Top 5 Things That Soothe My Soul

When it comes to talking about being Autistic and self-soothing techniques, I find that lots of old school professionals are against soothing practices that come naturally to those on the spectrum. Behaviours known to the world as ‘stimming’ (self-stimulating behaviours) are often portrayed as ‘wrong’ or bad, with the suggestion that an individual on the spectrum shouldn’t engage with such behaviours as they’re not ‘normal.’


To all of these people, I say ‘please butt out of what you don’t understand.

Sorry for seeming a bit blunt there. I’m just so fed up of seeing myths about Autism being taken for fact and behaviours that naturally come to us being deemed as wrong.

As I mentioned in a recent post, the anxiety I feel as an individual on the spectrum isn’t caused by my brain being wired differently: it’s caused by how I’ve grown up being told that the way I do things is incorrect and that I must strive to act like others around me. While I do see the benefit of mimicking others to communicate in a way that they understand, I disagree with the idea of forcing those on the spectrum to try to be like others mentally, which is next to impossible.


Our brains are wired differently and that’s okay. That’s not a bad thing: it means we can see the world for what it truly is and think outside of the box. In what world is that not an incredible feat for any human when we’re constantly bombarded with lies from politicians and the media?


So, in the spirit of finally accepting myself and my brain for how it naturally functions, I share with you the top 5 things that soothe my soul.

1.)  Music:

Music has always been a passion of mine, mainly because it allows me to feel the emotions of others through their lyrics and the rhythm they’ve chosen. Nothing picks me up more than a high powered melody that encourages the human spirit to flourish of its own accord.

2.) Deep pressure to the body:

Okay, so this may be a bit more obvious as a lot of individuals on the spectrum find that pressure to the body helps to calm or focus them. For me, deep pressure around the back and shoulders, as well as the buttocks and thighs brings me no end of comfort. It’s as if it helps to strengthen my body in some strange way. whatever the reason, it works.

3.) Nature- being surrounded by it:

Although acres of forest are disappearing each year (a travesty to humankind, whether you see it that way or not), I will and have always sought out natural spaces such as forests or fields to find inner peace. There’s a tranquil source of energy to be found in such places that feels as if it rejuvenates my soul.

4.) Exercise:

Although not the most obvious choice for calming oneself down, exercise does wonders for me. Ever since I was small, I found that I could not sit still and have trouble with my attention span. Movement, even small ‘stimming’ behaviours feel like they make my mind sharper, increasing my focus and thus calming me down when things get too much, sensory wise. To tell a child to stop these behaviours can actually do more harm than good when you expect them to function in the wider world.

5.) Art & Writing:

Ah, now we come to my favourite. Ever since I was about four years old, I found peace in the experience of reading and writing. I loved the rich imagery found in picture books and developed a passion for the spoken word.

My dad may have helped with that as he always stressed the importance of proper enunciation: he went to a London grammar school so I guess that makes sense now that I think about it.

Writing art sketching offered me ways of expressing my thoughts and creativity that didn’t rely on spoken communication with others. This came in handy to process different feelings and experiences which were upsetting to me in my younger years. In fact, I consider it a form of therapy.

So there you have it: my top 5 ways to self-soothe.
I hope this post has been helpful.

Have a wonderful day, Dax.