Autistic and really struggling with the heat

[autistickie]

Are any other autistic people really struggling with the heatwaves? I have terrible heat tolerance as well as sensory issues that get worse the warmer it gets- I feel like my brain is running on half capacity! I’m struggling to sleep and I can feel myself getting closer to either a meltdown or a shutdown the longer it continues 😭

Is anyone else in the same boat?

To be fair I think there are an awful lot of people struggling and feeling the same who don't have autism,it's just really ,really hot.

What are you doing to stay cool?

We are all in the same boat, OP. Yep, it’s hot, but better that than miserable winter weather.
Your feelings are nothing to do with autism, just with being human.

I'm not knowingly autistic and I'm really struggling with this heat

I’m also not autistic that I know of and my brain isn’t firing on all cylinders either. I’m recently diagnosed perimenopausal though

For some people it really isn't better. I love the spring/summer-warm sunny days are great but am really struggling with managing my health in this weather along with an awful lot of other people with chronic health conditions or people that are older or more vulnerable.

I'm about to go to bed because I'm exhausted. Spent most of the day in stuffy meeting rooms with broken air con and no windows. I don't think it's universally worse for autistic people, depends on the individual.

I assume that some people with autism who have sensitivity issues may struggle more with this heat.

I think the problem for a lot of ND folks is change, and yes the heat is unfamiliar for us all here, but a lot of folks manage changes in their environment more easily than ND folks.

@autistickie , I find the heat totally preoccupying, a bit of "deer in the headlights" effect, leaving me a little giddy and baffled. Hard to explain. What's it like for you?

Yes, me. It’s sensory hell.

Christ before I opened this thread I thought it wasn't going to go well. Mention autism and the naysayers and armchair doctors flock in.
Disappointed it's taken less than 5 replies for people to dispute medical facts that autistic people are less able to regulate body temp than non autistics.

Here's what I do op:

• skip a antidepressant on the hottest days
• windows and curtains closed on sunny side of building. Windows open on shaded side.
• cover windows from the outside if possible, I have campervan blinds but can use foil or cardboard
• electric fan and can put a bowl of ice water in front of it for further cooling
• have a bottle of water which has a fine mist spray nozzle to cool my face arms and neck down
• wet flannel on head, belly or back
• wet tshirt
• plenty of fluids, hydration salts
• salty snacks and salt on snacks
• wfh or in an aircon building
• light weight cotton clothes only
• have a break in or near water. Beach, public pool, garden hose
• only light activities, no heavy lifting

Struggle more than who though?

There’s a whole myriad of people on MN, many of whom are struggling terribly with the heat and many who aren’t.

We are ALL struggling with the heat! ND or not!!

I think OP is asking for opinions from Autistic people not because Autistic people necessarily struggle more with the heat, but more the effect the heat has on their system.

OP, I have suspected ASD and my DS has been diagnosed. We are both struggling to function because of the impact on sleep and appetite. It’s a recipe for meltdowns. We are also both finding it hard to tolerate situations which require masking, especially my son at school. So there is also that. I hope you find ways to keeps cool. I highly suggest things like a lukewarm bath or taking an ice pack to bed or just finding ways to cool down like places with AC.

Absolutely this!!

OP do you think the rest of us are managing ok? Its torture.

DP is autistic, and seems to be ignoring the heat altogether. He sits there sweating and he does not care. He lives in a sweatbox of a flat, WFH, and does not even own a fan. I don't know how he does it.
I have turned pathetic in this heat.

It’s so so hot. And it’s seems to be going on forever. I don’t know anyone not struggling to be honest. My sister is about to give birth and is finding it so so difficult.

I’m sorry you’re struggling OP and hope it gets easier for you soon.

I love this heat and am not struggling at all but appreciate it’s not like that for everyone.

Everyone?

Disappointed it's taken less than 5 replies for people to dispute medical facts that autistic people are less able to regulate body temp than non autistics.

Is this true for all autistic people and all non autistic people?

I’d be interested to know because for example I have hypothyroidism, and one of the common symptoms is not being able to regulate body temperature.

However it has never affected me in this way but it will affect others.

Is it a genuine medical fact that autism affects temperature regulation?

I'm not disputing autism - I'm autistic myself but never heard of any evidence of that - do you have links to the research?

I just looked this up and the first three studies I found did not find any difference in temperature regulation between autistic and non autistic people. However the studies were far outweighed by blogs and non-scientific websites claiming the opposite.

Yep, autistic and can’t regulate my body temperature yay MCAS.
It’s sensory overload hell.

A frozen hot water bottle helps me sleep @autistickie Half fill it, stick it in the freezer in the morning, wrap it in a t-shirt at night. Buy a new one for hot water when needed.

Unless you're the OP's Doctor I'm not sure that you're qualified to tell her that there is no overlap between her neuro divergence and her inability to tolerate the heat. Shockingly, she probably knows how her autism impacts her life better than you do!

Autism expert are you? So dismissive and rude.