My legs in my final sleeping position with the tight leather belts, scarf ready to go
It’s time for another Behind The Scenes post to show you some of the unusual things I do to help with my autism. The Behind The Scenes series heavily correlates with the A Series on Stimming video series and most or all of the Behind The Scenes posts will made into a video format for more insight at some point.
I have always been the type to sleep in a position similar to sitting in a chair, semi-fetal. I have also for my entire life craved intense pressure and even restraint. So I decided hmm I could restrain my legs in the sleep position I sleep in and have that nice secure immobilized feeling, and so I did. I really liked the way. The belt felt on my ankles especially, very soft and smooth yet secure and restrictive. The one up at my calfs; unfortunately, I couldn’t feel.
I have minor breathing problems, primarily allergic and asthmatic and hypo ventilatory, but that does not stop me from limiting my breathing purposefully to help me relax and even help my lungs remain strong. I have a polyester scarf that I absolutely love how it feels so I decided to wrap it around my head tightly, it was really warm and comfortable, no sound or sight, a nice world of my own; in other words. My breathing was rather easy though taking in a breath took a little bit more work, and the air was very warm when I inhaled or exhaled, mainly on exhalation. To keep the scarf from unwrapping in my sleep but to give me a quick escape in the event my breathing were to suddenly become impaired or something I simply laid on my side with my head resting on the end of the scarf, so all I would need to do is lift my head and pull at the end to quickly remove it.
This shows that restraint and sometimes respiratory limitation / control are helpful for me to sleep. Some other autistics may also seek help in respiratory limitation / control, but it can be very unsafe if not done correctly, and a fast escape is not thought through.
Click the picture above to see the gallery of images I constructed.
If you are autistic and are going to try respiratory control / limitation to help you relax PLAN IT OUT AND MAKE FAST ESCAPE METHODS. NEVER USE SOMETHING YOU CANNOT EASILY / QUICKLY REMOVE. ALSO CONSULT YOUR CAREGIVERS / PARENTS.
Here is where I get a bit technical about the respiratory control / limitation end, we all know that deep pressure and restraint have a positive effect on the autistic mind, but it is not widely known that respiratory limitation / control can in some autistics help. Some autistic children and adults have over active brains; they draw large amounts of oxygen to do huge amount of computation. Sometimes limited / controlled respiration is the key. Controlled / limited respiration is using conscious methods of controlling respiratory rate to reduce oxygen, which works in very few people or using some sort of object to limit air flow to and from the mouth and nose. Limiting air flow forces the brain and neurological system to analyze, is this enough for me to sustain if I slow down, or am I being asphyxiated. In my case and in some autistic’s cases, the brain starts to slow down to accommodate the lowered amount of oxygen flow. This does not mean reducing O2 saturation of the blood. This simply means forcing the whole body to use less O2. In other autistics and many normal people simply limiting air flow to and from the mouth and nose will trigger the asphyxiation response, in that case hyperventilation (rapid breathing) and overuse of O2 are present and the method should not be used under any circumstance.
This blog post is not medical advice. Seek help for Sensory Integration and Sleep Therapies from a certified professional before trying anything seen here. I disclaim any responsibility over actions arising from the reading of this post, or viewing of the images.
