Living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) presents unique challenges. The brain injury associated with FASD can affect memory, impulse control, and social understanding. Despite these hurdles, it’s crucial to recognize that having FASD does not excuse rude or inappropriate behavior. Each individual must take responsibility for managing their actions and interactions with others.
Understanding how FASD affects the brain is important. FASD can make it hard to plan, solve problems, and control emotions. This can cause frustration and misunderstandings, but being aware of these challenges is the first step to dealing with them. People with FASD can learn ways to cope and have more positive interactions.
- Education and self-awareness are key. By learning about FASD and its effects, individuals can understand their actions better and take proactive steps to manage their behavior. Being self-aware helps with personal growth and the ability to apologize and make amends when mistakes happen.
- One helpful strategy is to create routines. Routines give structure and predictability, which can help control impulses and reduce stress. Having a regular daily schedule can reduce confusion and create a sense of stability, making it easier to manage behavior.
- Another important approach is to practice techniques for controlling emotions. Breathing exercises, prayer, meditation, and simple counting can help calm the mind and body when feeling stressed. Pausing and thinking before reacting can prevent impulsive or rude behavior.
- It can also be useful to seek help from professionals like therapists or counselors. They can give personalized strategies and tools for managing social situations effectively. Joining support groups for individuals with FASD can create a sense of community and shared experiences, which can help develop positive behavior management techniques.
Living with FASD requires effort and dedication to managing behavior. While FASD may explain certain challenges, it does not excuse rudeness. With the right strategies and support, individuals with FASD can build respectful and positive relationships, taking full responsibility for their actions.
15 examples of rude behavior that you might not realize you are doing:
- Interrupting Others: Cutting someone off while they are speaking can be seen as disrespectful.
- Not Listening: Zoning out or not paying attention when someone is talking can make them feel undervalued.
- Ignoring Personal Space: Standing too close to someone or touching them without permission can be uncomfortable.
- Using a Phone During Conversations: Checking your phone or texting while someone is talking to you can seem dismissive.
- Not Saying “Please” or “Thank You”: Forgetting these basic courtesies can come across as ungrateful.
- Speaking in a Monotone: This can give the impression that you are bored or uninterested.
- Not Making Eye Contact: Avoiding eye contact can seem as though you are not engaged or are hiding something.
- Raising Your Voice: Speaking loudly can be perceived as aggressive or overbearing.
- Yawning or Sighing Loudly: This can signal that you are bored or disinterested.
- Overusing Sarcasm: Sarcasm can often be misunderstood and come off as mean-spirited.
- Being Late: Consistently showing up late can be seen as disrespectful of others’ time.
- Offering Unsolicited Advice: Giving advice when it wasn’t asked for can seem intrusive or patronizing.
- Talking Over Others: Dominating conversations and not allowing others to speak can be perceived as selfish.
- Gossiping: Talking about others behind their backs can erode trust and make you seem untrustworthy.
- Forgetting Names: Not remembering someone’s name, especially after multiple meetings, can make them feel insignificant.
If one of these is an issue for you, start learning about it and work a tiny bit to change or improve it. Being thoughtful of these behaviors and making conscious efforts to address them can improve your interactions and help you build more positive relationships.
TODAY’S NOTE: “When a thought comes into my head, I have to say it. And that can be a problem because if I don’t say it, I forget it.” – In Solidarity, Liz
Red Shoes Rock 