Page 1 of 1 [ 9 posts ] 

21 Sep 2007, 3:53 am

Today my mother and I were talking on the phone about my problems and about my condition and she told me how much better person i was when i excercised everyday. I was more flexible, more socialable, I was better at small talk, I ate better, I had more energy, I was more calmer, had less anxiety and she was telling me how important it is for people with autism spectrum disorder to excercise 30 minutes a day because it keeps their nerves system calm. But she told me lot of people aren't good with small talk, nor is she because she is shy and whenever there is a small talk, she shuts out not knowing what to talk about and worrying about saying the wrong things. If lot of people have problems with small talk, then why is it part of AS and the spectrum disorder?
I am so confused. I am so sick and tired of things being blamed on our condition when they happen to lot of people too such as problems with small talk. I mean why is it okay for NTs to be bad at small talk and not okay for us because it's added to our condition that small talk is hard for us. It shouldn't be part of AS then or the spectrum if lot of people are bad at it. Even my own brother is bad at it too because he is shy my mom says.



lelia
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Age: 72
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,897
Location: Vancouver not BC, Washington not DC

21 Sep 2007, 4:17 am

Have you considered that they might be on the spectrum too?



21 Sep 2007, 4:27 am

You talking about my family? Yes I have but they don't have enough to be even considered on the spectrum. They be considered normal, NT.



batista90
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,040
Location: finland

21 Sep 2007, 5:41 am

only excercise i need is driving whith my scooter X) :lol:



ChatBrat
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 1 Feb 2007
Age: 65
Gender: Female
Posts: 501
Location: On the Wrong Planet with you

21 Sep 2007, 6:54 am

likedcalico wrote:
Today my mother and I were talking on the phone about my problems and about my condition and she told me how much better person i was when i excercised everyday. I was more flexible, more socialable, I was better at small talk, I ate better, I had more energy, I was more calmer, had less anxiety and she was telling me how important it is for people with autism spectrum disorder to excercise 30 minutes a day because it keeps their nerves system calm.


How do YOU feel when you exercise everyday?



KimJ
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 10 Jun 2006
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,418
Location: Arizona

21 Sep 2007, 10:20 am

Dr. Temple Grandin stated that autistic traits are exaggerated human traits. So, NTs can share difficulty with everyday activities but not to the same degree or as a culmulative problem. When shy people complain that they can't think of anything to say, they are describing a)a brain fart or b)the desire to say something clever. They have this innate need for community and acceptance and occasional exaltation. Autistics on the other hand are describing a)brain fart that lasts a long time, and/or b)lack of recognition that they are being cued to talk, and/or c)lack of understanding what is appropriate to say in any given moment, d)lack of desire to share with another person and/or e)lack of appropriate timing to enter a conversation.

Because autism is a comprehensive list of traits, a person's "deficiencies" will stand out as "autistic symptoms" even if they are fairly commonly shared problems. Sometimes my son's voice will stand out as "too loud" even if he doing the same as other kids around him. Sometimes his "copying" is labelled "echolalia" even if the other kids are copying and mimicking.



21 Sep 2007, 12:30 pm

ChatBrat wrote:
likedcalico wrote:
Today my mother and I were talking on the phone about my problems and about my condition and she told me how much better person i was when i excercised everyday. I was more flexible, more socialable, I was better at small talk, I ate better, I had more energy, I was more calmer, had less anxiety and she was telling me how important it is for people with autism spectrum disorder to excercise 30 minutes a day because it keeps their nerves system calm.


How do YOU feel when you exercise everyday?




Better inside and thin and happy and I feel I can eat more.



ChangelingGirl
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Sep 2007
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,640
Location: Netherlands

21 Sep 2007, 2:11 pm

IMO, difficulty with small talk is not exclusive to ASDs, but it is one feature of an ASD. You won't be dx'd autistic just becuas ey ou have difficulty with small talk, but difficultyw ith small talk can be part of having an ASD.

As for the exercise part: 30 minutes of exercise a day is good for everyone, whether you're autistic or not.



sarahstilettos
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 7 Sep 2007
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Posts: 847

21 Sep 2007, 2:44 pm

Exercise releases endorphins and helps with stress/anxiety, so it is Always A Good Thing To Do. I find that going walking/cycling really helps me to sort things out in my head.