When a big change happens in an autistic person’s life, it can be at times all they can think about. It can be hard to get off the thoughts of how the change is going to occur and can take away from the normal daily activities of the daily routine because there is so much adrenaline and cortisol built up that the day is just so depleted from what we catastrophize and ruminate about things we cannot control.

There are going to be times when changes in an autistic person’s life do occur that is going to very greatly change the way that they must operate. For me personally, it can be hard to see that there is a way out of it, and that there is nothing else to think or worry about but this one thing. It takes away from everything that needs to be done in the day or the other things that we enjoy keeping our mind occupied.

It results in constant rumination and thinking about the worst possible scenario that can happen when this change does happen. While we do have to prepare ourselves for what could happen, it cannot be what we constantly think about all the time and let it consume the entire day as I did yesterday. Things we enjoy do not get done and I basically lived in survival mode throughout the day because I couldn’t see that I needed to get my mind away from the situation at hand. I had fallen completely out of routine and the fact that I did have my weight loss support group last night was the only thing that at least started me to get out of the negative rut that I was in.

Change is hard for autistic people, but there must be grounding in the day that keeps us running without constantly embedded in the thoughts that we cannot change some time ahead. It is not good to play the blame game towards others that have caused the change to happen either. It will only result in further strife and angst towards them. It is important to remember that they would not have to make the change if it had not been necessary for them to do so.

Allowing yourself to wallow in self-pity and think that the world must revolve around this upcoming change. as big as it may be, will only make things worse for the autistic person. It is important to focus on things that keep their mind off what the change involves and makes them happy or occupied. It is also important to have a list of coping skills to deploy so you know what you can do to keep your mind off the topic at hand and not worry about what cannot be changed.

It is also important to know an autistic person cannot take the attitude or feelings that they have towards others that are not involved in this process because it only makes the dialogue worse and the environment hostile. Thinking the worst about what is being undertaken will only make things worse in the end.

The reality in the situation that while the rumination and catastrophizing is here in this moment, once the transition happens and everything is smoothed out, it will be a part of life that you will not believe how you existed before it happened. It may seem impossible to be able to think that way, but if you are safe and your basic needs are met, that is all you can ask for.

Factually, all you can do is your best to exist in the present moment and cope with the situation the best that you can in the moment and not allow yourself to ruminate and catastrophize to an extreme point that you shut down into bed or pass judgment or blame onto others for the way you are feeling. It is not totally the reason you are acting the way you are it is important to grasp a sense of reality and realize that while a BIG change can be BIG, your ability to cope will go a long way in making the process easier.