#comfort items

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Easily Overlooked Autistic Traits

Situational Mutism

Special interests

Comfort items

Missing social cues

Sensory issues

Executive function problems

Lil Penguin Studios/Autism Happy Place

[crazycatsiren]

Just in case any of my plushies loving neurodivergent followers needed to hear this today:

Sleeping with plushies is good.

Talking to plushies is good.

Taking plushies everywhere with you is good, out in public and all.

Collecting plushies is good. There is no such thing as too many plushies.

Plushies are good. They are the best.

[sicksadstar]

HEY! It's okay to :

• have plushies

• have toys that aren't fidget/stim toys

• have comfort items

• have dolls

• have collections

You don't have to explain your joy or happiness in anything to anyone. ♡

[promptsforyourwhumpfic]

Whump Prompt #1226

Anon asked:

Do you have any prompts for a whumpee with a comfort object that gets taken away/damaged/otherwise used to emotionally harm or distress the whumpee?

Sure:

“Please, I’ll be good, I promise I’ll be good!”

The item being kept just out of reach. 

Or perhaps the whumper ‘toying’ with it - playfully dragging a knife down the front or pretending to drop it just to see the whumpees reaction.

The whumpee tears apart their room/home to find it. 

They’re completely unable to sleep without it/knowing it’s not in its usual place.

Even the stoic friend tries their best to look for it (bonus points if they try to do this without anyone knowing.)

Some people might find it funny/antagonise the whumpee over it, after all its just a [___]

Maybe the whumpee breaks down completely and feels no choice but to tell the story behind why the item is so sentimental. 

Maybe the whumpee even finds it hard to function without the item by their side - they may even have to get taken out of field duty because of it. 

^ basically losing/damaging the item severely compromises the whumpees confidence. 

[germplush]

it's true ♡

[oopsiwhumpeditagain]

whumpee with their comfort items. they don't like to share with anyone, even caretaker, because they worry that they'll be thought of as childish.

[mumblelard]

mouse mouse or boba takes good care of me

last night i dreamt that it finally started. i was with someone else; i don't know who. we had snuck into an empty high-rise and found a suite with a soft clean couch, then we heard yelling outside. whatever they dropped, the gas, where it touched, was turning arms and legs black before they withered and fell off. we tried to run higher and higher in the building to stay above the cloud of gas and then i woke up

[autisticdreamdrop]

you can have comfort items that are not plushies

[donniesexceptionalmind]

Side note: I’m sorry for giving you so many asks

I am very close to having a meltdown/shutdown at the moment. I’ve lost one of my huge comfort items; my noise-canceling earbuds.. or at least the case. That’s the worst part. I set it down on my bed and went to eat dinner. Haven’t seen it since. After an hour of searching, I’m trying to ignore the fact that it’s lost and pretend that it’s still in my bag because I am still wearing the actual earbuds. It’s not working too well.

Is there something to help with loosing comfort items? and if you don’t mind answering another question, what do you find is the most helpful thing to do when you’re having a meltdown or shutdown (especially in social situations- ones where there isn’t a place to escape)?

again, sorry to bother you

I'm sorry to hear you lost your comfort item. Given the information you provided, it could be that you just misplaced it, which I dearly hope turns out to be the truth. /g 💜

I immediately panic when I believe I misplaced or lost a very loved comfort item.

This is not the greatest strategy for coping & it messes a lot with me because it usually means I'll have a meltdown.

If you truly lost a dear comfort item: grieve it properly & don't let anyone call you childish or extreme for being upset about it.

The answer to your second question isn't simple because if I am in a situation where I am not safe or I am not able to have a meltdown for any other reason, I dissociate.

Dissociation is a mental process of disconnecting from one's thoughts, feelings, memories, or sense of identity.

It's a survival technique to overcome traumatic/painful/frightening/dangerous situations.

I learned to cope via dissociation at a very young age & it's involuntary. I can't control it. And to all you angst lovers: no, I can not tell you the reason. This coping mechanism is the truth for many autistic people who are able to mask/camouflage their autistic traits or were forced to hide their traits.

The best solution would be to leave the situation that caused/causes the meltdown, even if you think you can't leave because socialising is involved. You need to have this meltdown or shutdown. If you bottle it up, it will come back later, more intense. Trust me, I have done this a lot.

Your safety & wellbeing are more important than any social situation.

It is also helpful to know the triggers of your meltdowns & shutdowns to prevent them. Prevention as a form of self-care (yes, you got that right), is the key, but don't let it fool you: even if you do everything in your power to prevent them, you will still melt down or shut down. Keep in mind that this is not your failure.

Also, if you have a person you trust, tell them about your struggles & maybe you can make up a sign that you need support & they can provide it by speaking up for you (it even can be an excuse for you to leave temporarily).

E.g. Nardo & me communicate via ASL in such cases.

I hope I was able to provide some advice!

[fitzfunnymoments]

Brought some friends with me while I do my breathing treatment :]

[spacemanxpaninis]

I literally reblogged that post, did a google search, & immediately purchased that plushie I am WEAK 😭 that’s what happens when you’ve been stuck at home for 10 days straight… small price to pag for

✨HE✨

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Autism & Being Childish?

Autism and Being 'Childish'?

Many traits and things that are common among autistic people are often seen as 'childish' in the neurotypical world.

In reality, these things are incredibly important for the wellbeing of autistic adults and children and helpful in preventing meltdowns/shutdowns/burnout.

They are not something that should be stopped and not at all something that prevents anyone to be trustworthy/ responsible/ amazing at their job, etc.

Also, there is nothing to be ashamed of, because these things being helpful for many are totally awesome.

Some examples

1. having comfort items and being attached to them strongly.

These can be really helpful in overwhelming situations at home, and in public.

2. having 'chidish' special interests.

Special interests, whatever they are, are so much fun and super important for many autistic people.

3. unique fashion rules that might contain 'childish' elements.

For me, it's absolutely true, because in the neurotypical world, colorful things, and cute cartoon figures are often seen as childish, but for me, these are essential when going outside.

4. having a sensory space and playing with toys regularly, like having soft plushies, playing with fidget toys, lining up objects, being mesmerized by pretty lights, etc. Again, these have an important role in autistic self care

5. the autistic joy

The autistic enthusiasm and marveling at the wonders and beauty of the world, and also the way one might express the autistic joy, like jumping around, flapping hands, clapping, etc, these are also mainly associated with children in the neuritypical world, but I take it as a compliment, because for me, these are the probably the best things in being autistic.

Lil Penguin Studios/Autism Happy Place

[crazycatsiren]

If you see an adult with a plushie out and about in public and mock them for it you deserve to be swift kicked in front of oncoming traffic.

[sicksadstar]

Things That Are/Need To Be Okay To Take Out In Public

• stim/fidget toys

• plushies/stuffies

• toys

• chewelry

• comfort items

• blankets

• sensory bottles

• sunflower lanyards

• disability cards

• communication cards

and so much more

[promptsforyourwhumpfic]

Whump Prompt #1190

Submitted by Anon - thanks!

A character has a special item that belonged to their recently lost best friend/partner, which they carry with them almost everywhere. One of their friends, who didn’t know about their loss, messes with/takes the item, causing the mourning character to freak out when they can’t find it. Their friend now has to deal with the character’s anger towards them and the guilt of causing them pain.

[germplush]

Hero! (he/him) our only Warmies plush (we need more) he's a protector plushie and loves his job as a emotional support stuffed animals lol