The actual need for intervals of solitude


” I want to be alone” a famous line from reclusive actress Garbo years ago.
It stands for most autistic individuals today and every day, too!
Because of the high energy demands the every day world puts on our abilities ( or disabilites) in processing and focus, etc, we actually need time to “re-boot” after long periods of doing every day things.

Dealing with the demands of daily living requires intense concentration, and coping with many stressful things such as sensory overload, requests as sudden demands for performance (answering questions, responding to requests to do anything, finding answers/ solutions to unexpected small problems of daily living, etc).

Many things that are easy for neurotypical individuals, which they can perform without a thought, require intense effort for an autistic person.

We actually need intervals of being alone to rest, re-charge our energy levels, gather our emotional resources, and to process all that we have worked through during the busiest times of our days.

This is not being “anti social” or even “asocial” since most of us do indeed enjoy companionship and non demanding social interactions at various times.

We need to isolate ourselves, the need is imperative and sometimes even urgent.

We need to have an outlet or escape from demands of others , too much input happening too fast for processing, too much noise, too many “things to do RIGHT NOW” etc.

It is not being lazy, nor is it unusual or unhealthy to need alone time to self soothe, to recover and rest, to gather our shattered and distressed thoughts and emotions and sort them.
Almost all of us need time from the demands put on our processing abilities/disabilities .
Autistic individuals may require more time to do this than “normal”. We expend so much more energy and effort to do “average” “every day” tasks.
Our disabilities are mostly hidden, we have no physical signs of the sometimes extreme difficulties we have to perform even what seems like simple tasks to others.

The relief that comes from giving ourselves that break, that quiet time, is immeasurable.

If we don’t make sure that we allow ourselves time, we may find we are much more prone to overload, shutdown, meltdowns, etc.
When can remove ourselves to quiet places where we can be alone at the first signs of distress, we are better able to rest and recover and regain the ability to take life as it comes again.

Our neurology simply works better for us when we have time, space, and room to rest and recover between what amounts to assaults on our senses and intense demands to perform over daily life, let alone events that easily overwhelm us:
Family or job crisis situations, monetary struggles, struggles with housing, caretaking others with disabilities, the list goes on!

Make sure you are giving yourself time and space frequently.
You are worthy of rest, you are worthy of peace, you are worthy of self care.