SLEEPSOMNIA!

PAGE 1
A titlecard in red and orange reads "sleep-somnia" in large graphic writing.
The comic underneath is presented in a limited palette using bright primary colours.
A small character with a sleep cap on introduces the comic- they have a split face with half being a sun and half being a moon. The sun side is awake and the moon side is resting with it's eye closed.
This character will just be presented as "narrator".
Narrator: "The Sun goes down and the moon comes up! A restful time for many but some autistic people dread this time the most!"
They float through the sky and out through a bedroom window as they muse.
Narrator: "Join me on a nightride through the spectrum!"
Narrator: "Sleep disorders tend to be a less discussed aspect of autistic lives."
The narrator is depicted crammed into a child's crib.
Narrator: "Many know that autistic kids struggle to sleep, however many autistic people cycle through sleep disorders as they get older!"
The narrator rests beside a wall of pictures that feature different people at different moments of their development and growth.
Then they pop up beside a blue box that has a variety of symbols on it. A single bed, an office desk, and a double bed.
Narrator: "so tonight we're visiting the bedrooms of three different autistic adults."

A disclaimer at the very bottom of the page reads "tonight's statistics were recorded as part of an independent survey tracking issues autistic adults report themselves as experiencing during sleep/bedtime"

PAGE 2
The whole page is within a bright blue frame- at the top of the frame is a single bed with a tiny nightstand. The drawing of the bed is adorned with stars in the background.

We see an isometric view of a bedroom. The bedroom is fairly large, with a small raised platform at the back, a large open window, and a bright yellow circle rug in the middle. To the right hand side a single bed is pushed into the wall. On top of the bed a young girl with red hair is cradling herself with her hands on her face, her eyes are open with noticeable eye bags.
Narrator: "OH! Harper is awake again tonight! Harper is one of 65% of autistics who report regular experiences of insomnia."

Two panels are shown with the Harper sitting upright and then turning to her nightstand to break open a canned drink.
Narrator: "Insomniacs may get up multiple times each night. Meaning they rarely get restful sleep."

Harper is shown at three different instances of the day. In all instances drinking a different caffeinated drink.
Narrator: "overuse of stimulants is cited as the most common reason for adult insomnia. Harper uses caffeine to help her with tiredness in the daytime- in relation 42% of autistics reported a need to medicate using stimulants".

Harper is shown running on a treadmill.
Narrator: "Many autistics cannot keep up with the demands of an adult life. And so many autistics turn to stimulants to keep themselves from exhaustion."

Harper is shown keeling over a bathroom sink, tears welling in her eyes.
Narrator: "However, stimulants will block out flow of melatonin to the brain for multiple hours after ingestion"

The narrator is shown holding a stack of coffe cups in one hand.
Narrator: "not to mention an excess of caffeine causes jitters and muscle tension, making sleep difficult."

PAGE 3
This page is framed with a teal and white border. The top of the frame has an office desk at the top adorned with little star stickers all around it. The narrator is floating above the page, looking around.

An isometric view of an office room is shown, what appears to be an accounting room or archivists office. It's an open space with lockers, a low table in the centre, and at the upper left corner there's an office desk with a man with blue hair passed out on his keyboard.
Narrator: "Nasir is on the other side of the coin, Nasir suffers with hypersomnia, a trait shared with 59% of autistic adults also claim to experience chronically or frequently."

Nasir is shown, jolting awake to the touch of his boss, a red haired man in a suit. The boss is clearly yelling at him.
In the next moment after the boss is gone Nasir seems to get sleepy again.
Narrator: "[hypersomnia] features periods of extreme tiredness throughout the day. Stress and pressure can make a hypersomniac more tired!"

Nasir is shown squinting his eyes in an effort to keep them from closing. He is in the front seat of a car with his hands on the wheel.
Narrator: "which makes high attention tasks highly dangerous!"

Nasir is seen in a restaurant, slightly slouched over his plate with his eyes closed. A waitress walking by notices him sleeping in public and looks concerned.
Narrator: "Someone with hypersomnia may also struggle with falling asleep in public or unsafe places".

The narrator flies around at the end of the page, through lilac clouds. He holds onto a small pillow as he talks.
Narrator: "for some people, hypersomnia can be related to "demand avoidance" style behaviours. Pathological Demand Avoidance has been previously associated with a delaying of sleep or rest."
Narrator: "inversely, sleep can also be used to avoid day time tasks such as work or chores."

PAGE 4
The border on this page is off-white and green. The symbol at the top is a double bed that is suspended in air, the mattress and duvet are floating off of the bedsprings.
The narrator peers over the edge of the isometric room. The room is small with just enough room for a rug on the floor. On the right-hand side there's a pink double bed with a person sitting upright, staring out. The person has teal curly hair that puffs out all around their face.
Narrator: "parasomnias are chronic disruptions in sleep, like sleep walking, paralysis, or nightmare disorders.
And though most allistic people grow out of their parasomnias 48% of autistic adults still report regular experiences with parasomnias"

The teal haired person sits against their bed frame with their fists clenched, shaking. They seem frozen in fear. The next frame shows them beginning to loosen their fists. Tears begin dripping down their face.
Narrator: "Dez regularly experiences night terrors, a trait they share with 14% of autistic adults. Some behaviours connected to night terrors appear more often with autistic people."

Dez is shown in three different instances in time, one pulling their own hair, another they restlessly kick out their legs, and in the final they are pressing their hands against their ears.
Narrator: "[connected behaviours include] excessive stress in daytime, movement disorders like restless leg syndrome, and sensitivity to noise"

The narrator is seen reading a book outloud to Dez, who stands awkwardly to themselves.
Narrator: "these behaviours and their prominence among autistics may lead us to understanding exactly how parasomnias are more common in autistic adulthood"

Authors note: night terrors are not the most common parasomnia with autistic people. The most common parasomnia is actually sleep paralysis [16%]. I just wanted to spotlight night terrors because I have personal experience with this parasomnia.

PAGE 5
This page has a massive real, off-white, and yellow border. At the top, the narrator rests on a cloud overlooking the town we have just explored. Beside them there are three little snippets of all the adults bedrooms highlighted in different colours.
Narrator: "So! We've looked into common sleep issues that appear beside autism but what can be done to help?"

Narrator: "there are a few personal changes that might be helpful"
A series of four vinegettes are seen, arranged like a window. In the first we see Harper nursing a hot drink while curled up on her bed. In the second we see Nasir staring wide-eyed at his phone whilst sitting upright in bed. In the third we see Dez floating on a cloud, holding onto a heavy blanket and smiling. On the last we see the narrator leaning back and ranting.
Narrator: "replacing energy juice and coffee out with tea or water eight hours before bed.
Making sure to respect your bed time. Only sit in bed if you are about to go to sleep
Using compression blankets can help with muscle tension and involuntary movements when asleep.
But maybe the best thing we can do is talk about it!"

Harper, the narrator, Nasir, and Dez are all seen sitting on fluffy white clouds. Smiling and relaxing.
Narrator: "So many dialogues about autistic sleeping behaviours are designated entirely to caring for autistic kids. And many of us are left with no support as these issues develop and mature into adulthood.
Through discussion and acceptance we can find new ways to support and care for ourselves and others"

SLEEPSOMNIA!

A short comic about comorbidity rates between autism and various sleep disorders, from autistic people's own reports and accounts of their experiences.

I originally made this for #asdcomictakeover 2023, but my schedule was woeful and I didn't get it finished until many months after autistic acceptance month. But I figured I should have it somewhere on the internet before 2024 rolls around. Thanks for reading! Please understand that I'm just one person and I'm by no means a medical authority. This is not a diagnostic tool, but it does highlight the reality that many autistic people face with chronically disordered sleep patterns. I hope it can help for autistic people to seek help and feel understood if they fall into these comorbidities.

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