Published on 12, July, 2020
Slightly frustrated... I have to have a hospital procedure. I mentioned in a preparatory telephone interview with a nurse (?) that I am probably autistic and don't respond well to being touched/handled, which is obviously inevitable in the circumstances. She didn't seem to get it. Initially her repeated response was that everything would be explained at the time, as if this is going to help me. I don't need it explained. I understand the procedure perfectly - and it isn't anxiety about the procedure that's the problem - it's the actual proximity of people and the TOUCHING. I finally seemed to get through to her by telling her that I can react badly to physical contact. She asked whether I might be violent. Fair question. But no... My distress is likely to cause me to tense up and freeze, shut down and become uncommunicative. So, I'll have sedation, but I don't know how much this will help. Meh...I made it clear that I wasn't telling her because I was asking for help or reassurance. I thought it important that people dealing with me know how I am likely to react and what the cause is. Otherwise they are likely to misinterpret my reaction.Anyway, maybe I have chipped away just a little at the ignorance surrounding autism. Clearly she was quite unprepared for it.
You need to give clear guidelines over what is acceptable for you. I suggest you use this experience to generate content for the health passport Bunny mentioned, as it is easier thinking about specifics than dealing with imaginary scenarios.
"If you come closer than 6 inches, I need to know you are coming, why, and what you are doing. Then I can work out how you will be able to do that thing without distressing me."
Try to avoid the negatives, telling people what not to do often leads them to do those things, as if they forgot the word "not" was even mentioned.
That is a great bit of interesting psychology, Fiona. (I'm refering to the "not")