#qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq9888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

[chrome-barkz-aac]

how i go to concerts as an autistic person with speech loss episodes!

PT: how i go to concerts as an autistic person with speech loss episodes

PART ONE: before the concert

plan out everything beforehand, a couple days to a week in advance. this includes where you will park (if you drive) or who you will ride with. if you're of drinking age you also need to plan who in your group is drinking (or doing other drugs) and who is the designated driver (if you aren't taking a taxi/uber/public transport)

wear comfortable clothes that you can move around in / that won't add to your overstimulation. this includes shoes that are good for standing/walking for long periods of time

practice scripts for if you accidentally bump into someone or need to move past someone ("excuse me" "sorry" etc)

if you want to participate in a mosh pit, you may want to bring a friend to hold your AAC device or go low/no tech for the concert. mosh pits can be exciting but i definitely wouldn't bring your ipad or SGD into one! i tend to go to concerts alone so instead of my ipad i brought a boogie board to write on, which is far less breakable

concerts can be loud, so you'll need ear defenders, headphones or earplugs. i like to use silicon ear plugs bc they stay in my ears even when im bouncing around a lot!

if you are going with friends, have a pre-determined signal that lets your group know "i need a break" or "i need to leave"

make sure to charge your devices beforehand. a lot of tickets are virtual these days, so your phone becomes your ticket.

PART TWO: at the concert!

when you get to the venue, you'll likely have to go through security and show your ID and tickets. be ready for this.

when you get inside, you can find your seats (if assigned) or go to the floor (if general admission) IF CROWDS MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE you should hang out in the back of general admission. this gives you more space to move around and breathe. if you don't mind getting close to people, being close to the stage can be awesome! but i definitely recommend earplugs bc its really loud near the stage

just because everyone else is doing something doesn't mean you also have to do it! if everyone else has their phone/lighter out and is waving it and you don't want to, you don't have to! this goes for many other things as well. if everyone else is drinking, or doing drugs (weed is pretty common at the concerts i go to) you don't have to! if everyone else is screaming or shouting the words, you don't have to!

just because the singer onstage tells the crowd to jump, or get down, or wave your hands or any number of other things doesn't mean you have to! you can do what you're comfortable with. after all, you're at the concert to have a good time, so you should do what makes you feel the best.

you don't have to sing along if you can't speak! you can say as much or as little as you want. instead of yelling you can clap, instead of shouting the lyrics you can hum, etc.

concerts are great to get some full body stimming in! you can rock, sway, stomp or flap your hands to the beat. you can even jump up and down! you do need to be mindful of other people though - people tend to flock close together on the floor or in the pit and if you bounce around enough, you might run into someone! that's totally ok, it happens, just apologize and move on!

if you're moving around a lot, you need to be mindful of how your body feels throughout the concert. are you overheated? are you sweating? do you need water or to sit down?

its ok to leave at any point in the concert, even in the middle of a set or a song! your well being is the most important thing and its important to pay attention to what your body needs. its not a good idea to "push through" just to see your favorite artists. seeing 50% of a concert is better than seeing 0% of a concert or seeing 80% of a concert and having to leave suddenly because you have a meltdown

ultimately, do whatever you want as long as you're not causing harm to other people or yourself

do not try to make friends with the security guards. they dont really like that. i don't totally understand why but i get the impression that it is because they are working and have to keep a close eye on the crowd, and talking to them can distract them from their job.

PART THREE: after the concert!

concerts are a huge ordeal for anyone, not just disabled folks. that being said, it definitely takes a bigger toll on you when you are disabled and need extra support to recover from overstimulating environments. be gentle with yourself after the concert and give yourself grace if you are extra tired or having a hard time with things that are usually easy for you in the hours or days after the concert

as soon as you get home, have a snack and a drink of water (or juice/electrolyte drink). singing along and jumping / dancing can make you dehydrated. even if you don't feel hungry or thirsty you should have something to eat and drink. you may be riding a high of being excited or happy to hear your favorite music and not be able to discern what your body is telling you.

get lots of rest when you get home. try to sleep in the next day if you can. your body will probably be tired.

if you're feeling tired or irritable after the concert because of the emotional exhaustion you might feel, try to put on a relaxing video or do something that regulates you.

thats all i can think of ! if ne of yall have ne other ideas for how to manage concerts as an autistic person drop them in the comments or reblogs!