Retreat into defence of the core

[Full Steam]

I woke up this morning feeling really good for the first time in weeks.

I noticed that I was starting to think proactively about things. I'm considering how to fix problems rather than ignoring all but the most urgent.

It seems to me that when I'm overloaded, or knocked off kilter (house move, bereavement etc), or otherwise ill, my conscious mind retreat and all it's concerned with is defence of the core "me".

Anything that does not threaten or intrude into the core gets ignored.

I'm thinking that it pushes me back down Maslow's hierarchy of need from the top two rows to the safety and security level. Until these needs are fulfilled, the higher rows are irrelevant.

Anyone relate to that?

 

[Dadwith2Autisticsons]

I woke up this morning feeling really good for the first time in weeks.

I noticed that I was starting to think proactively about things. I'm considering how to fix problems rather than ignoring all but the most urgent.

It seems to me that when I'm overloaded, or knocked off kilter (house move, bereavement etc), or otherwise ill, my conscious mind retreat and all it's concerned with is defence of the core "me".

Anything that does not threaten or intrude into the core gets ignored.

I'm thinking that it pushes me back down Maslow's hierarchy of need from the top two rows to the safety and security level. Until these needs are fulfilled, the higher rows are irrelevant.

Anyone relate to that?

For me, my order would be:

Red
Green
Yellow
Orange
Purple

That is how I view and achieved things.

 

[Full Steam]

For me, my order would be:

Red
Green
Yellow
Orange
Purple

That is how I view and achieved things.

I've never considered that i might do the hierarchy out of order through autism.

.....<thinking>....

 

[Sabrina]

I’ve been in each of the colors of that pyramid, in diferent phases of my life. Right now I am back at the top, even if I am going through a roller coaster of emotions almost every day. Inspite of that, I’m back in purple.

It is very important to know where we are at the pyramid, in order to concentrate in what can actually be achievable, and not feel frustrated when we can’t be at our best.

It is also very important to know where others are at the pyramid, specially people that we often have contact with, so we don’t get frustrated with them either (by having expectations that they can’t fulfill).

Unfortunately, as you said, we could become worried only about our own wellbeing, when we are in levels orange and red. That’s the core theme in dystopian novels, BTW, and what happens in countries that are in turmoil.

When we are in red or orange, the place where we draw the line between defending ourselves and hurting others (in order to defend ourselves, or our people) says a lot about our true character and inner strenght.

That’s why it’s in very tough situations, when we know what we are really made of.

 

[Gritches]

Very well put. I'm a fan of Maslow's as well, and I find myself defending that "core" with everything I've got on days when my PTSD is particularly bad (I lose my basic sense of physical security, for extended periods of time), but if I'm not burdened by that I tend to live two steps up the pyramid which also includes a much more proactive disposition.

On the good days, I find myself intellectually curious; I write, I read, I get all sorts of ambitious things accomplished, etc. On the bad days, I just literally feel like I'm fending for my basic survival and the only things I do otherwise are the things I simply have no choice but to do, and sometimes not even that if it would be too much. On days like that, I can't overcome my fear of cold-calling so I don't make the calls I need to. I should, but I just don't. I don't go out if I have any choice in the matter. It's almost like I'm...fragile...on those days, and I can't do anything but protect and nurture "me" until I'm better again, whenever my brain decides that'll be.

Yes, I identify with what you describe, albeit perhaps under different circumstances.

One thing that always tripped me up about Maslow's though was that Maslow himself said the layers are not absolute and elements commingle with each other. If that's true, why have it in the form of a pyramid in the first place? I actually find myself disagreeing with the very man who made the Hierarchy, there's no escape if you don't have a basic sense of security.

 

[Dadwith2Autisticsons]

I've never considered that i might do the hierarchy out of order through autism.

.....<thinking>....

I feel as we all are separate individuals, with different priorities, needs, limitations and abilities, each should define their own order for such things. I question everything, including things from mental health experts.

 

[OkRad]

I Like Maslow. He has quite a history. He was bullied and hurt a lot by many social and personal things. He reminds me of Marsha Linehan, the founder of DBT. She was dxed with schizophrenia and went through hell.

I guess these things just make me think, "Smart people who overcame and wrote about how they did it." I don't like DBT, it never helped me or EMDR either.

So the moral of the story is for me, that those are things HE NEEDED and Marsha found HER WAY. But every smart person can find actualization in their own way. I don't buy these blanket ways to happiness. There are too many variations now and with the explosion of personal stories we now have available to us, there clearly are many ways to forge out our own paths..........

 

[mw2530]

Yellow seems to come last for me. (With the exception of sleep in red and spontaneity in purple) In fact, I don't think I've really ever spent time in yellow as an adult. Spending time in yellow would probably be the most satisfying and fulfilling accomplishment I've experienced.

 

[Warmheart]

Yes. Lots of overload/overwhelm from sensory hoopla, social energy drain (that's a biggie), task performance stress, processing demands, and emotional dysregulation deplete my system so that anything "not basic" falls away. I'm like a computer running in safe mode. When there is lots of flight-or-fight, the ensuing shutdown means I'm left on auto-pilot.
I can eat, dress, but that's about it. Empathy falls away. I become very rigid, routine-based, unyielding. This is survival mode with overwhelmed neurology.

Once there is less social energy drain, less stress overall, empathy returns, humor returns, and some degree of flexibility returns. Possibilities exist beyond the obvious.

The only thing I've found to significantly increase my resilience and clear the fog so I can bounce back much faster is OT. Swinging on a swingset good and hard, daily, helps my nervous system rebound. Swimming too, plus tugging with my dog. For some people, bouncing on a mini trampoline helps.

I really hope you are feeling well now.

 

[Gracey]

I woke up this morning feeling really good for the first time in weeks.

I noticed that I was starting to think proactively about things. I'm considering how to fix problems rather than ignoring all but the most urgent.

It seems to me that when I'm overloaded, or knocked off kilter (house move, bereavement etc), or otherwise ill, my conscious mind retreat and all it's concerned with is defence of the core "me".

Anything that does not threaten or intrude into the core gets ignored.

I'm thinking that it pushes me back down Maslow's hierarchy of need from the top two rows to the safety and security level. Until these needs are fulfilled, the higher rows are irrelevant.

Anyone relate to that?

Ooo ...
There's only the indigo missing from that colour pyramid and it would be the chakra colours in their correct order.

(Scurries off back into quiet corner)

 

[Kirsty]

I don't think I've really ever spent time in yellow as an adult. Spending time in yellow would probably be the most satisfying and fulfilling accomplishment I've experienced.

You're not the only one. For me, it feels like a very isolating experience, but I somehow get through life alone. A lot of mental torture can occur, but the inner turmoil passes eventually.

I find it very hard connecting with others long term as they soon end up fading away. I don’t see family or have any real friends. I have like two ‘friends’; probably just one now after raising my ‘rent’ (the more I raise my rent, it shows I respect and value myself, so I kick out those in my life who take up space and take advantage of me, etc.)

 

[The Midge]

Amber is about as high up as I get.

Social ability? Give us a break.

 

[Sabrina]

Ooo ...
There's only the indigo missing from that colour pyramid and it would be the chakra colours in their correct order.

(Scurries off back into quiet corner)

Please, post those chakra colors that you are refering to...

 

[Gracey]

Please, post those chakra colors that you are refering to...

As I understand it @Sabrina

Red - 1st, root or base chakra - nourishment from Earth's energy, grounding, safety, survival.

Orange - 2nd or sacral chakra - emotions, creativity, sexuality.

Yellow - 3rd or solar plexus chakra - mental activities, intellect, personal power, will.

Green - 4th or heart chakra - love, relating, integration, compassion.

Blue - 5th or throat chakra - expression in truth, creativity, communication - my bad ...missed this colour out.

Purple - 6th or third eye chakra - intuition, e.s.p, inner wisdom

White/purplish white - 7th or crown chakra - universal connection with spirituality, consciousness.


I'm led to believe that one's auric field reflect the activity of these energy centres (chakras)
I'm certainly not well versed in the practice but have had some reiki sessions from a trust worthy practitioner who explained a little about the colours.

The heirarchy above reminded me of the chakra colours. Just missing the blue (not indigo) apologies.