For very understandable reasons many autistic people focus much on sensory issues, what is affecting us in a negative way. We may put a lot of effort in getting to know our own sensory challenges, to find ways to decrease or avoid them. This is a way to save energy and handle overall imbalance in daily life.
What I think is rather common to put less time, focus and energy on is to identify the positive sensory input. Being hypersensitive to negative sensory input also mean (at least to my logic) being hypersensitive to positive sensory input, which means that you do not just “feel it”, but “FEEL it”. It is kind of a heightened sense of joy, called “Autistic joy” by some people. So, the logical outcome is that when you can identify and activate more of the positive sensory input in your life, there is a higher chance of improved wellbeing.
As many of the ways to bring more autistic joy into our lives are coded as non-normative or at least non-adult-normative, it has been suppressed by many of us (at least by us who are late diagnosed). Adults are not expected to be mesmerised by the patterns of water movement, a flower, a multicoloured galaxy lamp shining up your walls and ceiling or the smell of a scented eraser etc etc.
However; those days (of shame and suppression) are slowly becoming history in my life. I am more and more embracing my autistic joy, by identifying what sensory input gives me a great sense of joy and getting more of that into my life.
One such thing is going to aqua aerobics. I absolutely LOVE it! I LOVE being in a pool, without being surrounded by negative sensory input (which would drown the positive one) and being filled with joy, just by watching all the beautiful patterns that the water brings. The swirling, the super soft waves, the reflections, the blue pattern of tiles at the bottom of the pool… Also the bodily sense of being in (clear and safe) water AND at the same time exercising without (visible) clumsiness and pain. There is so much to be mesmerised by and I am so happy that I can now allow myself these moments of autistic joy; That I can create my sensory paradise.
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