The ringing of the phone causes muscle spasms, dizziness, headaches, and rage. It comes from how jarring and disorienting it is for most neurodivergents to have our focus interrupted. It also comes from the sudden need to shift tasks from what I am doing to answering the phone. Finally, the autistic fear of the unknown that comes from the few seconds you don't know who is calling, why they are calling, and what task you'll need to engage in that wasn't planned for that day.
Phone calls are draining. Today there has been a ridiculous number of them. One led to me having to take an unexpected jaunt outside the house. Another whole deal.
I am also well aware that my current state is one in which my sensory overload hits quickly, and I handle things far less capably than in the past. I like to think this isn't a permanent ordeal where something like this drains me dry. Or high drama completely steals the stage of my mind for hours.
I'm also aware that I need strategies in place to handle this, because if I don't. I won't ever recover, or I'll hit burnout even quicker in the future.
But ringing phones. Right up there with itchy sweaters, unexpected visitors, fluorescent lights, and doctor/dentist appointments on the drain scale.
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