It is critical to note here that the behavioral symptoms of Asperger Syndrome are most likely to appear in times of stress or neurological overload. Over the years, I have developed a few strategies to calm me down in such situations. Please keep in mind that these strategies usually, but not always, work well for me but may not necessarily work for other Aspergians. The coping strategies I use most often are:
1. Daily Workouts
2. Tanning Sessions
3. Long Road Trips
4. Architecture
5. Music
It is a proven fact that when we look better, we feel better about ourselves; and when we feel better about ourselves, we usually perform better. I find that daily workouts at a local gym, preferably in the early morning, to be very effective in reducing stress and anxiety as well as in improving my overall appearance. Under typical conditions, I work out every day except in cases of illness, injury, or travel.
As I have mentioned earlier, many Aspergians suffer from coexisting conditions such as anxiety and depression. Every year, in addition to the anxiety and depression, I also have to deal with another type of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during the winter months. In addition to darkening my complexion, I find that twice-weekly visits to a local tanning salon help me to alleviate the depression. The ultraviolet radiation from the tanning beds, as well as natural sunlight, also helps the human body produce Vitamin D through photosynthesis. To minimize the risks of skin cancer and other skin damage, moderation is the key. I often wonder if the sunscreens we use while at the beach or the lotions we use at the tanning salon could actually be carcinogenic.
I have always been a Road Warrior at heart, hence the domain name for my personal website, RoadWarrior7.net. Whenever time, weather, and funds permit, I like to pack my bags, fuel up my car, and take a nice long road trip to clear my mind. Even when I was delivering pizzas, I often volunteered to take the more distant deliveries and my bosses and colleagues could never understand why. My greatest thrill during my long tenure at Papa John’s Pizza in Champaign, Illinois was the opportunity to take several week-long business trips to locations in Southern Indiana where I trained new drivers. The fact that the company paid for all of my food, fuel, and lodging expenses made these trips even more enjoyable. I even spent several summers as a guest driver in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and used the experiences from these road trips as the basis for my two novels. Whenever I take to the open road, I feel an incredible sense of peace.
One of my focused interests is architecture. I wanted to be an architect when I was growing up, but I was unable to take the prerequisite drafting courses in high school. I majored in Computer Science instead. I like to wander around hotels, office buildings, and the like in order to check them out from an architectural perspective. When I delivered pizzas in Myrtle Beach, I had plenty of opportunities to explore different hotels while on the job. Whenever I watch a sports event on TV, I like to pay close attention to the design of the stadium or arena. Whenever I find myself in an overload condition, I might grab a pen and paper and draw some sketches or floor plans of places I have seen. If only architectural firms such as HK and Populous would see some of my drawings, they might even offer me a job. I like to draw other pictures as well.
Another coping technique that usually works for me is to listen to some good music, usually classic rock or smooth jazz. I like to pick up a guitar or sit down at a piano every chance I get and play whatever comes to mind. For example, I like to sit down at an electronic keyboard just before a date and pretend that I am the organist at the ballpark just before the big game. Like the architectural drawings, it also has a calming effect on me. A music store is like a playground to me. I have a dream of having my own music studio where I would be able to compose and record my own music. My ideal musical arsenal would consist of two full-size electronic keyboards, a Vocoder (a voice-altering synthesizer), an M4000D Digital Mellotron, a set of Taurus pedals, a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, a Fender Precision Bass guitar, Oscar Schmidt acoustic 6-string, 12-string, and bass guitars, and an electronic drum kit. I would also like to one day purchase 5.1 surround sound recording software for my computer.
