Do you ever feel like it’s hard to start something new? When you have to do something, do you often find yourself feeling as if your lazy and can’t seem to get up out of the chair and start the new task? Do you find it hard to do something new when you’re in the middle of something else? And when you have to start the new task, it’s very hard to get started, and you can’t seem to get your mind off the previous task? When you are upset at something do you find it’s hard to “snap” out of the emotion? If you have Asperger’s or know someone with it, this might sound familiar to you. This issue is commonly known in the world as Autism Acceleration. People with this struggle have a hard time switching from one task to another. In other words, it takes more effort to “switch gears”.
For example, if there are in the middle of one task like playing a video game and they suddenly have to clean the living room because company is coming over, it is hard for people with this condition to stop playing a video game and then initiate the tasking cleaning the room. Another example is if a person’s upset over something, such as their angry at someone that said something mean, or something that didn’t go according to plan, it may be harder for an individual to stop being mad.
Lets say, they have to focus on something else like work at their job, it’s easier for their emotions to distract them from their job or even spill into their job. It is harder to simply “snap” out of the emotion. It takes more effort then most people to force themselves to change gears, switch task, and switch a frame of mind. This especially happens if a person has to switch from a low energy task to a high energy or vise versa. For example, it’s hard to switch from a low energy task such as laying in bed or being on the computer and then suddenly having to exercise or chores. This also especially happens when a person is really excited or emotional about something and they have to force themselves to think about something else like paying attention to an instructor in a classroom. In general, switching mindsets takes effort for many individuals on the autism spectrum.
Autism Acceleration happens because how the brain of an Asperger’s or High Functioning Autistic individual is wired. The brain is wired in a way that causes the individual to focus intensely at one thing at a time and then another with a less a overall balance coherence of all brain centers sharing the focus and working together. Unlike other individuals not on the Autism Spectrum who can switch focuses on several things less intensely back in forth, a person on the spectrum focuses more on one thing at a time. As a result, a person with this kind of mind will become very focused oriented, skilled at specific things, and become really interested in them. But for most, it’s often hard to switch the focus into something else. This makes individuals to want to complete a task when started. Likewise if such an individual is upset at something, they may become emotional about it and seem to get stuck in it for a period of time. This can contribute to executive functioning issues that contribute to planning and organization. This contributing factor into why people with Asperger’s often struggle with change and don’t like it. Furthermore, Autism Acceleration makes an Aspie appear stubborn or even lazy. In truth, many Aspies who appear to be lazy are really not. They just struggle with switching gears; the tasks they focus on. It’s takes more effort when they want to start something new or when they want to get out of a negative emotional state.
There’s good news, there are ways in which a person struggling with this can deal and cope with it. The solution to dealing with involves understanding that a person can switch gears, switch a mindset, and snap out of an emotional state. it just takes more effort. The struggle comes from the individual feeling that it takes more effort and energy to snap out of a mindset. However, the solution is knowing it can be done and the struggling part that requires the effort is actually in truth not as bad as it seems. There is a period of time where it will be hard to force yourself to switch a mindset, however this period of time is temporary. This temporary period of time doesn’t last as long as the individual might think once deciding to put the effort to switching a mindset. Eventually there’s a sort of “hump” the person gets over. After that, it’s easy to finish switching the mindset for the remainder of the time- less effort is needed to finish. The trick in achieving is simply understanding is not as hard as you think. It does take effort but it’s a temporary period of time. Once it’s done the individual will be glad they decided to force themselves to initiate the new task or switch a mindset. Understanding this will help you, if you struggle snapping out of something, getting out of an emotional state, and understand your not a lazy person.
Autism Acceleration also has a gift or a sort of blessing hidden in it. First people with this condition often focus more intensely with things and this is a good thing that should be honored. This makes them more skilled and talented in certain areas. Secondly, learning how to snap out of and switch out of situations that are difficult to switch out will strengthen their mind, help them build good mindfulness which helps a person be happy in different situations, and the individual will learn a lot of wisdom each time the force them self to switch. This may sound silly but once they master switching mindsets the wisdom they’ll get will be huge.
Autism Acceleration is a common trait on the Autism Spectrum which causes them to struggle. They generally struggle switching mindsets; stopping previous tasks and initiating new tasks. It also makes them have a harder time snapping out of emotional states and make them appear lazy when they’re really not. This is caused by how the Autistic brain is wired. An individual struggling with this can cope with it by simply learning to force themselves into starting a task by knowing once they do it, it isn’t as painful as they think. If you know any other information about Autism Acceleration or know any other tips in dealing with it please share. Thanks for reading.
27 Feb 2016, 9:06 pm
