FAQautism

In some parts of the world, cold weather and short daylight hours can impact mood, attentiveness, and responsiveness. While we certainly are not able to determine all the factors and circumstances contributing to the “blues” commonly reported at this time of year by teachers, family members, and others interested in the well-being of individuals with autism, we can look at some mood-lifting ideas that have worked for lots of folks.

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The key to keeping the wintertime blues at bay includes three specific strategies: (1) increasing exposure to natural light, (2) increasing purposeful activity and movement, and (3) planning for and anticipating a future event.

ENJOY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. The Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com) advises people to spend time outdoors, even on cloudy days, because “outdoor light causes a biochemical change in your brain that lifts your mood,” Scout out ideas for outdoor activities that individuals with autism can enjoy on a daily basis. Each person, of course, has different interests, but some of my friends with autism enjoy walking the dog, shooting hoops, swinging, or just walking out to get the mail or the newspaper. Remember that the idea is to increase our exposure to outside light, so just make a point of getting outside several times every day.

MOVE AROUND. Ramp up the physical activity. Make exercise fun and a predictable, regular part of each day. For example, when the clock marks the top of the hour, one of my teachers encourages everyone in the classroom to stop what they are doing and stretch to the sky and touch the floor five times. Or, at 10:30 every day, another teacher introduces a fun dancercise video. You would, of course, want to select a video designed for the age range of your friends with autism. Some individuals resist exercise, whether they function on the spectrum of autism or not, so you must sneak in opportunities to move around every day. For example, your friend with autism could be in charge of picking up the mail or swiffing the floor or completing any number of other chores around the house or classroom. Or you can plan a daily tour of the school or the mall or the grocery store.

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. A special event once a week or so can help chase the blues away by encouraging folks to participate actively in the planning and preparations as they eagerly anticipate an upcoming happening. For example, the group plan a surprise birthday party for someone or the group could save some time for popcorn and a movie at the end of the day. All of us tend to cheer up and ignore our own blue moods when we are helping other people. The group could plan to lend a helping hand by raking the leaves of an elderly neighbor or surprising the lunch room staff with a song or a giant thank you card. Having something to look forward to gives purpose and direction to each day, a key element in chasing away the winter blues.

NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com

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