While for some people crowds are an everyday occurrence, for people on the spectrum it can become an overload of the entire nervous system.
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Why is crowd so hard for Autistic people?
Almost no one is able to avoid crowded places, staying in them, although for some time it is usually inevitable. Depending on the circumstances, you can hear the buzzing of devices, music, numerous conversations conducted in different ways and with variable volume, smells (of cleaning products, food or people). Other people move close to each other, sometimes in an unpredictable way, touch each other, generate various messages, may not always have clear expectations. And for Autistic people who prefer constancy and readability of the situation, it is chaotic and causes strong anxiety.
When the brain fights for survival
For many of them, being in a crowd of other people can be very overwhelming. In such situations, the unpredictability of a large number of people, movement, noise and, above all, constantly bombarding the brain, intense sensory stimuli are exhausting. In these types of places, we rarely deal with just one source of them. And filtering and assimilating information can be very difficult. The reaction may include increased stress, increased anxiety, panic attacks, withdrawal, self-stimulatory behaviors, and even physical pain (e.g. headaches and dizziness, nausea), because people on the autism spectrum often process sensory stimuli differently. Sometimes a fight-or-flight response occurs. In such moments, they are not always able to process information from their surroundings, because their attention is focused on surviving and getting rid of what is causing them pain. They are looking for control over the situation.
How to function more safely in crowded places?
How to help cope with crowds and noise? It is worth learning to recognize the signals of overload beforehand. Then you can avoid a sudden breakdown. The basic strategy is to find a quiet, peaceful place to rest or reset. Sometimes you just have to leave early or even give up on the event if coping with overload is beyond the capabilities of the person with autism. If someone wants to work on the ability to be in a crowd of people, they can gradually get used to such situations, try to start with small, predictable and safe groups and places with a clear structure. Such attempts can be especially related to a pleasant experience. You can gradually increase the challenges later. It is important to understand and accept your own needs. Some people want to be among others, and some prefer to definitely avoid such situations. Both ways of functioning in public spaces are fine.
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