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?

The ignorance in this thread was unfortunately expected.

I am autistic but I would say I suffer in the same manner as others. My severely autistic DS3 however is very different. He has very strong sensory needs. He wants to be wrapped in a blanket at all times. It took a long time to convince him to wear a T-shirt as he would scream and scratch his arms when he didn’t have the comfort of a long sleeved top. He doesn’t realise when he’s hot so keeping him cool is hard. I thought I had hidden all the blankets to keep him cool but out of desperation he then wrapped himself in the tablecloth. When I removed that he wrapped himself up in the rug. He cannot communicate so I cannot explain the dangers of heat to him. He will only sleep with a quilt on so we have to sneak in and pull it off when he’s asleep.

Autism affects everyone differently. Like I say, for me I suffer with the heat like anyone else but for some autistic people it is absolutely worse than I and others have it. Of course there is overlap, the same as with any medical condition that affects temperature regulation and flaring symptoms.

I knew you’d get a load of ignorant responses from people saying “it’s not your autism, we all struggle in the heat” 🙄

Unfortunately autism often comes with an inability to properly regulate temperature and sensory issues galore. I am really struggling. I wake up sweating in the night which makes me feel physically sick because of the sensation. I’m permanently sleep deprived and sticky and hot and uncomfortable. My sensory needs require one thing but the heat requires me to do the opposite so I don’t get unwell and it is so, so hard.

I’m also on medication (for my anxiety that’s connected to my autism) which makes me sweat and struggle to regulate my temperature even more. I also have my period and am baking hot and uncomfortable from that too 😫

I am autistic and don’t mind the warm weather at all. I like it. It doesn’t stop me sleeping well etc.

What I don’t like is the feel of air blowing over my skin. From fans and air conditioning, for example.