motivated and doing it for myself. For instance, I love playing games, but reading the rules booklet makes me yawn and unfocus within a few sentences. And I sure wanna play the game, so I'm motivated to learn the rules, I just have a hard time getting through them. Now imagine how difficult it is with thing I don't even have motivation for...

also: for those who don't know about the spoon theory, here is the original text:
http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/artic ... on-theory/

Very enlightening and useful for me. I do not literaly count spoons but are more likely to allow myself to leave a situation where I am starting get mentally exhausted and less likely to try and compare my endurence to others.

I never read that before. It's very touching. The funny, or not so funny thing is, you don't always know how many spoons you're going to have for the day.

Exactly. Software reads the screen or outputs the text, and the labels for graphics, to a Braille display. Right now, I'm typing in Braille on my phone. The iPhone comes with the braille touchscreen keyboard built in. Otherwise, I can type on an ordinary keyboard, as secretaries do.

I don't need to count spoons, but I certainly use the concept of only having a limited amount of energy--I'll usually recharge after work by working in the yard. But, if I need to, I'll get some sleep right after work, then get up and do stuff after I get up a few hours later. I think this helps me get up at the usual time the next morning, so I can resume my usual schedule for a working day.

The concept might be useful for those Aspies who claim they have difficulty working "normal" jobs--spoon theory may help them get around their issues.

Hopefully, the goal is 13 spoons one day turning into 14 spoons another day....then 15 another day, etc.