PA Gathering: Health, Wellness, and Well-Being

Well-being can be described as judging life positively and feeling good.

• Physical well-being.
• Economic well-being.
• Social well-being.
• Emotional well-being.
• Psychological well-being.
• https://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/wellbeing.htm

Health is more than the absence of disease; it is a resource that allows people to realize their aspirations, satisfy their needs and to cope with the environment in order to live a long, productive, and fruitful life.

Health enables social, economic and personal development fundamental to well-being.

1.Low Participation in education beyond high school

• Select a college that deals well with students with Autism
• Extended time on tests
• One on one sessions with professors
• Supplemental notes from peers or professors
• Proofreading at writing center
• Priority scheduling
• Distraction free environment for tests

2.High rates of unemployment or under-employment

• Access PA State employment services that address specific challenges faced by adults with autism in the workplace.
• Research job opportunities in your field
• Obtain the services from a job coach
• Create opportunities for dialogue with potential employers about the benefits of hiring individuals with autism.

3.High rate of living with family

• Offer to contribute to household
• Family needs to prioritize estate planning
• Be willing to compromise
• Balance time with family and times when I like to keep to myself

4.Low rate of maintaining friendships

• Prioritize quality versus quantity of friendships
• I found it easier to be friends with adults over children
• Easier time making friends with others with Autism or related disorder
• Hard time keeping up with a relationship (girlfriend)
• Strong tendency to be bullied, betrayed and stood up by friends

5.High rates of medical comorbidities

• Dysgraphia (Poor handwriting, but good typing-good speed poor accuracy)
• Hyperlexia (Strong reading skills, relatively poor social skills reading comprehension w/o cues)
• Dysprexia (poor hand eye coordination)
• Procto Colitis (inflammation of colon)

6.Low rates of obtaining a driver’s license

• Reason for a license
  • Independence
  • Transportation needs
• Drive with caution-Limitations:
  • Reaction Time
  • Driving with passengers (Distractions)
  • Inadequate in interpreting distances
• Fear that most parents and community have is that people with Autism cause accidents

• Autism can be thought of as a special gift and not a disability (neuro-diversity)
• Ability to avoid peer pressure in teens
• Ability to point out things that people may overlook
• Ability not to judge people by first impressions
• Ability to strive to do the absolute best as possible despite some flaws (it is okay to be wrong just remember to be a lifelong learner)
• Ability to become a self advocate
• Ability to educate and inspire others about going to college or seek employment with a “disability”

• Establish a daily or weekly schedule- Start small with changes
• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
• Engage in exercise or some type of physical activity daily
• Keep consistent mealtimes
• Engage in self-care time

• Increased awareness of one’s own thoughts, feelings and behaviors
• The more you know about yourself then the better you can respond to situations
• Examples: daily check in, mood diary

Checking Your Battery Life

• Daily check in to determine how you are feeling and why
• 0 – 100% charged
• No charge/shutdown, needs brief charge, or fully charged
• Halt- Ask yourself are you:
  • Hungry
  • Angry
  • Tired
  • Lonely

Remain present or in the moment

• Aware of where you are and what your doing
• Not reacting to what is going on around you or becoming overwhelmed

Choose an activity to do mindfully throughout the day

• Stay in the moment and ask yourself what do you see, hear, smell, touch, or feel
• Simple notice whenever your mind wanders then re-focus on your chosen mindful activity
• Describe rather than judge and be patient with yourself

Hi 5 Breathing

The Stop Sign

Stop!

• Count 1 to 10
• Take 4 deep breaths
• Inhale through your nose
• Hold for 2 seconds
• Exhale through your mouth
• Say something positive
• “This will pass”
• “I can do it”

5-4-3-2-1 Senses

• 5 things I see
• 4 things I can hear
• 3 things I can touch or feel
• 2 things I can smell or like the smell of
• 1 take a slow deep breath

Positive Affirmations

• Positive statements to highlight our positive qualities
• If you think positive, then you will be positive
• Examples:
  • I am doing my best.
  • Today is going to be a great day
  • I choose to be happy today

Social Supports

• Maintain social connections with your family and friends even during quarantine or social distancing
• Stay connected through phone calls, text messages, video calls, or on social media.
• Regular contact with your social connections can decrease the feeling of isolation and improve your mood
• Caution: don’t over do it!

Limit Media

• It is important to stay informed about what is happening in the world.
• However, too much information can be overwhelming and cause increased anxiety especially with the covid-19 coverage.
• Set up a specific time that is scheduled in your day to check these media sources and keep yourself to that time.

• Food banks
• Stimulus monies
• Government assistance
• Psychology today, psychologist locator- APA
• PCHC website
  • www.pchc.org
• Calm app
  • www.calm.com
• Headspace app
  • www.headspace.com
• APA COVID 19 Resources
  • https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19
• Crisis Text Line
  • Text HELLO to 741741
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  • 800-799-4889