The Aspie Mind

I am sure we have all looked at someone and wondered just what they are doing. They seem so out of it and lost. If you have a child with autism, you probably encounter this quite often. I hear so many parents say "if I could just experience their world for one day." While it isn't possible yet to get inside of someone else's brain and know exactly what thoughts and feelings they are having without communicating with them, I will attempt to share some of what I was feeling and do feel...
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I am sure we have all looked at someone and wondered just what they are doing. They seem so out of it and lost. If you have a child with autism, you probably encounter this quite often. I hear so many parents say "if I could just experience their world for one day." While it isn't possible yet to get inside of someone else's brain and know exactly what thoughts and feelings they are having without communicating with them, I will attempt to share some of what I was feeling and do feel when I find myself in a period of isolation and loneliness. I will explain how my make believe/imaginary world works and talk about why this is beneficial for someone on the autism spectrum. It is important to remember to keep in mind when we reading this, Dr. Stephen Shore's statement, "If you've met one person with autism, you've really only met one person with autism." It is also true that, if you have heard one person with autism describe what their make believe world is like and how they process their thoughts and feelings, then you've only really heard how one person processes those thoughts and feelings. If I am watching a movie and mom calls me, "Travis, Travis, come do your laundry". I do not seem to hear her or realize that she is talking to me. I am watching one of my favorite movies on television and I seem to not notice she is there. I am lost in the movie and do not know that the real world exists. Why is this? Is this normal?We are all aware of what "daydreaming" is and how we can get lost in the moment. Some of us get more lost than others do. I have found some people daydream for a moment or two but then they come back to reality and are able to comprehend what is going on in the real world. For me daydreaming is more than just a dream. It is a way of life. It is a coping mechanism for me with Asperger's Syndrome. I daydream as an escape when things are not working as I would like them to socially; when I am feeling socially isolated and rejected. When I am lonely, this daydreaming state is a coping mechanism that allows me to escape the realness of the real world and go into my own make-believe world where I can control my situations and outcomes. It is a safe haven for me. This book takes you inside of my mind (a diagnosed aspie) on the spectrum to provide valuable insight to help you and your child.