SOCIAL SKILLS
around me, I take my cell phone and try to do anything
with it—see old photos, browse my music, re-read text
messages, or even just read the name of my apps.
It sounds strange, but that gives me a sense of con-
fidence. As an introvert, I spend a lot of time on my
own and with things I like to do, which then become
familiar to me. Among those things is my phone, and
to see it, just for a minute or two, disconnects me
from the real world; it gives a break long enough to
cope with it when I have to return.
However, there are hard times when your mind be-
comes your worst enemy and tries to take control of
yourself. People say we have to speak, to share, but
besides the stigma of already being on the autism
spectrum, to deal with the one for mental health is
unthinkable for us. We already prefer to keep our own
business out the public eye—what do we have to do?
Again, technology saves us in a time of need. Go right
to any social media that you like, or any app you have
to chat with your friends. It will be easier to express
what you are feeling by writing than by speaking. I
know the feeling, and I promise that it will get better
in no time; just try to breathe as deeply as possible
and wait for it all to come out.
If there’s no chance you can use any computer, cell
phone, watch the TV, go to the movies, or whatever,
lock yourself somewhere no one can disturb you, see
you, or even know you’re there. Touch something, think
only about that one thing in your hand(s), and repeat
to yourself in a whisper that you are “here” and “now.”
Mind and body are linked, mens sana in corpore sano,
and repetition can really help you turn your atten-
tion to the real world and not that twisted, desolated
version your brain is trying to create.
Finally, and most importantly, depending on your
likes, what you do, what you’ve done, and your
background, there are many activities you can use
to fight anxiety. Do you like to read? Grab the thick-
est of books you have around. Music? Listen to your
favorite song over and over, and sing in a low voice
if you prefer. Are you a fan of video games? A mini
binge never killed anyone.
It does not matter if people think you’re strange if
you’re becoming weird, or if you lose your mind from
time to time. Friends won’t judge you; family will
support you; and those who don’t understand and
criticize, why should we care about them?
Alan D.D. is a writer, journalist, and blogger from
Venezuela. After years thinking he was just intro-
vert and shy, he discovered he had Asperger’s syn-
drome while doing what he loves the most: read-
ing. Since then, he writes about the topic whenever
he can, and when not immersed in a book of his or
from his favorite authors, can be found most likely
at the movies or playing Heroes of the Storm.
Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 71 |
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