The whole purpose of this is to be transparent as possible to show the world what living with this on a day to day can be like, and maybe motivate others to come forward with their stories and to add some tools to take care yourselves. It can be very hard, so it is important to have a wellness plan to make sure you don't go to the dark side. This is what my day to day looks like:
I think it was around May of 2022 that I started my current wellness plan at the Walla Walla, VA. I have a psychologist/social worker and a mental health pharmacist that I see quite often minus me needing a break from therapy to breathe or for them to go on vacation.
Part of the treatment plan is for me to create space between myself and my parents which I have done, get the right meds in me which I am doing, make sure we are practicing coping skills, my wife & I had to get into marriage counseling (which we are waiting on community care for), and I had to learn to live with my wife's messes just as much as she has to live with my Autism.
As far as how I regulate, here are things that have been working for me my whole life.
- Well I have always sought the darker rooms (hence why I wear sunglasses).
- I have noise cancelling headphones that help drown out the white noise.
- I also listen to music where my body can resonate to the frequency of the soundwaves, I love FEELING music.
- I try to be non-verbal as often as possible except when I go vent as Coach Rage.
- I keep my body at the right temp, so that might mean a shower, hot tub, extra layers, or cool air.
- I socialize with those that get me and remove those that drain me.
- I eat healthy when I can and this is the hardest, thank goodness my wife cooks for me, she knows my breakfast order, and for dinner we mix it up, but its hard to be healthy.
- I like to meditate and do box breathing.
- I used to exercise a lot, but the recovery on my body just takes too long, so now its more of a lazy yoga I do with the dogs licking my face.
- I vent, I go do the Coach Rage thing and vent. Keep in mind though Coach Rage is pure ENTERTAINMENT for me and nothing else, he is an outlet for all the stress I carry through out my day
- Have other hobbies, I don't just game. I create art work, I read, I like to travel, cook, fly my drone, get into photography.
- Get enough sleep, I take an almost nightly sleeping pill to make sure I force myself to sleep, and all night game session is great but balance is a must.
- My community environment is clean along with my personal stuff. I have learned to allow a "lived in house" its a battle always doing chores.
Feel free to drop by the stream sometime and let me know what you do to regulate, I am always open to learn something new. I really enjoy holistic treatment the most.
Thank you,
Mikey