Published on 12, July, 2020
Over the past 6 months I have been reaping-my-way through the post-diagnosis autistic service-provision, after all of the searching and hunting for answer, I have been left with a reasonable-suspicion that my initial hypothesis is true. That the field of autism lacks awareness and provision, such that only becoming your owe saviour, is the only sure way of freedom.
But this cannot be done alone, especially in the case of the incompetent and illiterate, success can only be assured though amateur-means and interest-fuelled increment, such as I am. When practiced and exposed enough the autist themself becomes the artist. But alongside the different-aspect off autism, there is also the spared-functional-aspect the side that requires a mentor and peers, to help an autist consider the extremity-and-rigidity and provide proactivity in supporting impairments.
So that begs the question of: What is sanctuary to an autistic-person? Is it a number of things balanced, or is it the glue that binds these things, or it is peer and mentor review such as is observed in this forum? Is it the opportunity for safe-exposure to threats? It is protection and safety from threats and fear?
Also what resources can an autist consider reliable and effective? Because to me it is not to be found in the upper-echelons of professional practice, nor can it be found reliably in operational service-provision, to me it has only been found amongst this forum and within my own skill-and-interest..
For me, I think I associate 'sanctuary' with my state of mind. For example, if I'm physically and mentally content, my sanctuary could be anywhere that allows me to feel calm and safe. This could be within my own home, someone else's home, outdoors enjoying nature, etc.
My bedroom, that's my sanctuary. I can be myself there, don't need to mask, can listen to my music, watch favourite shows and films, and best of all I can sit with my cat chill. Life's pressures and crap can't get to me in my room. It's shielded by magic!
Flow! YES.
I’m in the same boat, so far I’ve only been able to map the negative-space surrounding it, it’s a pain no matter which tier of Maslows-Hierarchy I try to establish it..
I don't know what sanctuary is. Whatever it is I've never found it. The closest to it is my bedroom but I've not found true sanctuary yet, my worries, trauma and pain follow me everywhere. I live in hope that sanctuary will find me one day..
Hmm so sanctuary then is ‘flow’, the channeling of one’s positivity, and the continuity of the cycle of one’s stability.. Sanctuary is continuity..
Sanctuary unfortunately is the name of the housing association I rent my flat from. While the flat is very nice, Sanctuary’s customer service most of the time is dreadful.
NAS86592 said:I find it impossible to put past historic negativities to bed (there have been sooo many!)
I have difficulty with this too.
I feel that my head may be one of the least safe places for me to be.
It is a grand struggle to nurture enough strength of spirit to dispel stressful imaginings complimented by stressful realities. I often fail, allowing my thoughts to sadden me. I wish they were only immaginings. I find it impossible to put past historic negativities to bed (there have been sooo many!). Keeping busy seems to be my sanctuary from my negative thoughts. If I ever became disabled, I would rather end my life than to be stuck in my memories.
H said:There are darker areas of my mind, I cannot allow myself to enter those. I think of my mind like a corridor full of doors, each one is a designated part of me. My sanctuary is the room where nothing bad can enter. Only I can get in there. Nothing else
There are darker areas of my mind, I cannot allow myself to enter those. I think of my mind like a corridor full of doors, each one is a designated part of me.
My sanctuary is the room where nothing bad can enter. Only I can get in there. Nothing else
That is a fantastic description.
I wasn't sure whether to answer it this way but it's how I interpreted it.
My sanctuary is the room where nothing bad can enter. Only I can get in there. Nothing else.
I have just read your bio and now I want some freshly baked French bread and cakes!
H said:My head is my sanctuary.
That's a really interesting take on this as I feel that my head may be one of the least safe places for me to be.
There is so much food for thought in this question.
Thinking about this, I only really feel I am in a safe place now, 5 years on from my mother's death, as she was a source of great anxiety, chaos, emotional attacks, manipulation and very draining etc etc.
My head is my sanctuary. The one place I can shut myself in and no one can get in, I can hide, be myself. It's the only true sanctuary I have.
out_of_step said:Debbie you have articulated very well my own thoughts. I will add - it's where and with who we can be ourselves. I think the notions are not just physical place but in our head as well.
Debbie you have articulated very well my own thoughts. I will add - it's where and with who we can be ourselves.
I think the notions are not just physical place but in our head as well.
I agree re the 'head space'.
DeSpereaux said:I like what you’ve said it’s soothing, and I believe I shall read in again, when aggravation shrouds me next
That's good to hear.
I think that this thread really resonated with me as it took me decades to find a permanent sanctuary.
I spent a lot of my younger life very insecure: with my parents, when living in rented accommodation, insecure employment, unhappy and insecure relationships etc etc.
Also, most, if not all of my homes, were too noisy for me.
It's really only my situation in life now, ie for the last 15 years, where I feel I have the proper sanctuary I described, but I never take it for granted and still feel concern sometimes that it may be taken away.
The moral of this story is that it took me to 45 years of age to find it, so don't give up hope, everyone who is still seeking it.
Answer accepted, in as much as her art is an idol, it is a sanctuary-unwavering..
My sanctuary is Taylor Swift. Especially when I'm walking somewhere that makes me nervous.
I'm listening to My Tears Ricochet rn and it just speaks to me.
Same for me ^^
Really nice on this community knowing you're actually not alone in the things you do.
I guess I’ve had armour like-gossamer today, I’ve felt unusually-mortal and have felt the mortality of the world around me too-keenly, I haven’t reached for a single-ledge this week that hasn’t felt-like smoke..
I guess that’s partly my fault for taking the leaps, and leaving the ground too-flippantly, it’s been nice to notice that the forum hadn’t treated me like smoke, as you guys had enquired after me and I was touched (excuse the pun)..