Between Spectrums

Preparing for the New Year

We all have goals to achieve, whether it's physical or spiritual, and we work towards to making them a reality. We reach for our lifetime goals as we focus on our short term goals. As the new year approaches, we make new year resolutions and changes that we need to make. This year I'm making changes to make my life easier as a college student and as a person. Normally I'm the type of person that makes goals but not working on them. The reason being is that I didn't have enough motivation. But as the new year comes I'm going to be more motivated if I want to get the goals I set for myself. Along with motivation, the goals also need to be realistic. What I mean by realistic is that make sure that you can achieve it. Having a short term realistic goal can help lead you to the main goal you're wanting to achieve.

People with autism also have goals they want to go for. Some want to be singers, writers, athletes, businessmen, actors, etc. But sometimes either laziness or lack of motivation can get in the way of that. In some cases they can distract themselves with things to past their time. Like going on their computer, or watching TV,  playing games, or just sitting around. So how can you help them to reach for their goals? Here's a step by step system that you can do and add a step or two depending on how your friend or relative's needs are.

Step 1: What's up? - Asking them why they don't work towards their goals can really help a lot. It could be that they don't know where to start or don't really want to do the work. Whatever the reason, you can ask to see what's holding them back.

Step 2: Plan it out: Some autistic people need a guide to do they things they need to do. Sometimes having a list or plan where they can see it can help out a lot. Have them plan out their goals and dates of when they should accomplish their goals and give them little reminders once in a while.

Step 3: Starting small - Having small realistic goals can go a long way to achieve their lifetime goals. So if the want to go to college, they can start small by having the goal to finish high school. If they want to loose weight, they can start by going to the gym weekly or start to eat healthier. Or if they want to get into sports, you can encourage them to practice for whatever time is more comfortable for them.

Step 4: Level up - Once they reach their small term goals they can set a much bigger goal to work toward. Which could be write a book, finish a project, or whatever can allow them to grow. 

Step 5: Start again - When their goals are accomplish they can make more goals to work toward with your help or by themselves. If they can do it alone then it's awesome. But if they still need you, then do what you think you can do to help.

Hope that helps out as you start your resolutions for the new year. May you find the goals that you can do, work towards, and accomplish.

Thank you for your time

Tay Gallagher  

Between Spectrums

Traits Aren't Forever

Have you ever wondered how you can tell if someone is autistic? From what people can understand, there are certain traits that someone with autism or aspergers. There are many traits, from hand flapping to running back and forth. But there are some traits that people didn't even know it's a trait. You're probably wondering, what are the some of the other traits? Here is a video of Daniel Jones, a musician from North Wales with aspergers, as he goes over ten of his traits.

In some of these traits I can relate to him and I had some traits in the past. But as I grew older I got over them and I continue to work on the traits that hold me back. Why? Cause I believe even though we have traits, it doesn't mean that we're stuck and can never change. All people can change if they choose to do so. We always work to be the best that we can be. Having traits isn't bad but if there are some that you feel can change as you work on them, then go for it. For example I don't drive cause of the fear of hurting someone and not trusting other drivers to be safe, but I'm working towards getting a license and trusting myself and others behind the wheel. So I can go to places and not always relay on others to give me a ride. I also didn't like sarcasm at first but I got a better understanding of it and can tell when someones joking. I even use it from time to time. Finally, I didn't like certain foods growing up. But during and after my mission I started to try other things and be more heathy. 

I want to change myself as I change my traits. Some easily change but other take a while and sometimes if you stopped working on a trait it comes back. Some you don't have to change if you are comfortable with them. So if you want to work on your traits and see if you can change them, I would suggest going over at least ten of them and see what traits you feel you can work on and go for it. But if you are fine with them that's okay too. Whatever you choose, may it bring you the happiness you're comfortable with.

Thank you for you time

Tay Gallagher

Between Spectrums

Man in the Mirror

Have you ever looked in the mirror and told yourself that you are an exceptional person? Thinking that you don't need help from anything or anyone because you can take of yourself? I did, except for the mirror part, I thought that as a capable college student that I don't need anybody to help me with my classes. But after a not so great semester and having a talk with my father, I come to realize that I do need help in some aspects of my education. I could have asked tutors to help but I chose not to cause I was stubborn to admit that I needed them. And I was also stubborn to admit to myself that because of my traits, it puts me in the autistic spectrum. I thought that if I said that I was in the spectrum that it classified me as disabled and I couldn't take care of myself. Because of that mind set I wanted to prove that I could take care of myself and never asked for help in my school work. But because of my poor decisions I didn't do so well. 

Sometimes we have to face ourselves and say that it's okay to ask for help and it's okay to say you have some form of autism. Autism is never a bad thing but I personally didn't want to say that I have some form of it cause I didn't want people to treat me like I was disabled. But in college they have tutors and counselors that can help you cause they want to and they don't judge you. Asking for help doesn't make you disabled and it doesn't mean you lack intelligence. It just shows that you have things that you would like some guidance on a certain aspect in your life. Think of it like this, when going a road trip to your destination, It doesn't hurt to ask for directions when you aren't sure on where you're going. Sometimes before we ask for help we have to look at the man, or woman, in the mirror and say to ourselves that it's okay to admit that we have our flaws and it's okay to accept them. 

I've been saying our limitations make us limitless. But I didn't want to accept that I too have limitations and that was my limitation. So I would like to start over. My name is Tay Gallagher, I'm somewhere in the autism spectrum, and I know my limitations can make me limitless just like how you can be limitless. 

Thank you for your time

Tay Gallagher  

Between Spectrums

Taking the "Chill Pill"

Now the phrase "Take a chill pill" may not be the best thing to say to someone when he/she is mad. But sometimes they do need to. Sometimes when a person with autism gets upset or mad they experience meltdowns. Meltdowns mostly happen with kids when ever they don't get what they want or something sets them off. When they have a meltdown the would scream, hit themselves, flap their hands around, and may damage the area. Now kids with autism do know how to control their temper as they learn to so but there are those that can't and their parents have to restrain them till they calm down. There are some who carry their tempers with them as they reach adulthood. Anger can do more damaging to a person physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. And I had my fair share of having my temper take over me. I don't get mad as much because I don't care too much on the little things in life. But I also know that it's best to let the anger go before it gets to a point where I could explode and hurt someone. 

If an autistic adult has a meltdown it's best if you leave them alone cause they can control themselves and but the ways you can help is find what triggered the meltdown and remove it if possible. Triggers can be any sound or object that may upset the person. Give them the space they need to calm down. Don't talk to them, all they want is silence so they can think. To avoid another meltdown, see what triggers set them off. Ask what don't the like which could lead to a meltdown. They may not like a certain sound or how a room is organized. Either way its best to find the triggers before another meltdown happens.

Now if you have an autistic kid here are some suggestions you can use. Remove the triggers, Make a list of things that affect the meltdown, Massage, Diversions to make the kid happy, Keep calm as you try to clam down the kid, Aromatherapy, Positive feedback, Noise-cancelling headphones, Put up a alone time tent, Hot bath, Teaching them to breath in through the nose and out through mouth, and if they start to hit themselves it's best to restrain them and placing something soft for their heads to avoid possible brain damage. 

Hope these suggestions help you out and if you have other suggestions on how to deal with autistic meltdowns comment below.

Thank you for your time

Tay Gallagher.

Between Spectrums

What Does "Becoming Limitless" Mean?

Becoming limitless, does that sound misleading? If so I apologize for that. The intention of the blog is to inspire the autistic and anyone in the spectrum to believe that they don't have to go by their limits. So for todays post I would like to clarify what it means to become limitless.

Now I still believe that as we overcome our limitations and we become limitless. But I also know that there are somethings that we can't do. For instance Stephan Hawking can just jump out of his frozen state and tap dance while explaining the big bang theory, yet with the help of his computer he's one the best scientist in the world. Stevie Wonder sees darkness all his life, but writes powerful music that has people dancing and singing. Aron Ralston may not have the use of two arms but he still climbs mountains and like adventure. Each of us have limits that we can or can't overcome. With the limits we can overcome it takes some work. Like writing, reading, driving a car, etc. With limits that we can't overcome, you don't need to be ashamed because you have flaws or limitations that can't be fixed. Think of them as a way that allows you to see the things you can do. Some autistic people aren't vocal when trying to communicate but they can have a voice in their writing. Some might never be able to do simple things on their own but they have brilliant minds. And some may not be the best with empathy but they can be there as a friend. To put it simply we may have limits that can stop us but as focus on the limits that we can work on, that's when we become limitless.

When I was in my junior year of high school I looked the traits that an autistic person has and make a list so that I can see what I traits I have or don't have and work on the traits that I have so that I wouldn't have it anymore. So if you or someone you know with autism wants to see what traits you have so you can work on them I suggest you look it up from any where that talks about autism, then make a list, and then see if you can work on the problems to the point where it's not part of your life. If there are problems that you can't fix don't worry about just go to the next one. But don't give up some take time to change as long as you work on them. Some limits might not change at all but some can as you continue to work on them. 

Thank you for you time 

Tay Gallagher

Now if they is anything in the blog that you would like me to know about or if you have any questions about autism please let me know in the comments and I'll be happy to answer.