Autisticana
a gallery of autistic special/intense interests
A Holiday Visualization
By Nicole Magee
Holidays bring a lot of joy, but they can also bring a lot of stress.
I have created Nicole’s Creative Visualizations to help you take time out of your stressful days.
There are many benefits of visualizations. It can be a part of daily meditations to help you and give you the opportunnity to relax. Visualizations are meant to help you imagine, build, and focus on mental scenes in your mind. If you make these scenes positive and happy, it can help you manifest and achieve goals you set. Happy visualizations can change your mental attitude for the better, and this can help attract positive events in your life.
I have developed a holiday visualization for all of you to enjoy.
Find a comfortable quiet place to either sit or lie down. Then, imagine the warmth of the fire place as you breathe in and out. Imagine enjoying the taste of eggnog that you made with your family as you breathe in and out. You feel grateful as you hear the sound of your family laughing and telling fun jokes. As you breathe, you touch hands with everyone to pray for this wonderful meal your going to begin to enjoy. The taste of goose and sugar plums makes my mouth water, as I breathe. I smell Daddy’s favorite pasta recipe that we are so happy to enjoy! We end our meal with my favourite chocolate mouse pie. We all lay down to listen to the sounds of our favourite christmas music. Do you have a favorite christmas song you can imagine?
Take a deep breathe in and out knowing you can create your own visualization whenever you like.
Edited by avanicole23
People with ADHD having Seasonal Affective Disorder
By Scott Weisbrot
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is something some people have. When the weather gets colder, people become less active and feel more unmotivated. People with ADHD are 3 times more likely to have SAD. I predict that this might be because of the change to cold weather. People with ADHD are more likely to be creative and feel elevated during the warmer weather. They may even feel pure happiness. SAD may be associated with oversleeping, fatigue, food cravings, and weight gain. It may also be linked to higher rates of loneliness, lack of interest in daily and social activities, and suicidal thoughts. This depression in the winter months is probably linked to the fact that it is too cold, and there is not much activity. Seasonal affective disorder can also be related to a lack of vitamin D, overproduction of melatonin, altered circadian rhythm, and reduced eating.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland
The facts about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is that the United Kingdom and Ireland has more people that are affected from this because of the gloomy days with less days of sunshine and more clouds and rain. SAD is also more common in areas around the globe that are far from the equator including Nordic Countries, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and even the Netherlands. Areas near the Arctic have more people with seasonal affective disorder because daylight gets short really fast and everyone is going to deal with no daylight during the winter months. Women are more likely to have SAD than men and people from the age range of 18 to 30 years are most likely to have Seasonal Affective Disorder.
There’s always help for people if they have anxiety and depression like call a hotline to talk to a professional to understand your feelings and cope with your emotions. Doing therapy is also good for people on the autism spectrum disorder or work on a hobby that you enjoy. Doing sensory activities can be great for autism people to help them stay calm and focus on their maintaining strategies. You can spend some quality time with friends and family to keep yourself in a positive mood.
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The Websites with Helpful Tips for Seasonal Affective Disorder
- https://www.wildwoodprograms.org/index.php/news/226-seasonal-affective-disorder-and-autism-is-there-a-link
- https://www.autism-society.org/news/ask-expert-curing-winter-blues-tips-adults-spectrum/
- https://community.autism.org.uk/f/health-and-wellbeing/6145/autism-and-sad
- https://autismguide.co.uk/emotional-issues/autism-and-the-difficult-winter-time/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.642745/full
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651
- https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
- https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/overview/
References:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651
- https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2019/06/07/the-connection-between-seasonal-affective-disorder-and-adhd/
Edited by Elliot Gavin Keenan
NYCFC MLS CUP CHAMPIONS
This is the first time that New York won a MLS Cup Finals, which something that I never thought would happen. Even though I’m a New York Red Bulls Fan, I couldn’t be even more proud of them for making it this far. When I first heard that NYCFC won the Eastern Conference against the Philadelphia Union and made it to the MLS Cup, I just said to myself “You know what, I should watch the MLS Cup just because there’s a New York Soccer Team that made it for the 1st time in MLS History,” plus the team was established in 2013 but joined the league in 2015.
It all started when NYCFC played in the MLS Cup Final at Portland, Oregon on the 11th of December, 2021. It was a gloomy rainy afternoon which I thought it was cloudy like in England but I only said it because of the cloud texture when it’s all mostly white. During the match it was a good start but it was competitive. NYCFC was the better side during the 1st Half. During the 40th Minute, it was free kick for NYCFC while Maxi Moralez kicked the ball to Valentín Castellanos and got the goal to end the deadlock scoreless match. The away supporters were really happy and the excitement of the atmosphere. Even the fans from the Hammerstein Ballroom in the Manhattan Center in New York City. During halftime NYCFC is leading 1-0 and hoping to take their MLS Cup Trophy. The Blues were starting to tire themselves out during the last 20 minutes of regulation time. The team had some moments but could not score a 2nd goal. When Diego Valeri subbed in, the Portland Timbers finally gotten better and the rest of the team build up their efforts, but the team created some chances. By the time when the last second of stoppage time at the 94th minute, my hopes were about to become real — but the Portland Timbers got a last second goal, which made the whole crowd insanely hyped up and amped up like out of control. Felipe Mora scored the goal to tie it up to extra time which I was at shocked because it wasn’t supposed to happen. The Referee didn’t do anything about most of the fouls and what’s even worse, Valentín Castellanos complained to the referee about the foul before the last second goal which means he didn’t bother his request. If I was the referee for soccer, I would blow the whistle anytime if there’s illegal contact or pushing the players which I would give one of the players a card if something gets worse. The point is that NYCFC didn’t get their fair share to win the MLS Cup at the moment and they have no choice but to end regulation time and go to extra time.
During extra time, it was still 1-1 and NYCFC was devastated because they couldn’t end the match 1-0 in regulation time. The team finally woke up after the meaning of this unacceptable goal which could’ve been disallowed but the referee refused to take action. New York kept their team together and played harder in order to survive sudden death which Both teams thought their hardest but sadly no goals. The fouls were hardly found which it was unrealistic performance for any danger contacts but no stoppage time for both halves so we end up went to Penalty Shootout.
During Penalty Shootouts, both Goalies got prepared to save plays to get a win which isn’t easy. New York took the first spot kick the Penalty shot first. When Castellano scores it went in, Portland turns Mora scores but failed to get the goal which Johnson the Goalie got a phenomenal save to keep them alive. When Morales shoot the ball to the goalie it was close but just short for the goalie to save it. When Valeri, the greatest player of Portland went up, it was too close to get in but Johnson caught the ball and now we could possibly get that winning feeling halfway through. When Maxi Moralez decided to go for goal, the smallest player stand tall and the goal was in so New York had a good chance to win the army against the Portland Timbers. Then Moreno shoot the but which it went in to trick the goalie to go to the opposite side for them to take advantage to catch up. When Talles Magno, the club’s most expensive player had a bright future to help the team get power and skyrocketing to get the goalie which is the most confident player to win the Finals. The Portland Timbers has one more chance for themselves or else NYCFC wins the MLS Cup but not when Paredes shoot the ball and it went in. Johnson was annoyed that the ball wasn’t close enough to save it for the team to win. Fans and teammates are in a train wreck to think that now the Timbers are getting closer. If New York don’t get the winning goal, the whole penalty kick would be a nail biting moment for everyone around the match. The superhero for New York City FC is Alexander Callens, which he’ll probably be the one to make NYCFC get there dreams a reality. When Callens kicked the ball into the net, it was a little above the goalie and New York City FC are officially 2021 MLS Cup Champions.
Today we witnessed history in New York Sports History and this is the 1st time that a New York Soccer Team gets to win the MLS Cup. It was a breakthrough moment from the Lads from the Bronx which captured the reality of being Champions. Fans around the world were excited and thrilled to see New York City in blue with an opportunity to become the best team of season and giving everyone love and joy. New York City FC are officially MLS Cup Champions of 2021 for the first time in MLS Cup History and their first Win in the MLS Cup. It was wild and the crowds are loving it, to witness the great feeling of New York lifting the trophy. Some of the Manchester City Fans are eager to the sponsor team that represent their blue to open History. The Blue of Manchester City matches the logo of New York City FC. Everyone on team will cherish this moment and enjoy their happiness of lifting the trophy.
New York is officially Blue for Soccer and the fans at the Hammerstein Ballroom in the Manhattan Center in New York City went wild after that last successful penalty kick for NYCFC. Alexander Callens got the winning goal for PK and make New York City the greatest Soccer Team in the League. NYCFC joins parent club Manchester City in the Abu Dhabi-funded group in winning a title. The group now partially or completely owns NYCFC and Manchester City, as well as teams in Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, China, France, India, Japan, Spain and Uruguay with a full partnership around the Globe.
New York City FC worked so hard to pass through all of the playoffs even though the team finished in 4th Place in the Eastern Conference. The first round they played against Atlanta United and the team won 2-0. Next the team played against the 2021 Supporters Shield Champions New England Revolutions in the Conference Semifinals and they draw 2-2 but New York won 5-3 in PK mode. When New York played against Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference Finals which New York City FC won 2-1 and become Eastern Conference Champions. That was the moment when I realized it was time to support NYCFC because I always wanted a Soccer Team in New York to make to the MLS Cup Final. That’s how I got the idea to write a blog about the MLS Cup Champions of 2021.
On Tuesday December 14, 2021 New York City had a Ceremony to celebrate at Town Hall with everyone to celebrate the First New York Pro Sports Team since the New York Giants when they won the Super Bowl in 2012. Since NYCFC couldn’t have a ticket parade instead they decided to have a ceremony at Town Hall with limited amount of fans. Lots of Fans wanted to cheer for NYCFC to give them all of the credit for their hard work. People in the City were really happy to see the show and news reporters were here to witness the story about history.
The websites for New York City FC
- https://www.nycfc.comhttps://www.nycfc.com
- https://www.mancity.com
- https://www.cityfootballgroup.com/our-clubs/
- https://www.yesnetwork.com
- https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2021/12/13/nycfc-championship-ceremony-to-be-held-at-city-hall/amp/
- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_FC
- https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.mancity.com/news/club/new-york-city-fc-crowned-mls-champions-63774857
- https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/.amp/news/pep-guardiola-raves-about-23-year-old-mls-striker-in-new-interview-claims-he-is-ready-for-european-football
- https://youtu.be/rcIlHRVtbj8
- https://youtu.be/DSN_VS9HGvQ
- https://abc7ny.com/nycfc-city-hall-celebration-new-york-portland-timbers/11337808/
Since New York City FC couldn’t have their specific Stadium which they ended use Yankees Stadium in the Bronx and recently the team played in Citi Field in some matches which is home of the New York Mets. Hopefully one day they’ll get their own stadium near Citi Field since the Bronx refused to give them a proper stadium. I would love to see New York grow the interest of Soccer and root for either the New York Red Bulls or NYCFC.
Edited by Elliot Gavin Keenan
My Trip to the Organics Today Farm – East Islip, NY
By Scott Weisbrot
Recently, I went to the Organics Today Farm in East Islip, NY with my friends. It was a farm with growing crops. It seems to be great for programs to help out soak all local communities to do volunteer work. We had to walk around in a cricle, which made it interesting to see the sights.
We saw a lot of plants, crops and farmers market. There was also wagons to ride for kids if they want to go for a rides with their parents or use them for pumpkin picking if it is too much to cary. We saw scarecrows and an old mid 90s Jeep Cherokee that never moved in 7 to 8 years. There was a pumpkin patch field where you could pick pumpkins. During the summer months, people can come to the farm to pick fresh fruits and vegetables they can eat or cook.
When we came to this path, I noticed that some car might’ve drove on the trail. I could tell this because the dirt path was divided by a segment of grass in the middle. At the end of the trail, I saw a train from the Montauk branch. This was cool for people who love to hear passing trains. Finally, we went to the Farmers Market, which was in a small building. It has a lot of cool stuff like local food and handmade soap, honey, cheese, diary, maple syrup, and farm products.
The Organics Today Farm also does programs, dayhabs, volunteer work and field trips. It is open from the first day in the spring to Thanksgiving.
You can check out the photos I took on my adventure:
Edited by avanicole23
Cara’s Art Corner:
By Cara Difiore
Creating art has always been a great pastime for me. Not only do I enjoy doing it, but I was also good at it and that made it even more fun. As I grew a bit older, it was my best form of therapy, it has helped me express my feelings when I didn’t know how else to express my emotions and get through challenging times. I’m grateful for my passion, talent, and a new career. I sell my work on my own Esty store Of the Flower Designs.
I have decided to start my own art corner because I want to share my interests and talents with everyone and hope I can help everybody out there who needs this kind of therapy in their life. Growing up with a disability can have a positive outcome if you choose it. My choice is to express my emotions in art so I can inspire everyone out there in need.
Here’s one of the pieces I’ve done that I’m proud of. I didn’t paint it, but I did crystalize it which brings positive energy to this one. Crystalizing this piece with a hot glue gun and glass crystals with my hands. This is very detailed work, that takes a lot of patience and took me weeks, but the pay off is priceless. View our work on crystalineart.com (coming soon!).
one of my favorite movies, Disney’s Tangled
(this was actually inspired by my cat Manny)
Kings Park Psych Center
By Jackson Beach
Recently, my friends (that I hang out with on Tuesday nights) and I wentto the Kings Park Psychiatric Center (KPPC). Having driven past there on the way to physical therapy several times before, I was curious at what the place looked like. I got my chance to finally visit when I was with Dr. Christine Grimaldi and my friends. We walked past the buildings as we saw people walking around the center. We also went to the beach nearby.
I learned more about the center’s history from a YouTube video by The Proper People. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was founded to relieve the crowding of mental institutions in New York City. By the 1950’s, the center had 100 buildings and 9,000 patients. It was shut down after pharmaceuticals proved effective in treating mental illness. Subsequently, the place was vandalized with graffiti and buildings were left with shattered windows and burned roofs.
The Proper People discovered that Building 93 was very tall and saw KPPC’s transformation to a high rise colony with heavy supervision. Building 93 was also where experiments such as lobotomy and electroshock therapy were performed on patients and where the physically ill and elderly were treated. They visited other buildings across the KPPC, from the storehouse for medical supplies and food to the basement, were strewn with pipes and other things that fell off the roof and walls.
The Proper People also discovered that cops and security did not care that there was vandalism in the kitchen and the center. They also discovered the area’s power generators where the KPPC could generate its own energy. They also traveled through the asbestos tunnels to the quad building where the elderly were housed and workout equipment.
Overall, I had a great experience visiting the KPPC with my friends and Dr. Grimaldi. I learned a lot when I was there and through The Proper People‘s documented exploration. It shows how some people are fascinated by exploring things and places that have been forgotten.
Edited by avanicole23
Mothman Festival
By Erich Zuelch
The Mothman Festival is a festival held in mid to late September in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, based around the myth of the Mothman. Mothman is a cryptid, animal not yet proven to be real, that terrorized the town and surrounding areas from 1966 to 1967. Some speculate that Mothman was responsible for the collapse of the Silver Bridge on December 15th, 1967. In recent years, Mothman is believed to have been sighted in Chicago. Some believe it may also be the Black Bird of Chernobyl, a creature seen before the meltdown of the fourth reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear power plant in Soviet Ukraine in 1986. Sightings have continued on rare occasions into the modern day.
The festival was started in September 2002, the same year that the film The Mothman Prophecies premiered. The festival draws in crowds that doubles Point Pleasant’s population. Activities include speakers on topics such as cryptozoology, ufology, and ghosts. Food stands and band stands are also present. I went to the festival in 2018, it was great. I got a commemorative t-shirt from the Mothman Museum, I walked around the town, I attended lectures on the Flatwoods Monster, a mysterious being sighted in Central West Virginia; the Skunk Ape, a Bigfoot like creature sighted in Florida; and extraterrestrial life. I asked questions during two of the lectures. During the Skunk Ape lecture, I asked if Bigfoot was capable of speaking or just mimicking human speech. The presenter speculated they just mimic. During the extraterrestrial lecture, I asked if they were harvesting human DNA for cloning purposes, and the presenter thought they were. I even saw two cryptozoologists, Ken Gerhard and Lyle Blackburn, present the pilot of a show they were trying to pitch, American Monster Tour, that has unfortunately not been picked up. I really enjoyed the experience.
The Mothman Festival is both a street fair and a gathering of the believers in the paranormal. It offers both a fun family activity as well as a chance to learn of what may be out there. I enjoyed attending the lectures and exploring the town. I learned a lot about cryptozoology during that trip. The Mothman Festival is an enjoyable and educational experience.
Edited by avanicole23
A Thanksgiving Experience & Gluten Free Stuffing Recipe
by Nicole Magee
My name is Nicole and I am your creative visualization blogger for Autisticana. I love creative visualizations and storytelling because it helps me create and meditate – which promotes happiness and relaxation for me.
Thanksgiving is a very important holiday for me because it is all about gratitude, sharing and being with others.
I also love to be with all of my family and help prepare for our festive dinner with them. I like to be involved with the fun of cooking, baking and spending hours with my wonderful family.
I wanted to share one of my favorite gluten free stuffing recipes with you all. It is yummy and can help prevent stomach issues, so this recipe will be delicious and healthy for the whole family.
Holiday Gluten Free Stuffing Recipe:
Ingredients:
2 loaves of gluten free white bread
1 loaf of gluten free grain bread
1/2 cup of vegan butter
fresh rosemary sprigs
3 eggs
1 cup of chicken broth
Package of mushrooms of your choice
2 packs of organic apple and chicken sausage
chopped onion
salt and pepper to taste
a stalk of celery
Directions:
- Place the loaves on a tray and brown them to dry out
- Cut the three little loaves into cubes
- Saute the mushrooms, onions, and butter in a pan
- Broil the sausages until brown ( you can even air fry them)
- Cut the sausage links into little strips
- Place bread in a bowl and stir the eggs in and combine the sauted celery, onions and mushrooms and chicken broth
- Then add cut up sausages
- Take a pan and wipe with vegan butter
- Place ingredients in a well greased pan
- Place tin foil over pan and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees
- Take cover off top, drizzle a little butter on top add salt and pepper and let cook broil for another 10 minutes to brown
- Let cool for 20 minutes and enjoy
Nicole’s Thanksgiving Visualization:
- Breathe
- Relax
- Enjoy!
Edited by avanicole23
My Trip to Bellport Village
By Scott Weisbrot
Bellport is one of the most interesting villages to go in central Suffolk County, Long Island, NY. Recently while I was there, I found a playground with an outdoor workout station – which is cool. The playground was opened during the end of 2020 If I ever plan on visiting Suffolk County during the summer, I can take a 5 minutes drive to workout almost everyday.
Then we stopped by to see the other landscapes of this park which there was a shelter and boat dock. Nearby are the docks of Bellport Yacht. There’s a ferry boat that can take locals to Ho Hum Beach on the East End of Fire Island, NY. The service is only available during the summer months from Memorial Day to Labor Day, weekends only.
We discover busy main street with popular summer shops. This includes cool stores, historic houses, and ice cream shops. It is perfect for summer tourists and people who wanna live there for the summer. Also, there are farms for animals and food – great spots to be in the summer and fall. The houses are nice in the area, and the town has very cautious speed limits from 15 to 30 miles per hour.
Edited by avanicole23
My Trip to Hoyt Farm and Preserve – Our Newsday Experience
By Scott Weisbrot
Recently, I went with a group of friend on a trip to Hoyt Farm and Preserve in Commack, NY. Hoyt Farm is a preserve in the town of Smithtown, which is a nice place with cool parks and beautiful nature. If you go in the fall, it’s a great place to find the leaves changing color and walk pass through the animal farm. There’s lots of cool stops among the trails. There was also a garden gnomes village in one of the trees. We checked out the empty barns with different paths of bushes. We discovered the Hoyt Farm playhouse, which looked like an empty wooden house. Afterwards, we toured around the preserve. In total, it was a half a mile walk.
Here’s a map of Hoyt Farm in Commack, NY:
You can check out all the photos I took on my trip to Hoyt Farm below:
Edited by avanicole23
Authors
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avanicole23
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Steven Symonds
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TheArtsyBlogger
daddygirl64
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Dr. Christine Grimaldi
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jackmaster190
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lunadragon55
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mageenicole11787
marissashopper12
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PanagiotisTheHero
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sashakochetova
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scottwblogger1723
staciertel
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Elliot Gavin Keenan, PhD
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