u/Independent-Cow-6996

Hi guys. My partner and I are looking for ideas for how to put the brakes on an argument when we're in the middle of it. When we're in the thick of fighting, or having a conversation get heated, we're constantly struggling to enforce that boundary of 'walk-away' for 30mins or an hour to give each other space to cool down.

Have any other couples out there used a particular object/action that helps everyone to take a pause, reset, and come back? We need a cue that can bypass a flight/freeze response, and be honoured by the other person at the same time without it being up for discussion.

Would also take any advice from parents with young kids or teens, as the I think the same situation applies regardless of age.

My partner and I sit on different ends of the ND spectrum, with different types of shutdowns and ways of processing conversations. I'm wondering if other people experience this, and if you do, how do you get through that moment where one person starts getting stressed/spirals/shuts down?

I find that if I'm triggered, its really hard to keep having a conversation with him, but immediately struggle to communicate that I just want 20-30mins of space to think due to guilt or RSD. He will either catch on and ask WHY I'm getting triggered to understand it better, or doesn't pick up on cues and keeps talking at me. Whereas in reverse, if he shuts down and claims 30mins of space (which he is TOTALLY allowed to do), I leave him be but panic about being shut out. It then takes hours instead of minutes to work through a topic which usually leaves both of us drained.

We have fantastic communication in every other way, but find that this is a frequent sticking point because I can't override my freeze response.

Do you guys use a physical object or safe word or what? Looking for ideas!

Hi guys. As someone who has never done any electronic stuff before, heeeelllppp me.

I'm wanting to try and build a contraption for myself where a weight will sit in a dock, but upon removal of the weight (think a paperweight or something), it triggers a displayed countdown timer and led light (ideally with a colour that can change according to time left on the countdown).
Just want to know what parts to buy so when I go down to the local electronics store, I don't look like a complete idiot.
My brother is an electrician, so any extra complicated bits I can get him to help with, but would like to try and do most of it myself. Thanks!

Hey everyone. As an ND person with a neurological condition on top, I've only recently realised some of my behaviours are actually me stimming... so now I'm trying to map out some patterns around sensory decompression and how we actually reset our nervous systems when we start to spiral or totally shutdown.

I'm curious about:

• Whats your preferred stim or comfort object? (Squeezing something, rocking, pacing, a specific texture, etc.)
• How long do you honestly need with it to feel baseline human again? Is it a quick 15-minute micro-reset, or do you need a solid 1 to 2 hours of total disconnect?

Any insights are super helpful!!