| How to Help a Hyposensitive Autistic Person Posted: 30 Dec 2017 04:00 PM PST Do you have a friend, student, spouse, or loved one on the autism spectrum? Are some of their senses hyposensitive? Is hyperactivity or sensory seeking impacting their lives? Here are ways you can help them receive the stimulation they crave, so they can be comfortable. EditGeneral Tips - Expect hyperactivity. Because their sensory needs are greater, they will need to move more in order to meet those needs. This is natural, and it will always be part of their lives. You can help them manage it, but don't expect it to go away.
- Exercise together. Sports and heavy work can help release pent-up energy, helping the autistic person focus better. Here are some ideas:
- Football and baseball
- Trampolines
- Wall push ups
- Chores (let them lift the heavy stuff)
- Horseback riding
- Swimming
- Dragging children (e.g. siblings, sons, or daughters) around on blankets
- Expect stimming, and don't remark on it if it isn't actively causing harm. Stimming is an easy way to fulfill their sensory needs, and it is an important coping mechanism. Don't assume that just because it doesn't look useful to you doesn't mean that it isn't useful to them.
- Help them find a variety of stims to use.
- Talk to them if their stimming is destructive (e.g. ripping the wallpaper) or broaching others' personal space (e.g. playing with his sister's hair without her consent). Help them find an alternative stim.
- Realize that symptoms vary, both from day to day and from person to person. Stress can make sensory processing more difficult, and their needs might be different from one day to the next.
- Expect them to be hyposensitive to some things and hypersensitive to others. For example, maybe they need lots of touch and activity, but bright lights bother them.
- Even within sections, some steps may not apply to them. Autistic people are very diverse!
- Find out what other autistic people do to handle Sensory Processing Disorder. Autistic people have a large presence online, where they share tips with each other about how to handle various problems. Check out the #askanautistic and #actuallyautistic hashtags to begin.
- Help them find a good occupational therapist.[1] An occupational therapist can help them build a sensory diet, or variety of activities to help meet their needs. This will reduce hyperactivity in the long run. They can also teach useful coping techniques, such as stims and exercises.
- Be patient and accommodating. Sensory seeking requires a lot of time, and under stimulation can be difficult to handle. Allow them to be themselves and meet their needs.
Autistic people with hyposensitive vision may be constantly attracted to motion and bright colors. - Decorate rooms with bright colors and plenty of decorations. Put posters of favorite things and colors on the walls, and don't shy away from rainbow or bright patterns.
- Find stim toys that they can look at. Here are some things they may enjoy:
- Snow globes, glitter jars, or a bottle with food coloring, water, and cooking oil (Simply shake)
- Lava lamps
- Mobiles
- Sparkly beads and objects
- Moving fans
- Animated gif patterns (e.g. the "Mesmerizing Gifs" thread on reddit)
- When shopping together, pick out brightly-colored things. It'll help moderate their need to stim, and it'll make your space more cheerful as a bonus.
If an autistic person has hyposensitive hearing, they may be very loud. Finding ways to meet their needs without infringing on others' needs can be a challenge. - Find times and places where they can make lots of noise without bothering others. This may be outdoors, in a room away from everyone else, or in a place where everyone has left for now.
- Invest in a good pair of headphones. This way, they can turn up the volume on their computer or TV without bothering anyone.
- Get some earplugs and white noise—not for them, but for yourself. Autistic people with hyposensitive hearing can be quite noisy. Meeting them partway will help both parties be happy.
- Join in the noise making! Sing along to music together. Turn kitchen pots and pans into a drumset. Chase each other around the playground, giggle, and scream. A little noisy playtime can be a great bonding experience.
EditSmell and Taste - Buy strong-smelling products when you can. Hyposensitive autistic people may enjoy smelling the following:
- Scented candles and air fresheners
- Strong-smelling soap, shampoo, and body wash
- Spicy or strong food
- Campfires
- Keep little candies or gum around. Some hyposensitive people will put inedible things in their mouths (necklaces, clothing, whatever they can find). When this happens, you can offer them a candy or piece of gum instead. For young children, explain why: objects are germy, and only food belongs in their mouths.
- Children can be taught to ask for candy/gum when they want something to chew on.
- Give them package of gum so they can get some whenever they want it.
- Try buying them chewy jewelry if they do this often. These can be found at special needs stores like Stimtastic or Fun and Function.
- When cooking, put spices on the side. This way, the hyposensitive autistic person can pile it on, while others can apply a tolerable amount. (This also helps hypersensitive people who can't handle spice.)
- Always have spice on the table, even if people don't usually add spice to a given meal. This way, if the autistic person refuses to eat a food because it is "bland" or "tasteless," you can offer them the spices.
- Have plenty of spicy and flavorful foods available. Your daughter may eat peppers like they are potato chips. (This can also be entertaining to onlookers.)
- Consider making a game of who can eat the spiciest foods. See who can challenge the champion.
EditTouch and Movement - If you notice that they have a hard time sitting calmly, take a break. Let them get up, run around, bounce off the walls, and do whatever they need to do. This will allow them to release their energy so they can focus again.
- Stim toys, like stress balls and tangle fidgets, can also help with focusing and sitting calmly. Try keeping a box of stim toys that your loved one can grab from as needed.
- Get an exercise ball or sensory seat wedge. The autistic person can sit on the wedge or ball when others use chairs, allowing them to bounce and wiggle to their content while being able to focus on whatever is in front of them.
- Teachers can get this as part of the student's IEP or special needs plan.
- Keep an eye out for injuries. Sometimes, autistic people may get hurt without noticing it, because their sense of pain is hyposensitive. If you notice something odd, mention it right away, in case they didn't know.
- This can vary greatly—from not feeling a bug that landed on their arm to not realizing that their leg is broken.
- Talk to children about pushing or hitting. Due to a hyposensitivity to pain, they may not always realize that these things hurt other people. Make it clear that others have different pain thresholds, and if they need input, they should push against walls (not people).
- Massage them or hug them tightly. This provides the deep pressure they may crave, and also shows them that you love them.
- Identify a cushioned area (couch, bed, a pile pillows) that they can crash into. Hyposensitive autistic people may love to run into things, and it's important that they use a place that can't hurt them. Encourage the person to go land on their "crash pad" if they are getting hyper.
- Try out the "crash pad" together. It may be more fun than you think!
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| How to Clean a DSLR Sensor Posted: 30 Dec 2017 08:00 AM PST If your DSLR sensor is dirty, any picture you take may appear spotty or grainy. Cleaning your sensor periodically can keep your pictures clear and help avoid excess dust from building up on the sensor. DSLR sensors can be cleaned in 1 of 2 ways: dry or wet cleaning. With the right tools and plenty of persistence, you can clean your DSLR sensor all on your own. EditCleaning Your Sensor (Dry) - Lay your camera down on a flat surface. You will want to keep your camera level while you are cleaning it. This will prevent you from dropping it as you clean the sensor. Remove the camera lens to expose the sensor so you can begin cleaning it.[1]
- Dry cleaning is best for mildly dirty sensors. Try this option first before cleaning solutions.
- Locate the DSLR sensor. Unscrew the camera lens and place it on the table. Look inside the hole left by the camera lens until you spot a mirror. This mirror is the DSLR sensor.[2]
- Use a bulb blower on the sensor. Hold the blower to inches away from the sensor and begin blowing on the sensor. Move the blower back and forth as you use it to evenly clean the sensor.[3]
- Bulb blowers can be bought online or at electronics stores.
- Do not use canned air blowers on your DSLR sensor. The pressure is usually strong enough to damage your sensor.
- Use a sensor scope to spot small dust particles. A sensor scope is a magnifying glass with a light shining at the end of the scope. Use the scope to check for more dust after you've finished blowing. Use the bulb blower again on areas where you spot more dust.[4]
- Sensor scopes can be purchased online or at most camera shops.
- Turn the camera upside down to dislodge hard-to-reach dust as you blow the DSLR sensor.
- Take another photo after cleaning and compare it to the first photo. Make your second photo as identical as possible, then run it through the same photo editing program. Look for any residual dust and, if you spot any, dry clean the DSLR sensor again or try using a cleaning solution.
EditUsing a Camera Cleaning Solution - Purchase a sensor cleaning solution. Do not use general soaps or cleaners on your camera. Use a specialized DSLR sensor cleaner, which can be purchased online or at some electronics stores. DSLR cleaners leave a coating on the sensor that can repel dust and minimize future build-up.
- Dip a sensor swab or cotton swab in the cleaning solution. Keep your swab away from touching any objects before you use it to avoid dirtying it. Hold the cleaning tool on 1 end and dip it in on the other end.[5]
- Read the cleaner directions carefully before you use it on your sensor.
- Avoid using cotton balls, which do not have a separate stick to hold while you clean the sensor.
- Let the swab soak in the solution for about a minute. One minute is approximately enough time for the solution to soak into the cleaning tool. When a minute has passed, keep the cleaning tool lifted over the solution so it can catch any drips.[6]
- Do not squeeze cleaner directly onto the DSLR. Apply it with a cleaning tool.
- Drag the swab over the DSLR sensor carefully. Tilt the swab at an angle, then drag it from one end of the sensor to the other. Then, drag it back once the other way. Lift the swab off of the sensor after you've dragged it both ways to keep from smudging it.[7]
- Apply light pressure as you drag the swab across the sensor.
- Don't worry about getting all of the dust off with your first swab. You can always repeat the process as necessary.
- Throw the sensor swab away after it has been used. Sensor or cotton swabs cannot be used twice, as they will no longer be sterile. If your sensor still looks dirty, dip another swab in the solution and try again until it is clean.[8]
EditChecking if Your Sensor is Dirty - Set your ISO to its lowest normal range. Do not set your ISO lower than its extended range, which may impede your camera's ability to spot all dirty areas on your sensor. If your camera has an automatic ISO setting, change it to manual and adjust it based on your camera manual's lowest ISO instructions.[9]
- The lowest ISO range for most digital cameras is 100.[10]
- Turn on your camera's manual focus. To catch all the dust and debris on your sensor when you take the picture, you'll want the photo to be out of focus. If taking the picture indoors, set the focus to infinity. If taking it outdoors, set it to close-focus.
- Choose a medium-sized aperture level. If your aperture is too wide, you may not be able to see any dust. If you set it too small, however, the detail may be so close that you see dust in the air or on other objects rather than your camera sensor.
- f/22 is usually an ideal aperture level.[11]
- Take a picture of a blank background. If your photo is too detailed, you may not be able to distinguish between dust and spots of light or blurry objects. A white wall, cloudy sky, or blank piece of paper works as a perfect background.[12]
- Slowly move the camera as you take the picture to further blur it.
- Process the photo online to check for spots. Running your photo through an editing program will help you catch dust spots. Desaturate the photo and increase the contrast to make spots more visible. Sensor dust will look like small, dark circles randomly dotting your photo.[13]
- If your photo seems more smudged than spotted, your lens may need cleaning instead of your sensor.
- Clean your DSLR sensor in a well-lit area to make sure you clean away all of the dust.
- Wash your hands before cleaning your sensor to keep it and your cleaning tools sterile.
- Some digital cameras have a self-cleaning setting for its DSLR sensor. If yours does, use the self-cleaning sensor first and try manual cleaning options only if it doesn't work.[14]
EditThings You'll Need - Photo editing program
- Bulb blower
- Sensor scope
- DSLR cleaner
- Sensor swab or cotton swab
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| How to Avoid Depression on New Year's Eve Posted: 30 Dec 2017 12:00 AM PST New Year's Eve is a time of partying, celebrating accomplishments made in the soon-to-be-gone year, and for making toasts and resolutions for the upcoming three hundred sixty-five (or six!) days; however, New Year's Eve can also be a difficult time for many people, bringing about feelings of sadness, loneliness, or regret. A few simple tips can help you make the most out of your New Year's Eve and look toward the year ahead. EditGetting Through the Night - Celebrate with close friends or loved ones. Surround yourself with the people who know you the best and the people that want the best for you, especially if you have individuals in your life who know you struggle with depression or low moods.[1] They'll be able to be sensitive to how you are feeling and may even know a way or two to try and lift your mood. You might find that the happiness will find its way to you through celebration with the right people.
- Choose to spend the evening with a few friends, or family members, somewhere you feel safe and comfortable.
- If family or close friends don't live near you (if you're traveling or living away from home, etc.), go out with some local friends or pick the friend that you are closest to and spend the celebration with him.
- Have a party! Even if you are not "feeling" the holiday spirit, start celebrating anyway! Go to a previously planned party at a friend's house, or gather some people and count down the final moments of the year (with some snacks and good music) in your own home. Participating in something social has been shown to help decrease feelings of isolation, anxiety, and stigma.[2] You may find that the decorating, the atmosphere and the environment, or possibly just participating in doing something are enough to brighten your mood.
- Take your mind off it. If you feel the down mood will be with you no matter what you are doing, then try doing something to actively distract yourself from your negative thoughts.[3] Focusing too much on the negative can actually make your mood worse, so instead, try and set yourself up to be distracted by an activity and the spirit of New Year's Eve being the start of something new.
- Make a New Year's Eve craft or project.
- Research a future vacation, a topic of interest, or learn something new.
- Reorganize your room or apartment.
- Pamper yourself. If the idea of a quiet night in brings you peace and happiness, then do just that. Spend the evening pampering yourself, and taking part in what is appropriately called "self-care."[4] Self-care is extremely important in combatting feelings of depression, as the symptoms of changes in appetite, sleep, and lethargy directly affect your ability to care for yourself. Do whatever makes you feel refreshed, beautiful, and ready to start the year anew![5]
- Have a luxurious bath with candles, champagne, and music.
- Give yourself an at-home manicure, pedicure, or facial mask.
- Relax and get a restful night of sleep.
- Make healthy choices. It can be pretty easy to begin making unhealthy decisions when you are feeling depressed or down. Poor decision making and a lack of intuition have been linked to many symptoms of depression and the effects of depression on emotional and physical health.[6][7]
- Eat foods that boost your mood and fight off depression.[8]
- Fruits with Vitamin C, like blueberries, grapefruit, or kiwi.[9]
- Food rich in Vitamin E, like nuts and seeds.[10]
- Omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, flaxseed oil, and nuts.[11]
- Proteins like turkey, tuna, or chicken.[12]
- Avoid drinking too much. If feeling down or depressed has you tempted to make unhealthy decisions regarding alcohol (or other drugs), fight it and try to make a concerted effort to stay healthy. There is a very strong relationship between alcohol use and depression regardless of which issue comes first, so be aware of the slippery slope which can occur when these two interact.[13] Often drinking will only worsen your down moods in the short-term and create a larger problem in the long-term.
- If you are not sure of your ability to limit your alcohol use, then it may be better to avoid drinking alcohol altogether. You will be happy you did later on.
- If you do decide to drink, try limiting your drinks, or drinking a full glass of water after every glass of alcohol to pace yourself. Make sure you are not drinking on an empty stomach and eat during the evening.
- Get moving. Working out is another great way to combat symptoms of depression. If you are not particularly a "work out" person, any kind of movement will do! Have a private dance party to your favorite music or take a walk outside.
- Movement will help increase levels of serotonin in your brain and endorphins in your body, causing mind and body feelings of happiness and well-being.[14]
- It will also help burn all those pesky post-holiday calories from Thanksgiving or other winter holidays you celebrate.
- You will have the satisfied feeling of doing something good for yourself and your body to start off the new year right.
EditReframing the Past - Reflect. Take time to figure out what has you feeling the way you do. Being able to reflect on why you're feeling down or what specifically has you feeling depressed, will help you discover ways in which you can improve for the coming year and will help you move on.[15]
- Try not to focus too much on the disappointments. If they come up during your reflection its okay to sit with them for a short time and then refocus your attention on more positive reflections.
- Reflect on the past year month by month, being certain to reflect on one good thing that had happened in that month.
- Review your year by life area, taking time to focus on family life, professional life, romantic life, physical life, spiritual life, and financial life. Identify at least one thing you are proud of from that area of your life.
- Ask yourself a series of positive questions such as, "What new things did I find out about myself?" or "What was the best news I received?"[16]
- Recognize the symptoms of depression. Depression is more than just a temporary "down mood." Know the symptoms and as you are reflecting on your past or how you are feeling, be honest with yourself about where you stand.[17] You do not need to experience all of the following symptoms or you may experience some atypical ones not listed here.[18]
- Persistent sad mood, feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or pessimism.
- Difficulty sleeping, early-morning waking, or oversleeping.
- Changes in appetite or weight, more hungry or less hungry than usual or loss or gain of weight.
- Activity level changes such as a loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities you once loved.
- Physical symptoms such as chronic pain or lack of energy.[19]
- Family history of depression.
- Learn from the past. Learn from what has happened and then try to leave it there. If you were unhappy with your previous year, take this as an opportunity to learn from the mistakes made and put solutions to action in the upcoming year. [20] If there were no mistakes made, but rather a bad year because terrible things happened, reflect on what you have learned about your own resilience and ability to cope with the worst.[21]
- View any difficulties as challenges. It is often difficult to not get weighed down by bad things when they happen to you, or by circumstances in your life. The most successful people view these things as challenges or as circumstances they have survived or overcome.[22] Think about what you have accomplished and overcome in the past year, changing any feelings of failure into a form of helpful feedback.
- Choose to see the good. Actively focusing on good will set you up to retrain your brain to focus more on the positive on a more regular basis.[23] The power of positive thinking has truth to it and, much like any skill, you have to practice it to become good at it.[24] The benefits include decreased cortisol (known as the "stress hormone") and increased serotonin in your brain, which creates feelings of well-being and helps support brain growth.[25]
 - Try listing ten things you are grateful for from the past year. This may be the great vacation you took with your family, discovering a new band or author you love, accomplishing a goal, making a new friend, or learning something new about yourself.
- Practice mindfulness. Being mindful means slowing down and allowing yourself to fully experience and savor the moment.[26] Watching fireworks? Really allow yourself to appreciate the color and the spectacle — don't strategize about how you're going to navigate your way home later or wonder if anyone liked your social media post about your New Year's resolution or anything else. Just enjoy the beauty of that moment.
- Work on reframing. Sometimes, changing a negative thought to a positive one is just a matter of looking at it from a different angle. If you find yourself stressing out about the big crowds, worrying about traffic and how late you're going to get home, try reframing by thinking something like, "It's really great that so many people are coming together to celebrate tonight. If traffic gets too crazy and it gets really late, my friend said I can just crash with her tonight and we can make breakfast in the morning."
EditCelebrating Your Present - Know that you are not alone. New Year's Eve (the holiday season in general) is regarded by many to be a holiday that sparks depressive feelings. [27] With a year ending and the popularity of resolutions, the pressure to evaluate your life is high. This holiday unfortunately also falls during the time of seasonal depression in areas with winter climates.[28] Know that there are others out there who feel the same way that you do about this holiday and that maybe you can find someone who feels similarly and spend the night discussing it with a kindred spirit.
- Be kind to yourself. Don't beat yourself up for not completing resolutions from the previous year. There are no rules when you are taking control of your life. If you are unhappy about the circumstances in your life, forgive yourself and allow yourself time to get there.[29]
- Pay attention to the thoughts you are having, especially those about yourself. Are they kind thoughts or unkind?
- Counter each unkind thought with a kind thought about your self or your life. Be patient, this may take some time.
- Pamper yourself. Kickstart the new year with a solid nights sleep, a long bath, or a massage as a good way to take care of yourself.
- Start a new New Year's Eve tradition. It may be fun and helpful to add a sense of ritual and tradition to the occasion. It can provide you with a moment to think back over the coming year and it presents a turning point at which you choose to move forward.[30] Additionally, you'll get a boost in self-efficacy knowing that you are being active in changing your experience. Choose where, when, and what type of new tradition would have meaning for you. Some ideas include:
- Write down anything that you feel negative about over the past year. After writing them down, get rid of them; toss them in the trash, tear them up, or burn them.
- If you want to do resolutions, write this coming year's down and bless them in some way. Place them somewhere prominently to remind you of what's to come rather than what has been.
- Create a New Year's jar. Take a jar and, throughout the year, anytime something good or happy happens write it down and put it in the jar. Then on New Year's Eve, read through them to remind yourself of the great year you had.
- Light lanterns and set them afloat as a way of sending your hopes or wishes out into the world.
- Make it about you. For your own happiness and comfort spend the night doing what you want to do, not what others want you to.[31] If the thought of spending the night at a party, surrounded by others, or drinking gets you feeling down, then choose to do something else. Nothing is better than starting the new year with something that makes you happy, so whip up your best meal, listen to your favorite song, or watch a great movie. Look to do what makes you feel happier and indulge yourself.
- Make sure, however, that you are being honest with yourself. If your habits are to isolate yourself from others and stay in bed all day, notice that these are powerful symptoms of depression and while they feel like you want to do them, they are not the healthiest choice for you. Maybe stay in, but ask a family member or a friend to stay with you as well.
EditPlanning for a Better Future - Make a positive change. With all the perspective taking you've done, if there are changes you want to make, now is a great time to make them! Once you're aware of what has been making you unhappy, you're better positioned to make a positive change.[32] Try not to think of these as resolutions, make them more than that and think them through.
- Close your eyes and try and envision what you want your life to look like in the coming year. Use this to help you establish goals.
- Go back to your reflections and if you reflected by month, write a goal for each month. If you reflected by areas in your life (such as family, career, etc.), list a change or a goal for each area.
- Start with something small. It is tempting at this time of year to make grand statements and promise big changes; however, it is not very realistic and by doing so you risk setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. It can be difficult to make changes at all if you are feeling depressed, so remember: this is not the only time where you can make changes in your life.[33] [34] Start now, start small, and set S.M.A.R.T goals for yourself.[35] SMART goals are defined as the following:
- Specific. Make sure the goal is specific to increase your ability to know when you meet it. Ask yourself the 5 "W" questions; who, what, where, when, and why.
- Measurable. Set up a concrete measurement of what it will look like when you meet the goal. To help ask yourself questions like: How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?
- Attainable. When you are making your goals attainable, think of ways you can reach those goals. Consider your skills, abilities, time, emotional, and financial capacity to reach them.
- Realistic. Make sure your goals are ones that you are willing and able to work towards.
- Timely. Ground your goal within a time frame or a time table. Ask yourself: When do I want this completed? How often will I work towards this or check in on my progress?
- Know your patterns. Take the time to start noticing patterns for how you are feeling. Are you usually more depressed before New Year's Eve or after? Is it a feeling that lasts all holiday season? Use this to help you determine what you might be struggling with. Look carefully at what relaxed you in the past that worked and take note of it. Set yourself up with a self-care plan for times when you see a difficult patch coming. Learn and grow from it.
- Seek professional help. If you know you have depression or if you feel like nothing is working to help lift your mood, seek professional help.[36] Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder are common and completely treatable conditions. Treatment for depression can include therapy, medication, or lifestyle changes. Here are some places you can look to for help:
- Mental health specialists.
- Your general practitioner or primary care doctor.
- Health insurance company.
- Community mental health centers.
- Through your employer.
- Local hospital.
- Religious leaders with training in mental health care.
- Nearby university or medical school-affiliated mental health clinics.
- Consider whether or not you want to make resolutions very carefully. Don't set yourself up to fail. If you make them, make them realistic, and be gentle to yourself when trying to reach them.
- Remember: Keep a positive mental attitude, don't let the little things get to you, and make the new year something worth remembering. Life is too short for regrets–make the most of it!
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