Welcome to the ninth module of LUNA. In this module, we will talk about what you should do if your anxieties and fears are closely related to two specific autistic traits. If any of your fears involve sensory sensitivities, or changes in routine, then this module may be helpful for you! This module will teach you how to best tackle these anxieties by changing your plan of action to account for these traits.
Lots of autistic people are strongly affected by their surroundings. For example, many autistic people are very sensitive to sounds, lights, how things smell, or how things feel. If you find that you are more affected by your environment than other people are, then you might be dealing with something called sensory sensitivities. People with sensory sensitivities might find it difficult to be in loud or crowded places. Certain sounds, smells, or textures that other people are able to ignore might be uncomfortable, overwhelming, or even painful to someone with sensory sensitivities.
It is also common for autistic people to rely on routines and schedules more than other people do. For example, they might prefer to take the same route to school or do things in a specific order. Remember, autistic people’s brains work differently than people who are not autistic, and while routines can be helpful for everyone, they can be even more essential for an autistic person. Routines and schedules make it easier for many autistic people to navigate life and interact with the world around them.
But when someone is too attached to their routines, it can be unhelpful. When plans suddenly change, or something unexpected happens, it can feel frustrating, confusing, or overwhelming.
If you have an anxiety or fear that is related to sensory sensitives or changes in routine, then your plan of action might need just a few changes!
Things to Remember
Just like with Module 8, if you and your parent feel that this module is not relevant for you, feel free to skip ahead to the next module. Be sure to discuss this with your parent before doing so, as it is important that you and your parent read the same modules each week.
No matter which module you decide to read, it’s important that you continue working on your plan of action by completing exposure activities. You should be making some progress on your plan of action every week. Remember, for each new week, create a new schedule using the Weekly Practice Plan worksheet. You can create this schedule based on a new plan of action, or you can continue working on the same plan from the previous week(s) if you would like. If needed, you can always re-read Module 4 to create a new plan of action.
