How a slight change in my sleep schedule can turn my night upside down
By JugglingNothing on
Some nights feel like my brain simply refuses to sleep because the world shifted, even just a little. I have profound autism, and for me, small changes aren’t small at all, they’re earthquakes.
A bedtime ten minutes later than usual or a different room can leave me anxious, restless, and sometimes on the edge of a meltdown.
Staying at a relative’s house is one of the hardest tests. The bed feels wrong, the sheets smell unfamiliar, the lights are brighter, and the room doesn’t smell like home. My body craves what it knows. No matter how much I try to tell myself to relax, my brain refuses to follow, and sleep feels impossible.
Over time, I’ve learned ways to cope. I bring my favourite blanket and a soft nightlight to make the environment feel familiar. I prepare in advance, visiting new places during the day or surrounding myself with items that feel like home. I’ve also started using visual cues to remind myself when it’s time to sleep. It doesn’t erase the struggle, but it reduces the panic and makes adaptation a little more manageable.
Living with profound autism means that what seems minor to others a change in routine, a shift in bedtime, is often a major challenge for me. Accepting that and finding strategies to navigate it has made life more manageable. And honestly, knowing that other people experience the same thing makes it feel a little less overwhelming.