Aspire Occupational Therapy & Coaching LTD

Cool Viking movie! And support for wearing a helmet!

Not long live the differences which implies neurotypical is the gold standard but long live how we are all uniquely human allowing full expression!

Not long live the differences which implies neurotypical is the gold standard but long live how we are all uniquely human allowing full expression!

Thanks Kristy Forbes

Autism in females can be different from males and less known/harder to recognize.

4 different distinctions. 1 is considered ‘pathological demand avoidance’

As many are becoming aware of the more recently recognized subtype of autism ‘pathological demand avoidance’, let’s also consider more descriptive and positive terms of what it really means. Some I have heard today: passionate drive for autonomy, persistent demand anxiety, pervasive drive for autonomy, persistent drive to advocate (for self). Thoughts? Favourite(s)?

Gratefulness pumpkin!

Want to start a new family tradition that will teach your kids about thankfulness? Every night for the month of October, gather as a family, and add a few items to your Thankful Pumpkin ! You'll have a beautiful Thanksgiving decoration!

Brilliant Brene!

Thanks Helen Heaviside

Kimberly Barthel you are so right!

Great Happiness Hacks Sisu Collective Counselling!

Happiness Hacks!

Sensory trauma I find if my brain is trying to function in high sensory environments long term all cognitive functioning and processing starts to be impeeded an...d affected. First to be affected is my processing of any and all information and my ability to communicate. Next is executive functioning skills which are already significantly impacted for me due to the co~occurrence of ADHD and ASD. Your executive functioning skills are self control (both impulse and regulation), flexibility(adaptation to change), organization, working memory(short term memory)and planning (ability to create steps to reach a goal). What can also happen is the fight/flight response becomes triggered as my brain becomes more and more overloaded by stimuli it cannot filter out; hence becoming sensory defensive. The cumulation of sensory anxiety then accrues and it’s a viscious cycle until the sensory anxiety reaches boiling point and needs release in order to be able to function in any capacity. This is where sensory meltdowns come in. If I’m in environments that I cannot filter out my brain experiences a hypervigilance of sorts with sensory anticipation anxiety. My brain will become fearful in response to anticipation of sensory onslaught. For me my burny brain gets worse and feels more swollen as I progress through the sensory overload cycle. This is why for me I’ve devised my own sensory diets and coping mechanisms trying to pro-actively regulate my brains reactiveness so I’m not functionally and cognitively impaired on a daily basis. It’s also at this point that I experience selective/situational mutism. Basically I have a very reactive brain to sensory stimuli. Once cognition becomes compromised or impaired I become less and less able to communicate or process others communication. My auditory processing becomes compromised which is why I lip read to help process conversation. When executive functioning becomes impaired I can become more impulsive with decision making and purchases and even my ability to cook or plan cooking becomes impaired. I will become more black and white or rigid in my thinking. My ability to process or cope with change is significantly diminished. My brain becomes so hypervigilant that even coping mechanisms like meditation will cease to be effective.