Tag Archives: christmas

What is Winter to Autism?

What is Winter to Autism
Photo Credits: http://thegrid.soup.io/post/312834604/Child-Photography-by-Elena-Shumilova

To many people, winter is making Christmas wish list, of Santa Claus and his reindeers, of frolicking in the snow with friends and family or of drinking a mug of sensational chocolate. To some autism parents and children, however, this is a dreadful time of the year when the days are growing shorter and the night colder and darker. Some call it the “winter blues.” I call it “meltdown magnet.”

Yes, as many people await the celebration of Christmas and New Year, many autism families are also getting ready for the long haul ahead. Cloudy and cold days can easily run kids with autism’s emotional and psychological battery. Depression and anxiety easily gets into them as the cold swirls around Canada and neighboring states.

One of the scientific reasons behind this contention is that during winter, a child’s (whether autistic or not) melatonin and serotonin level can be disrupted. Lack of daylight put photoreceptors which stimulate the production of serotonin as well as cortisol at a standstill. It also affects the pineal gland’s overproduction of the sleep hormone, melatonin. These two conditions often result in lack of energy, mood swings, poor or erratic impulse control, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. To kids with autism, this could mean meltdowns in epic proportions.

What to Do?

Preparation is always the key to autism families. Every change of season, kids with autism are virtually prepped on what to expect for the dreary days ahead as well as in understanding the concept of Christmas and gift-giving, and why we celebrate the New Year, Thanksgiving as well as Halloween. Holidays can be such a struggle to these kids as their senses can go on haywire with all the festivities that these occasions bring. Keeping them informed with visuals especially videos will be useful but still, it is important to be always on guard especially when out and about.

This is also a time to engage in physical exercise to some. Not only will exercise keep the mood light, it helps relieve stress and anxiety, two of the most common meltdown triggers. Kids with autism love to wander and discover things that interest them. A morning walk around the block or in the part—with you (you may even bring his or her service dog, if you have one) can be of great help. To some, phototherapy and mind-body therapies like yoga, body massage, and guided imagery can also help keep the blues away. Some also resort to prescription anti-depressants. But before you engage on this, make sure to consult with your doctor beforehand.

Somewhere Sunny

In our case, we often bring John to somewhere sunny during this time of the year. Last time, we opted to do some cruising on board the Independence of the Seas. John loves to cruise. The sun, ship activities and water adventures made him less agitated. I also see to it that his room gets as much light as possible. Drapes and curtains are replaced with a much lighter shade. Luckily, he also loved the smell of chamomile or lavender which is very relaxing. The chamomile tea for John, however, is not that successful.

Indeed, in all these it is important to always plan ahead. Autism leans on repetitions and familiarity. Taking steps the earliest time possible will help keep the triggers at bay. A quick check with your son’s or daughter’s holidays.

FINALIST to the The 2015 USA Best Book Awards

Finalist of The 2015 USA Best Book Awards!

Christmas came early to John and our family. My book, Living Autism Day by Day: Daily Reflections and Strategies to Give You Hope and Courage, made it as a FINALIST to the The 2015 USA Best Book Awards (Parenting and Family)! http://www.usabooknews.com/2015awardannouncement.html
With this, I would like to send out my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who had made this happen.

Autism in itself is a huge challenge and your constant support truly touched me and my family particularly John. All my book’s awards, I offer them in gratitude to everyone who continually motivate me to go the mile in raising Autism awareness and acceptance.

This award is for you.

For those who wish to know about my book, you can check out my website for a sneak peek: http://livingautismnow.com/book/.

To order, simply go to http://livingautismnow.com/buy-now/. (for Amazon deliveries)

Once again, from the bottom of my heart—THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Social Streams 2015-11-13

13th of November 2015 11:45 AM

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A couple of months after we’ve finally settled down in our new home, an exciting development came our Johnny’s way. Apart from adjusting easily to his new school and meeting new friends, he has developed (though, he loved cooking with me when he was young ) a penchant on culinary cooking. So, we enrolled him in a culinary tech class and yes, such a sweet sweet surprise! [ 359 more words. ]

http://livingautismnow.com/smells-like-christmas/

13th of November 2015 09:03 AM

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D.L. Hughley Breaks Down When Sharing Story About Son With #Asperger’s Syndrome –
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autism_CARE

13th of November 2015 05:02 AM

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BALL BENEFITS #AUTISM RESEARCH PROGRAM –
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autism_CARE

13th of November 2015 01:02 AM

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This is #AWESOME!
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autism_CARE

12th of November 2015 11:01 PM

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Few housing options available for adults with #autism say family and experts –
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autism_CARE

12th of November 2015 09:01 PM

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Adult #Autism: Funding in need of new direction

#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autism_CARE

12th of November 2015 09:04 AM

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‘Tsunami of teens with #autism’ reaching adulthood in coming years –
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autism_CARE

12th of November 2015 07:25 AM

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What a fantastic review of my book, website and advocacy as a whole! I’m sharing this with you in the hope of reaching out more to others and, most importantly, in raising awareness for autism.

Here’s the link to the review — —

I would truly appreciate if you read the review thoroughly and come visit my website, too, at http://livingautismnow.com/ . My book is still available in Amazon.com and Amazon.ca which you can conveniently access on my website.

To Lorna d’Entremont of KidsCompanions.com, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your wonder-rific thoughts. You completely speak my mind. Bless you and your advocacy, too.

To everyone— let’s join hands in pushing for #autism_awareness and #autism_acceptance!
The best time is NOW.

12th of November 2015 05:04 AM

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Adult #Autism: The unique challenges of age –
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autism_CARE

12th of November 2015 01:03 AM

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Police Charge 2 Officers in Death of Boy With #Autism
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autism_Justice

11th of November 2015 11:02 PM

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“Report: #Autism Now Throughout the Years 2011-2014 “
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autism_CARE

11th of November 2015 09:01 PM

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A Fitting Reminder for the Season of Gift-Giving >>>>

Danger warning about popular children’s toy could change your holiday shopping list –
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autism_CARE

11th of November 2015 09:02 AM

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Loras College launches program to help students with #autism succeed in college –
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autismCARE #autism_EDUCATION

11th of November 2015 05:02 AM

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#Autism workshop held in Chipley –
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autismCARE #education

11th of November 2015 01:02 AM

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When the School’s Response to My Son #Eloping Was ‘This Happens’ –
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autismCARE #SAFETY #Wandering

10th of November 2015 11:02 PM

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Rutgers plan for #housing work opportunities for adults with #autism
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autismCARE

10th of November 2015 09:02 PM

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Boy with #autism saves choking classmate, says ‘SpongeBob’ taught him Heimlich –
#AUsome! #livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness

10th of November 2015 09:02 AM

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Rutgers launches center for adults with #autism
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autismCARE #fundraiser

10th of November 2015 05:01 AM

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Russian educators want to replicate USU #autism program –
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autismCARE #education

10th of November 2015 01:01 AM

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New center will help adults with #autism
#livingautismdaybyday #autism_awareness #autismCARE

Smells Like Christmas

John at his Culinary Tech Class
John at his Culinary Tech Class

A couple of months after we’ve finally settled down in our new home, an exciting development came our Johnny’s way.

Apart from adjusting easily to his new school and meeting new friends, he has developed (though, he loved cooking with me when he was young ) a penchant on culinary cooking. So, we enrolled him in a culinary tech class and yes, such a sweet sweet surprise!

John making awesome apple pies
John making awesome apple pies

All intent on his purpose of becoming a chef, John would pours his mind over how to prepare the meanest pies. From rolling and kneading of the dough for its crunchy crust to molding it into a perfect pie shell, the awesomely peeled and cored apples, the spices lined up like good platoon of soldiers waiting to be whisked into a gastronomic war of aroma and flavor—his focus is truly awe-inspiring—and yes, leading us to such an awesome home-made apple pie.

Aside from apple, he also loves working on pumpkin and meat pies (goodbye leftovers!), cottage and shepherd’s pie, and so on. Lately, he’s also has been creating fruit flans and now flakey pastries. He is eying a tarts section and a slew of ice cream concoctions he stumbled upon online.

We truly love the culinary school to bits. His chef Del Menchions is not only accommodating, he also nurtures his students encouraging them to give their full potential—and it is working as John seems to be always looking forward to his day in the kitchen no matter how tired he is.

John helping to make chocolate eclair
John helping to make chocolate eclair

While writing this right now, I can smell him cooking up something to perk my senses up. Amid his autism, my Johnny has always been caring and sensitive to the needs of those around him. Soon, he will join the “legally adult” league but I can now rest my head thinking that he will never go hungry with this new life skill.

Anyway, let me just refrain my thoughts on adult autism and its lack of services thereof. Today, I simply want to celebrate the thought of his newly acquired skills—and he truly aced it! He also got plans for Christmas dinner lined up and we are all dying in hopeless anticipation.

How about you, dear friends? How’s your loved one with autism doing? I fervently hope that amid the meltdowns and frustrations, something bigger and more forceful is coming up. It smells like Christmas once again and to some, this could be a challenge. Today, however, let me simply send you a HUGE HUG to keep the blues away.