August 26, 2024
Decoding My Body’s Signals: Navigating Autism and Interoception
I’m twenty five and still don’t know what my own systems are trying to tell me. Why? Because I have autism, and that brings problems with one’s interoception. Which tells you if you are you are hot, you are cold, or when you have to go to the bathroom, or when you should be feeling pain.
One night this week, my mom and I were up about every two hours; I was in immense pain. We agreed not to go in the middle of the night because of the deer being out. Then my mom woke up at four something to at last take me to the ER, and we got to thinking better.
It had been happening since I had my physical therapy consult for Washington, where we just moved! Anyway, then I had an ah-ha moment. I’m sure we both wished I had at, say, noon yesterday when my appointment was over, but that’s not how autism works. At least not our autism. It takes going down every possible scenario. Like we are detectives because my own systems don’t just tell me, she realized what I was holding and pointing to was my stomach and pelvic bone!
That was not anywhere near my ribs.
Then she asked, “Jennie, by chance, did he work your hips at Physical Therapy?” I thought, tapping my chin. I held up my finger and said, “He did! So does this mean I don’t have any sudden ailments?!”
Her: “Yes, it does—no sudden ailments. You are just super sore and not used to working that area.”
Me: “Thank goodness! I feel like a thousand pounds was lifted off my back. Does this mean I can go to bowling tonight?” “Yes, you can go to bowling.”
Her: “Great. Now, I don’t do so well with this wake-up-every-two-hour business, so I need to sleep. Do not wake me up again until I wake up on my own.” I told her okay and came downstairs to my apartment so it would be less noisy.
Ahh, autism and my moments, or should I say all night. This is the actual raw of my life. I choose to share it in hopes of spreading awareness of adults on the spectrum!
Remember, it all starts with just one voice.
Written by Jennie Logan of Jennie’s One Voice
