A question.
(Scroll to the last paragraph for the question, if you have a short attention span.)
I hear some people with autism / of those who are autistic, (or any other means you may identify yourself), are not exactly the most fond of colder weather… Whether it is dry or humid.
I understand that this is situational, meaning that it heavily depends on who it is I am speaking with. But I usually find the ones that live in colder areas to be less fond of the cold than the ones who does not… More common with allistics from what I have seen, but it still applies to some people who aren’t allistic as well.
In a joking manner, it seems nobody is safe from the “grass is always greener on the other side” mentality… But here goes.
I live in a hot and very humid place. I will not give out my exact location for safety reasons but it is within the United States, particularly the eastern area… And I do not like it, here. For one of the myriad of reasons people wish to move in an area like mine, has to do with the (much) warmer weather… Yet it is very reason why I wish to leave.
People have their reasons as in why they do not like the cold, i seen people online mentioning snow and ice making it harder to drive on the roads, or the lack of sunlight (which is a good source of vitamin d), or it could be because of a physical/mental health condition worsening within certain types of weather, all to name a few… Any reason is valid.
Once people live in a cold area like i don’t know… Erm, upstate New York for example, I assume that it’s because they actually experience a harsher and/or longer winter, especially for when they are there for longer periods of time in weather they don’t like or find challenging is why they yearn to leave.
Dealing with these setbacks can be challenging for neurotypical folk, however it could be even more challenging for neurodivergent people as well… Which understandably leads to some autistic individuals disliking the cold.
Now, I would like to mention that the area i live in lacks seasons… Winter and autumn to be precise. Therefore, I have never truly dealt with the very things that make winter so unbearable for some people. I do not truly know or understand everything.
But with that being said, my question is this: Would you find the colder weather or the hotter weather to be more bearable for you?
Take care.
Because I have dealt with heat and humidity my entire life, I find that since i will not be used to the more extreme end of cold weather yet I believe I prefer something that is in between mild and cold.
I’ll absolutely be up for something that is around 40f ~ 75f (4c ~ 24c) to help me adapt to some coldness without exposing myself to anything that is freezing since that will be quite a shock…
I have dysautonomia from a condition called POTS which is more common in autistic people, which means I can't regulate my temperature very easily. It makes me feel faint so I find hot weather to be very bothersome. I'm often hot when others are cold. I don't like the snow, but I wouldn't want to be living somewhere where it was hot all the time.
Thank you for replying! I have heard of the POTS condition but I don’t exactly know what it is, i’ll do my research about it though. I assume that since you cannot regulate your body temperature too easily, you’d probably prefer mild weather, too? Or would mild weather still be too hot for you?
@nightmarelando
What a great question! And thank you for signposting to the end for those of us with short attention spans, much appreciated 🥰
I much prefer colder weather. The hot weather makes me sweat which means I have to shower more which is additional sensory stimulation I don't necessarily want several times a day. Hot weather also means sun cream and even though I've found one that isn't tacky it still an added faff. Also when it's hot I usually show more skin to keep cool and that entails various regimes.
If it's super cold I get to stay inside, snuggle up and put tonnes of cosy layers on if I do venture out.
I live in a place with seasons and the adhd part of me ADORES it.
I'm sure you'll get a huge variety of answers, can't wait to read them!
🌟 Joy 🌟
Hello to you, Joy. No ADHD on my end, at least not to my knowledge anyways… But I still struggle with a short attention span, so I placed this sign here, in case anyone were to relate to me.
With that. being said, i absolutely agree with the fondness of four seasons. Seasons are nice because when the holidays arrive, it would ACTUALLY feel like it’s winter.
As for sunscreen it’s… an experience. if you were to sweat, you could have your eyes burn if the residue were to get there. A double sensory experience that is not appreciated!
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. If i were to get any more replies i’ll definitely be intrigued in reading them, myself. 🤍
@nightmarelando
Bring on the cold!!! with lots and lots of snow. My autistic flavor has heat insensitivities. It brings on migraines, nausea, and a general foul mood. If you've met one person with autism- you've met one person with autism. We are all so different!
Understandable! But i never experienced such things with the heat aside from the foul mood, though… You must’ve been inconvenienced from not feeling so great with the hotter times of the year. I hope August goes easy on you.