People on the autism spectrum are known for a considerably strong adherence to routine, and this is seen as a mostly negative trait. It is associated with meltdowns because of disruption, or stubborn behaviour that refuses to adapt to change.
But if you actually tried to understand the reason behind this attachment to routine, we can actually have a better appreciation for them even if we are not as clingy! This is important, especially nowadays, when the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic is constantly throwing a lot of people’s routines into disarray.
Here are three things that autism can teach us to appreciate when it comes to routines.
Unlike regular people, autistics are known to have various sensory processing issues that cause them to perceive the world in a very different way. However, did you know that this actually can tie well into their attachment to routine?
Routines fill their time with things, places and faces that they are able to process and recognise. It can be waking from the sound of their mother’s voice in the morning, followed by a bath using soap with a smell they really like and then they walk down the same steps they’ve known for the last eight years of their life.
All of these things have been embedded in an autistic person’s brain, giving them a sense of stability and freedom from stimulation that is unfamiliar. Likewise, normal people, while capable of adapting, are also not immune from the stress of facing the unexpected. That’s why we work to build up resilience while having emotional stability as the ultimate goal.
Another important element of routine is the sense of certainty. Because even without actually walking down their favourite stairs or a familiar street, an autistic individual firmly believes that their street is certainly real in their minds. They recognise that it will always be there for them the next day. If it’s not, then something must be terribly wrong and this unfamiliarity triggers them.
And when you think about it, are regular people all that different? We may not meltdown as quickly, or become difficult to talk to, but even we experience stress from loss of certainty. There are many things we thought were certain prior to disasters like the present pandemic. And when they no longer were, there was a marked rise in mental health struggles all around the world (starting with our own healthcare professionals).
Of course, we can’t exactly hope that things will go back the way they were before. That’s life. However, we still look to other things for establishing a sense of certainty (whether it’s being certain about specific essential services still being available, or who you can contact for medical aid).
Now, you might be wondering: how can autistics teach us to appreciate adaptability? Aren’t they the ones who have the most difficulty adjusting?
Well, that’s precisely how. They make us aware of our strengths when it comes to adversity when we don’t realise how important it can be at times! They count on us to help them, because our brains are the ones that have the necessary functions to face the unexpected and adapt quickly.
And in the bigger scheme of things, this teaches us that our routines will eventually have something that will throw them off and we need to be prepared to be more proactive and vigilant.
All in all, the autistic attachment to routine is generally based on the desire for these three things (one way, or another). They give us an opportunity to reflect and always be grateful when we have them, regardless if we have disability or not.
If you need any advice or support, then know that we at the Australian Tomatis Method are still here to help you. Please reach out if you need to, either by email at info@tomatis.com.au or by phone to Francoise at 0414 444 915.
Official Representative of Tomatis Developpement SA in Australia, Asia and South Pacific, Director of the Australian Tomatis® Method, Registered Psychologist, Certified Tomatis® Consultant Senior, Tomatis® International Trainer and Speaker, Co-author of the Listening Journey Series, 40 Years of Experience, Neurodiversity Speaker
