For some reason, this weather we're having now is really doing me in - hot and humid and if somebody looks at me strangely because I say it is horrible, I don't like it. I've lived in North Queensland all my life and still have trouble with the heat sometimes. A good old storm would be just the thing to settle this heat but we don't get many these days.
For some reason, this weather we're having now is really doing me in - hot and humid and if somebody looks at me strangely because I say it is horrible, I don't like it. I've lived in North Queensland all my life and still have trouble with the heat sometimes. A good old storm would be just the thing to settle this heat but we don't get many these days.
I spent a week in Townsville. That was quite enough Queensland for me, thanks! I have great admiration for anyone who can even tolerate the permanent sauna conditions in tropical states, let alone find the energy to make a living there!
We had a lovely winter this year but now it is hot and humid and we've got about another six months of such weather to look forward to.
I think there could some hypersensitivity to heat because mum noticed I would faint easily as a toddler when it got above a certain temperature.
When we had a heatwave a few years ago (29 degrees Celsius and 80% humidity even overnight - hotter by day), I had a really bad meltdown at mum's (starting with a little tiff over the news) and she said I'd overheated and was burning up with fever.
She also said when it was winter, I used to kick off most of my covers and my bootees at every opportunity.
Ah, I agree in part with this. We certainly need to be seen to be doing the best we can and to know that within us. However, despite all the good intentions in the world, some of us simply cannot sustain the pretence of "being normal" all the time. It becomes soul-destroying and exhausting and eventually leads to even more "abnormal" behavious once the facade we've so carefully erected over months and years starts to fall to pieces.
So there has to be some way of ensuring resilience, and a fallback mode for when life becomes overwhelming. Being good friends to each other is one of the most valuable ways of doing this and the reason forums such as this one are so helpful to us.
I don't know what I bont.
Who's this EvilZakkie2? I'm confused!!!
I had expectations - unconscious ones - ideas ground into me by society as a whole. A lack of understanding caused much anguish. I think if I could have understood better, it might have been easier, I watched my son struggle in the same way I struggled - but magnified. It was so hard to watch him struggle because I loved him so much. His struggle caused me to feel sad and worried for him, in the end I begrudged these feelings of sadness and worry that he caused me - it was an unpleasant circle of despair.
Things are finally better between us, with the diagnosis things began to improve.
Rant for 28/11/07 - Crossing the border to happiness!
Just a short rant tonight, for the sake of an early sleep...
Sometimes the world can really get you down.
You might be feeling alone and isolated. You might be feeling crowded and unappreciated. You could be stressed, bored, miserable, angry, or be just feeling empty. But no matter how bad things get, there's always one thing that can make the day seem bright again.
The word "smuggler".
Say it now, out loud - "smuggler".
I believe that there's almost no way to be miserable at the same time as you're saying the word smuggler - it's just such a happy word!
Okay, so now the day is a little better, but it's still only a word... Now for step 2. Ask yourself these questions, out loud:
"What is the smuggler smuggling?"
"Is she a smug smuggling smuggler?"
"Why does the smuggler smuggle?"
*grins* It's hard not to get caught up in the moment.
Now for the big one. Cross your legs, lotus style. Hold both hands up in the air, palms facing upwards, making a circle with your thumb and forefinger.
And yes, I mean do it right now.
Now repeat the following mantra, out loud:
"Smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle smuggle"
Now get out there and face the day. *grins*
too funny zacchie - love it - thanks for the laugh!!!
I don't know zacchie - I'm a bit confused with your post. I think I just look for gentleness and warmth. If I don't see this. I'm not interested. I'm more into self preservation, leave me alone, and don't expect me to talk.
Maybe I'm missing something in your post.
Lemme come with a theory!
It don't think autistic people tend to lack a father figure, but what I think many have lacked, is someone to tell them that they are OK the way they are. When someone does tell them that they are OK the way they are that gives trust to the one who said it, and anyone who attacks what the someone says becomes the enemy, ie "curebies".
Is there a conflict already?
Strong point - people who are good with rhetoric are able to do this - great way to gain followers, but it's trick. Rhetoric has no substance. Actions speak louder than words.
I am going off on a tangent. - no apologies.
Lucie, I'm confused. Are you saying that the autistic rights movement is just rhetoric?
no, I was agreeing with eckolos theory. Then I extended my thoughts and agreement - thinking more in terms of orators who are able to convince through rhetoric. I didn't have the autistic rights movement in my mind when I made the comment. I was off on a tangent.
The autistic rights movement does good through actions such as the setting up of this forum to allow people to meet and gain strength and support through friendship and discussion.
Why would I post on this forum if I believed the autistic rights movement was just rhetoric?
I agree - the flame wars are about philosphy - People who seek a cure think they are working for the good. It's okay to seek to cure comorbids. Society is very much about conformity - awful pressure to conform. People should be educated to be open and accepting of difference. In my opinion there is no cure for autism - society needs to change. Detection of cellular differences in vitro isn't seeking to cure.
No rant again tonight - I are sick...
*grins* I've been pretty slack lately - normal programming resumes tomorrow.
No rant again tonight - I are sick...
*grins* I've been pretty slack lately - normal programming resumes tomorrow.
sorry to hear you are sick
maybe you feel better now.
I think a rant a day doesn't give people like me enough time to catch up and read your rants and respond if I want to - just my thoughts.
Zakkie - I want to respond to some of the points you raised.
[quote=EvilZakkie]
You're not low functioning, so how can you speak on behalf of low functioning autistics?
In fact, many of the first autistic rights activists were considered low functioning.
Good point.
How can you be against a cure when my child is in pain?
Don't waste time looking for a cure - it's not possible. My son had pain, he told me he hated his brain. The pain was caused by a school system that failed to support him as an individual.
Unfortunately, these sorts of medical services to autistic people are underfunded, as the majority of funding for autistic issues goes to genetic research, rather than to things that would help autistic people that are living right now.
Once a diagnosis of AS was obtained my son was entitiled to financial support. The govt. here invested in him. They gave him an income when he couldn't work, he was supported to enrol in Polytech and while he attended polytech he was given a liveable income, they paid his course fees, they went on give financial support to help him find a job and with govt. funding he continues to be supported him in the workplace. My son has a govt. funded mentor whose role it is to work with my son towards helping him to self identified goals (5 hours each week). With this govt. funded support and a will to help himself my son has turned his life around.
My child can't communicate! How could you possibly know what he wants?
Verbal communication is my son's biggest struggle. He really does struggle with this, as do I.
At the end of the day, a "cure" for an existing autistic person is a science fiction concept.
I agree strongly with this, it's a waste of time and it is ethically inappropriate.
I love my child, I just wish that he could go out and make friends like normal children
Ben longed to feel accepted and have friends.
I didn't wish that he could make friends, my son was a beautiful child, I just wished the idiots and some of the teachers at his school could have taken some time to treat him with the respect he deserved.
Also should mention - doctors fees and dentist fees were fully govt. funded while my son was not in paid employment.