Autism: a carpet made my son feel like he was drowning

Synopsis

Oh Richard is a very keen listener of music, but he struggles with certain triggers due to his autism. When Richard Michael was two-and-a-half, his family moved into a new house, and they quickly noticed that he was uncomfortable in certain areas, particularly the living room. Richard could only stay there for about 30 seconds before panicking, clinging to the walls and couch as if he were drowning. His parents discovered that the old Victorian carpet with intricate patterns was causing his distress. The geometric shapes on the carpet overwhelmed him, similar to how he feels when swimming in deep water. This situation highlights the challenges faced by nonverbal individuals with autism, as parents must guess the causes of their anxiety without direct communication.