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Mindfulness

Expecto_Patronum

Having just mentioned mindfulness in a response to somebody, it reminded me that I have big queries about mindfulness.

Recently I saw a video about it that described people going about their daily life noticing things. This I can believe. Their example of something people don't notice - the water in the shower. How can you possibly not notice water in the shower that is literally coming down on your head? 

It made me wonder whether this was the video somewhat exaggerating or whether it is part of my neurodivergency. I often find that I can't filter out things and it often amazes me what other people can filter out. I couldn't believe it one day when I was being driven mad by a very large flickering light and other people were saying well I didn't notice until you pointed it out. What do you mean you didn't notice? How can you possibly not have noticed? 

I wonder if this is why I strongly dislike mindfulness. It aims to make us more aware of what is happening in our bodies but I'm hyper aware. I can never block it out. Why would I want to become more aware and how would that help ground me?

I may well be after neurotypical answers for comparison but let's see what people think anyway. Is anyone unaware of the feel of the water when they have a shower? Those of you that like mindfulness - are you usually hyper aware and what is it that you like about it? Those of you that don't like mindfulness or haven't found it helpful - are you usually hyper aware and what is it you didn't like about it?

Parents

  • I can be aware of things that NTs aren't, but I also know that there are also things other autists notice that maybe I don't.

    Using showering/bathing as an example, I'm inclined to think most NTs probably wouldn't stop to think about water coming out of a shower head unless there was an issue causing the shower not to work.

    Although I greatly enjoy having baths, I find that unless we're in the midst of a heatwave, I don't enjoy washing my hair because I dislike getting my head wet. If I had no issue whatsoever with the skin on my head getting wet, then I probably wouldn't give it much thought unless the water being used to rinse my hair was too hot, too cold, or I found that my water supply had suddenly been turned off.

    I can only speak for myself, but I find it easier to filter things out if they are things that don't cause me issues.

    During the Covid lockdowns, it suddenly seemed (to me) that there were a lot of NTs who had become more mindful of their surroundings, discovered a thing called 'Nature', and that being outdoors in nature was therapeutic. It was as though they were suddenly noticing things that they had previously not giving much, or any thought to... things that we (NDs) notice because we find them fascinating, or maybe anxiety-inducing (like flickering lights).

    For NDs, I don't think Mindfulness is always a bad thing. If it makes us more aware of things that cause us issues, it means we can choose to explore ways of learning how to deal with them. 

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  • I can be aware of things that NTs aren't, but I also know that there are also things other autists notice that maybe I don't.

    Using showering/bathing as an example, I'm inclined to think most NTs probably wouldn't stop to think about water coming out of a shower head unless there was an issue causing the shower not to work.

    Although I greatly enjoy having baths, I find that unless we're in the midst of a heatwave, I don't enjoy washing my hair because I dislike getting my head wet. If I had no issue whatsoever with the skin on my head getting wet, then I probably wouldn't give it much thought unless the water being used to rinse my hair was too hot, too cold, or I found that my water supply had suddenly been turned off.

    I can only speak for myself, but I find it easier to filter things out if they are things that don't cause me issues.

    During the Covid lockdowns, it suddenly seemed (to me) that there were a lot of NTs who had become more mindful of their surroundings, discovered a thing called 'Nature', and that being outdoors in nature was therapeutic. It was as though they were suddenly noticing things that they had previously not giving much, or any thought to... things that we (NDs) notice because we find them fascinating, or maybe anxiety-inducing (like flickering lights).

    For NDs, I don't think Mindfulness is always a bad thing. If it makes us more aware of things that cause us issues, it means we can choose to explore ways of learning how to deal with them. 

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