Autistic teacher - recommendations for coping strategies

Exactly and I feel really panicy because I havnt recharged enough to be ready for it

Sometimes the momentum takes a while to slow down and by which time class has started again.

Thats a very good point. I find switching from classroom to staffroom very difficult. After 2 hours with noisy kids I just want to be by myself and I dont have the battery life left to socialise with adults 

Yes I agree, I am exhausted by the end of the day with the noise and transitions, etc.

I don't have issues with boundaries, but I feel more recently like I am the opposite to what you are saying as I won't joke or show much friendliness because I am struggling so much myself. I'm hoping by putting some strategies in place that people have mentioned in this thread that I can enjoy the job more!

Hi, yes I completely agree, transitions do effect me as well. i've been putting short mindfullness videos on the board for the children to benefit from when coming in from lunch/breaks, but also for me to adjust and feel calmer as well.

One thing I now understand I find difficulty with as a teacher is the transitions throughout the day. So consider it it might not just be sensory or social challenges but changing from one state to another. Eg from class to break time, from getting things ready to chatting with colleagues, from one group of students to the next, from one room to another etc there is a lot of changing of focus and attention as things come up throughout the day.

Hi

Well this is my first ever post of any kind, but as a teacher myself I completely understand where you’re coming from and felt the urge to reply. I teach in a secondary school and I worry my classroom is too noisy as to me it sometimes is, but others tell me it is always calm - I have hypersensitivity to noise. At the end of each lesson I feel utterly exhausted from having to put on a performance for an hour, and I like to hide away from people (staff and students) at break and lunch to recover from the demands. I was only diagnosed a few months ago and it was such a relief to get the diagnosis as my life makes so much more sense to me now! 
There is one thing I wanted to ask other teachers- do you struggle with professional boundaries? I have had a couple of issues where I have been told off by the Head for being too friendly with students - I must stress here nothing weird, purely being too friendly with the students in general! I speak to them sometimes how I would speak to a colleague. I find any interaction with any human very awkward and uncomfortable. I have been having counselling for several months now to help me navigate the world, and it’s helped me get a good understanding of boundaries, so it’s an issue I believe I have now overcome, but I’d really like to hear from any other teachers who may have struggled in the same way I did. 
Best wishes everyone.

Thank you!

No, thats the beauty of them. Its difficult to explain but basically you can hear everything as clearly as you would normally, both your voice and other peoples. nothing seems muffled, It just seems less sharp and overwhelming. Also the annoying or stressful hum of background noise seems to be tuned out a bit.

I was sceptical about it before I got them cos the description of them doesnt seem to make sense,  but now I have them i couldnt do without them. They just calm down that sensory overload of noise so much 

Do they effect how you hear your own voice? The ear plugs I have now muffle my own voice if that makes sense, which I find irritating.

Thank you!

Thanks for the recommendation!

I totally understand but coming from a students perspective. I found that one earphone with noise cancelling built in drastically reduced the horrible backgraound noise. Would this be a possibility for you to tey as a teacher? 

they are quite expensive, about 30 quid I believe. If you are able to they are well worth it though 

That’s great, the earplugs act like a filter.

I have heard that those earplugs are quite expensive though?

Thanks, yeh they really have. I never liked ear plugs before cos they filtered out even the things I wanted to hear with with these I can still hear everything but all that destressing background hum is filtered out a bit and all the other noises seem somehow softer and less overwhelming if that makes sense 

I have heard about the Flare Ear Plugs, apparently they are great. It’s great that they have had such a profound and positive impact on your life.

So sorrry! I wrote the message and then absent minded as I am I forgot to add the links before pressing send. Here they are now :-) 

Fidget cube 

Fidget Cube Spinner Toy Children Desk Adults Stress Relief Cubes ADHD UK | eBay

Fidget controller 

Fidget Stress Relief Bubble Sensory Game Controller Toy Special Needs ADHD Toys | eBay

Calmer ear buds, these have changed my life! 

Calmer® | An Alternative To Traditional Earplugs – Flare Audio Ltd

Whilst you wait for BillyC87’s fidget toy link, here is another link to a stim tool wish list:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/ZWP04WTRP531?ref_=wl_share

Happy Stimming!

Hi,

Thank you so much for your reply. 

I have started to have lunch away from the staff room and it has helped a lot.

The links for the ear plugs and fidget toys haven't showed up on the message for some reason. If you could send them again that would be great.

Thanks!