Strapples / Alin..

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I kept noticing "Strapples" or Alin, making an "Obsession" out of his straps and had to question "Why"? Other people, like me, might not have understood there's a very real reason for that, evidently.
Why he loves "straps" and talks about wrapping himself up tightly.. and reacts to warmth -- in a way NT's and I assume, most other Autistic people probably wouldn't relate to.
Maybe others were afraid to ask, WHAT he's talking about. I certainly couldn't understand, until he explained it. Not sure if others here can explain "Sensory Integration"... i.e., deriving "Extreme pleasure" from just pressure on your body??? The web appears vacant of this information... the only articles I found describe sensation in terms of NT sensation... like "normal" people feel things, and evidently fail to explain "sensation" from an Autistic or Cerebral Palsy individual's perception... which is naturally, very different from an NT.

I just asked permission from Alin (Strapples) if I could post his answers to me, for clarification and anyone interested to understand where he's coming from... this is unbelievable.

(Strapples: http://www.wrongplanet.net/forums-profi ... 15338.html / http://alinssite.info )


The best I come close to "sensory issues," (being Aspergers Syndrome) is that I don't like wool sweaters (waugh... itchy and scratchy and annoying... I have to peel out of it quickly)... I avoid bright lights (sometimes) especially at night, the sun is okay if its daylight and I choose to walk outside... I can't sleep in complete silence my ears start ringing... I guess those are sensory issues, but, I don't have anything that triggers deep, deep sensations of pleasure of my brain comparable with the big *O* or a built in 'natural high' by physical pressure -- what Alin's describing is more like a super-natural high, . . . that's totally wild. ... I guess he really, really enjoys his disability and a little more than simple self-acceptance...



..and when he gets massage therapy *yay for Alin* his caseworker began discussing the services with him thru email today... and when he receives therapy, they should work on the areas of his body, that stimulate those deep pleasurable feelings he describes... and sensitive to the way he *wants* to be massaged.

Some Autistic people, evidently receive regular massage therapy treatments, as was described:
http://wrongplanet.net/postp2787664.htm ... t=#2787664

thanks for making the topic about me... by the way those special pressure areas for me are my head my neck my chest and belly and arms sometimes my legs

I can relate to his strong obsession with straps, or your strong obsession with straps, because I have a strong obsession, myself. That obsession is music, and The Kinks in particular. It's hard for me, not to be obsessed with a band, that I look like one of the original members of. It's also HFA that I have, and not the somewhat milder AS. One of the things that separates AS and HFA, is that people with HFA usually have stronger obsessions. Not always, bu usually.

Is it that you are particularly fond of the music ... and derive pleasure from the music??

Sometimes... some certain songs, I'll play over and over and over, because of the way the music makes me feel.

i plead guilty to looping music

I did read your life story last night, and noticed that you tell you must have clearly, at one time been up walking and going about a fairly normal life on the whole.. and therefore, should recognize / relate to NORMAL sensory perception... but then Cerebral Palsy began taking effect, and changed your life and how you process/perceive sensations.

So, if anyone would know, it would be you. if you're saying you derive vivid pleasure from intense pressure in some areas of your body... that doesn't sound like typical sensation, most of the rest of us would relate to.



Some on WP, may have mistakingly assumed you'd "just always been" in a wheelchair. This was a fairly recent change in your life is what I understand.

Alin, it is very gracious of you to share so much about your life with the world.

thanks. yeah i experienced the deep happiness since birth with pressure and warmth

Let me make sure I get this correct ...

Aspie40: You know the difference between a "normal" vs. "deep" pleasure from intense pressure on special areas of your body. Some may have trouble understanding you literally mean you derive special pleasure thru C.P. -- at least that's how I'm understanding your explanation.

Alin: i always had the deep thing.

Aspie40: Because of Cerebral Palsy... right?

Alin: i was born with it.

Aspie40: You're experiencing things... the way I understand, is almost like a positive hypersensitivity to outside touch/feeling.

Alin: yes

Aspie40: I know you told me you don't want to be "cured" and I gather its because of all the positive things you feel (a positive hypersensitivity to touch that feels like the big "O"). But if you were like some C.P. people, and didn't derive that level of pleasure from sensation, would you want to be cured, you think?

Alin: no

Aspie40: The point is, you find something very positve, and worthwhile to keep with your disability... enough that you don't want to change. Is that why you're so bold, and proudly identifying with your straps/wheelchair/etc.?

Alin: because i enjoy my straps

Aspie40: Does it put pressure on some part of your body?

Alin: yes
chest
legs
ankles
hips

If I had something built inside, that felt like a "natural high factory"... I probably wouldn't want to be "cured" of it, either.

It's not ironic at all considering most Aspergers people describe their experiences around NT's as not being pleasurable and come away viewing Aspergers as more of a blessing... with no desire to be "cured". I for one empathise... I wish instead that NT's could see things from my perspective... life should be so plain and simple. NT's are the ones who complicate everything. Simple, plain honesty and truth in things... it's so... righteous to think like an Aspie.

Not to get off topic, but I checked out your site yesterday and I found your rant about the Oximiter to be hilarious and entertaining(I laughed out loud at one point.) You seem like a very strong individual, and I admire that.

lOL thanks. the oximeter rants are good lOL

... do you feel your deep sensitivity comes from either Autism or Cerebral Palsy... or even a unique combination of both conditions?

The following article mentioned both conditions related to sensory integration issues.

The article states,

If they can become that uncomfortable from a type of fabric, then certainly its understandable they should potentially be capable of deriving an equal amount of extraordinarily vivid pleasure from other sensations (like you're describing).

its a combi of both

Bingo!

Hmmm, maybe that's a sensory issue. I had never thought about it.
There was one guy that mentioned to me once and I found it odd.. he said he would read about his favorite sci-fi novels ... and get lost in the fantasy... some kind of hypersensitivity issue going on.

I guess I do the same thing too. Normally, I don't like loud noises around me. I despise wild, loud atmospheres. But, I listen to (namely) Alice in Chains (great harmony... not typical R&R) -- and another is Metallica (which has even been set to classical music -- including whole orchestras) ... they are so beautiful.. and there's something about the music, I just get lost in it... and I don't want to stop playing the song... over and over and over again.

I guess I am hypersensitive to some things.
Alice in Chains... Would
Alice in Chains... I Stay Away
Alice in Chains... Rooster
Alice in Chains... Man in the Box
are some songs. The harmony is superb and um, ...
They also have another new release with William Duvall (since Layne Staley died)
Alice In Chains... Check My Brain

Pretty fitting... being Aspergers... and I LIKE being an Aspie, so its poignant, and that song clicks for me. TURN IT UP LOUD. No, I'm not joking...

It really helps me relax, focus.. and without it, I can't concentrate that well. I usually keep some kind of music in the background (to alleviate ringing in my ears) -- but more than that, if I really am wanting to get focused and into my work, I'll play that one song (of my choice that blends with how I'm feeling at the moment)... or even, makes me feel something I want to feel... and get lost in the music.... over and over and over and over and over.... 50 times... 100 times... day after day.... nobody normally notices though, usually. I'm not overtly obscene with my Aspie quirks.

My Dad once got really annoyed when he observed I was watching the same movie over, for the umpteenth time, and asked me why I kept replaying it, "Are you looking for the script to change??!" I think it was a mix of fascinating characters... and the soundtrack...

Yup, normally I don't like loud noises... but if its a good song, that I especially like... I'll turn up the radio in the car... really loud. But those times I like to be alone, and no other noises like people in the car talking... I like driving, intensely focused on everything going on (there are some REAL IDIOT DRIVERS on the road), without distractions. Like, for every 10 mph I'm driving, I try to stay 1 car length behind that person, so 50 mph = 5 car lengths behind the car in front of me.. and I do NOT like anyone riding my tail-end, it makes me berzerk... foreseeing the result if a deer jumped out in front of me. I don't like annoying passengers either that blab blab blab blab... distracting me. If I'm driving on a clear highway... okay.. maybe some talk is okay... but not when anything unpredictable could happen, like a deer on an off-road. I'm a firm believer in "defensive driving". Instead of the music being a distraction, it helps me focus better on the road... sounds weird, I guess.

Just throwing this out there, never know if somebody will pick up the thread... what the heck... somebody might know something about a distributor in the United States.
Alin said he is particularly fond of "Blood Pressure Cuffs" and the pressure as it pushes inward... I located something that appears similar.
Unfortunately, this distributor is in Checkoslovakia and Russia.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1CtKqk26hg[/youtube]



It inflates, like "Blood Pressure Cuffs" as he described


If there's anyone who would know anything about something like this, distributed in the United States, feel welcomed to offer the information....

i so need this!!