INSIDE PERSPECTIVES of AS & Neurodiversity

 

ALTERED STATES

 

   There are many different types of altered states. They can be light or deep; voluntary or involuntary; physical, emotional, mental or intuitive in origin; beneficial or counterproductive; and include any state of mind from being hyper-aware, hyper-focused or inspired to totally zoned out.

 

   It is not easy for others to tell the difference – or even if a person is in an altered state or not. One clue is that if someone is reading, writing, painting, meditating, listening to music, dancing, watching a film, playing or working with something and does not look up and make eye contact when you walk into the room, that person may be in one altered state or another.

 

   Besides occurring spontaneously, different types of altered states may be induced by flickering light (e.g. from TV & computer monitors, fluorescent lights), electromagnetic stimulation of the brain, music, repetitive movements (e.g. rocking back-&-forth), drugs, air-born chemicals, pain, shock, fear, sex, stress, sensory overload, allergic reaction, fatigue, precipitation, deep concentration, meditation, prayer, contemplation and hypnosis.

 

 

SPACING OUT

 

   Spacing out is something very common to autistic and intuitive people. There may be many types, degrees and causes for it.

 

   “I have experienced several types of what might be called altered states of consciousness.  Some of them might be related to epilepsy.  (I now believe I had epilepsy as a teen, but tested negative because of poor testing available at the time.)  Some of them might be dissociation.  Some might be called a trance state.  Some are spiritual/metaphysical.  Some or all of them might be related.  It seems too much of a coincidence that I have experienced all of them.  None of these were triggered by the use of drugs, alcohol, herbs or any mind altering substance.

 

   “1. Partial brain shutdown:  I am only partially aware of what is going on.  For example, I could tell that a person next to me is making word sounds, but not what the person is saying.  I am taking in things but not able to process at all.  I can continue very simple repetitive movements but cannot talk or doing anything requiring any thought.  Pretty scary.  I don't get these anymore, but they were common in high school.

 

   “2. Brain shutdown, mental vacation, spaced out:  My mind just shuts down except for vital functions like breathing.  (I remain standing or sitting or what ever position I was in.)  I do nothing but stare blankly.  Time passes and I have no memory of it passing.  In my teen years, in my room I would often have instances where I realized I had been staring at the wall or a blank sheet for a half hour to an hour.  They are less serious now, thought it tends to happened a couple times a month in the shower.  It is easily broken by my husband yelling at me that I will be late for work though the bathroom door.

 

   “3. Daydreaming:  Sometimes I will become so lost in my own thoughts or a pleasant day dream that I tune out the outside world.  I am not sure if this is properly called an altered state or not.

 

   “4. Open, receptive, trance:  I am not interacting at all with the outside world or physical world.  During this time I am in tune with the either the inner world (my subconsious thought, inner self, etc.) or the spirit world.  During this time I am open to visions, feelings, etc.  I can currently do this at will now, though usually I will opt for #5 instead.

 

   “5. Open, receptive, light trance, both worlds:  This is like number 4 except that I am able to interact with both the physical and non-physical world at the same time with no more distraction than I would have with a normal conversation.  I believe this is my current default state and I can enter into it at will.  I think there may be a little bit of a continuum between 4 and 5. 

 

   “6. Disconnected:  My body feels like it is not firmly connected to my mind/spirit/soul.  I feel like I am watching my life rather than actively living it.  Emotions and physical sensations may be blunted or numb.  Interaction with the world is not impaired.

 

   “7. Bliss:  A sense of deep peace, calmness, serenity.  This is usually triggered by repetitive movement (crochet or other craft) or music with an hypnotic or psychedelic quality.  Having to concentrate on something else breaks the bliss.  Normally I am not thinking anything at all, just experiencing feelings and sensations, though sometimes my mind can wander around during this time and maintain the state of bliss.  I am thinking this is perhaps the state of Nirvana some seek to obtain though meditation.  I also feel like perhaps it is similar to what some people may experience on drugs.”

- Ilah, adult probable Aspie from USA

 

·  Some individuals seem more susceptible to falling into a light trance. Some of us are in a state of permanent contemplation and function well in that state, when left in peace.

 

   “I will zone out when thinking or contemplating, withdraw into myself during parties, and develop tunnel vision and extreme distance during times of stress. I believe all these things are Aspie traits, although I suppose trauma victims will fall into one of these mental retreats too. the difference is that for people who have suffered trauma, such withdrawing might be an emergency mechanism, whereas I have degrees of it constantly.”

- Tom, adult Aspie from USA

 

·  In other instances the trance or altered state is so deep that it makes any activity or social interaction impossible and little development would take place if the person was left in it for too long (according to autistic consultant Iris Johansson who herself had the tendency to space out as often as possible when she was a child). However, even unwanted trance states one needs to come out of slowly and gently. Anything harsh and abrupt is a no-no!

 

·  Sometimes medical conditions, e.g. allergies, can induce brain fog that is totally involuntary.

 

 

EPILEPSY

 

   In some cases the ‘zoning out’ may be due to mild epileptic seizure in the brain. Though epilepsy does occur with some frequency in the autistic spectrum, I suspect it still probably only accounts for a fraction of the many altered states which many of us regularly experience.

 

   “Seizures can cause brief changes in a person's:

 * Body movements

 * Awareness

 * Emotions

 * Senses, such as taste, smell, vision, or hearing

 

   “There are Grand Mal seizures (the ones we hear about most often which have the unconsciousness and shaking that we usually associate with Epilepsy) and partial seizures.

 

   “In simple partial seizures, the seizure affects a small area of the brain. It lasts no more than a few seconds in most cases. Simple partial seizures do not affect consciousness. Sometimes the person just notices unusual feelings.

 

   “In complex partial seizures, the seizures occur through a larger area of the brain. A loss of consciousness can occur. Sometimes the person will stop speaking, act strangely, or have repetitive movements.

 

   “In secondarily generalized seizures, simple and complex partial seizures that start in one part of the brain can spread through the entire brain. Once the entire brain is affected, there can be a loss of consciousness and shaking of all of the limbs.