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At home and at school, when I am deep in something I love, my brain truly locks in. ,Researchers call this hyperfocus — a state of intense concentration that some autistic people experience strongly. ,Hyperfocus is not a problem. ,It is a sign that my brain does something it is naturally skilled at.
At home and at school, when I love something, my brain focuses deeply. This is called hyperfocus. Hyperfocus is a strength.
page-1 At home in the evenings, an adult sometimes calls me away from what I am doing. ,At school, a lesson ends and the activity I was in the middle of stops. ,This shift can feel sudden and very hard when my brain is still deep in focus. ,The feeling of being pulled away before I am ready is real.
At home or school, I sometimes can try to stop. This can feel sudden and hard. My brain is still focused.
adult 
home 
stop The frustration I feel — at home and at school — during transitions is real and makes sense. ,Autistic brains can take longer to shift between tasks than other brains do. ,This difference is sometimes called cognitive switching difficulty. ,It is okay that transitions take more time and energy for my brain.
Feeling frustrated at transitions makes sense. My brain takes longer to switch tasks. It is okay that this is harder for me.
page-3 At home and at school, the adults in my life want to help. ,They may not always know that transitions are harder for my brain to manage. ,When I breathe and explain what I find difficult, most adults will listen. ,A calm conversation about what helps me is something I can have.
adults in my life want to 
help. ,They may not always know that transitions are harder for my brain to manage. ,When I breathe and explain what I find difficult, most adults will listen. ,A calm conversation about what helps me is something I can have. Adults at home and school want to help. They may not know transitions are hard. When I breathe and explain, they listen. A calm talk helps.
adult 
talk help At home, I can try asking my parent for a five-minute warning before it is time to stop. ,A short break between one activity and the next can help my brain settle before shifting. ,My parent can set a visible timer so I can see the time passing. ,Knowing what comes next helps my brain get ready to move on.
At home, I can try asking for a warning. A short break can help. A timer shows me the time. Knowing what is next helps my brain.
adult 
question At home, when my parent gives me a five-minute warning, my brain has time to get ready. ,I finish at a natural stopping place and the transition feels far more manageable. ,Understanding how my brain works with transitions is real, useful knowledge. ,Knowing myself and asking for what helps me is a strength I carry everywhere I go.
The warning gives my brain time to get ready. The transition feels easier. Knowing myself is a strength.
page-6 Take a moment. You can take some slow, deep breaths when you feel ready.
You finished reading "A Warning Helps My Brain Get Ready to Stop"
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