How to understand why a change in routine is stressful for those who have autism

Written on 3rd Jun 2014 by Alex Lowery

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Hello.. I got a request from Jo Salmon (organizer of the Holly’s ball) to write an article about rigid routines and why they are so important for a person on the autistic spectrum. This my personal experience and all individuals with autism are affected differently. 

A routine is basically a series of certain things that are to be done. For example: most people have a routine of brushing their teeth, getting washed, having breakfast everyday. That’s a basic routine, but many people will have their own things to do during the week that is part of their routine. For example – you might have an old Lady who plays Bingo one day a week, so that’s part of her routine. Everyone has their own routine.

However, those with autism often take their routine more seriously than most. Many will see their routine as law, and something that has to be followed. Routines give us safety in an uncertain and confusing world.For example: it may be part of a person with autism’s routine to go to McDonald’s every Monday at 12:00 (this would be rather unhealthy, but that’s not the point) and if on one Monday, it turned out that they couldn’t go to McDonald’s (for whatever reason) this would likely cause the person with autism severe stress and anxiety. It may cause a huge meltdown or panic attack. It might even result in the person screaming. What can cause a stress through a change in a routine will depend on the individual. Also, some may be more effected by the change than others. It is very common for a person with autism to love their routine, and want it to stay consistent. I have had therapy in order to get used to some changes in routine. For an article on how this was done see here.

When there’s an activity I do as part of my routine, I don’t mind having a week off ! If anything, I’m glad of a break. But this doesn’t mean, I’m fine with any change! Some even subtle changes can disturb me! For example, one time when we were having Chicken and Chips. I had to have the Chips later, because the Chicken was done first. However, when I finished my chips, my plate was put in the dishwasher. When I opened the dishwasher, I didn’t know which plate was mine. This made me really anxious! It was a rule in my head that you had to have the same plate for each part of the meal, because that’s what you normally did. So this change made me anxious. Rules being broken give me a feeling of doom and dread.

I eventually managed to balance out this anxiety by imagining I was having a two-course meal. I tried to imagine the Chicken as the first Course and the Chips as the second, and this seemed to help a lot! I managed to balance out the anxiety through doing this!

I also often don’t want to stay downstairs too late. I’m not as bad for this now as I used to be, but I still like to be in my bedroom by 9.30 if possible. It’s not that I like going to sleep, or even to bed early. It’s just that I like to have a good amount of time to myself. I listen to an audiobook and stim. I listen to audiobooks quite often and I would feel really stressed if something is going to make me miss a CD which may take roughly an hour. I do take breaks from listening to audiobooks for a few weeks and then I may watch a film or dvd series before I go to bed (or just simply go on the computer). I will get stressed when I can’t watch the next dvd in a sequence.

I’ve been thinking very hard as to why routine’s are so important for a person with autism. It’s very hard for me to really explain why routine is so important. One thing I will say is, imagine having autism, where life can be hard work, stressful and confusing all at the same time. If you stick to a routine and what you’re used to, you know (roughly for the most part) what’s going to happen throughout the day. If you’re doing something different that you’re not used to, more things can go wrong, more stress and anxiety can come for something that you’re not used to. If you stick to a routine, you’re doing things that you know about, and nothing unexpected happens. This is the best way I can put it.

Well, I hope you found this article helpful. Please leave me some comments. If you’re on the autism spectrum, feel free to express why change in routine may be difficult for you.

Thank you for reading.

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For a film on how anxiety affects Alex now see here.

For advice on a panic attack see here

If you would like to book Alex to come to speak at your organisation see here

 

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