29th July 2018
Finally we have had some significant rainfall!! Britain has been gripped in one of its hottest heatwaves in many years. As an Autistic who suffers with sensory overload when in hot and warm temperatures, I have to admit I have been struggling at times recently. Luckily at work we have a decent air con system, and so does my car, but at home and during the evenings the temperature has been, at times, torturous. This also leads onto my other sensory issues being heightened. Sounds seem so much louder and more intense, conversations harder to follow, concentration poorer and I am sure I come across as more irritable. Therefore I am glad that it has finally started to rain and of course I have been out walking in it to fully appreciate the sensory delights it has to offer:
Firstly, the heat is gone. The rain and wind has certainly made the temperatures drop to something that is more manageable for me. At last I can have a break from the sticky, sweaty uncomfortableness that has plagued me from morning to night during the hot weather. The air feels fresher as the rain cuts through the humidity which kind of makes me feel panicky and more anxious. Like it is too hot to be able to breathe. The cool air can now fill my lungs and help to calm me.
Secondly, the sound of the rain is so soothing. Ok I know that you can get apps, mp3’s and sound bites of the rain, I actually go to sleep listening to them every night, but it is nowhere near as beautiful as the sound of real rain. I am not sure if you can call it music, but it certainly has a harmonic sound to me as the various sized drops create different noises as they bounce off everything. Splashing off natural things such as leaves, trees and grass, and manmade things like houses and cars, and even people themselves. All this produces different noises which blend together to create that distinct sound of rainfall which is not harsh but soft on the ears and welcoming.
Thirdly, that smell during and after the rain. It even has its own name “petrichor” which is defined in the dictionary as “a pleasant distinctive smell accompanying the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather in certain regions”. My sense of smell is a bit odd, which I do attribute to being Autistic as my smell senses are hyposensitive. This means I like a lot of smells that a lot of people find offensive. However, I have never ever heard anybody say they hate the sweet smell that occurs after rainfall and therefore it is a smell that I can enjoy with everybody.
Also, nothing feels as nice on the skin as water. I find it so relaxing. Long baths, swimming, showers and off course the rain. When you get caught outside in the rain it begins with just a few spots. A little tickle on part of your arm and face which then becomes more pronounced as more and more water droplets hit you. Several drops then combine on your skin and form a rivulet that feels refreshing as it tracks over you. These trickles of water are more noticeable from wet hair and drip down the face. As an Autistic I don’t really like touch feelings but the pressure, wet texture and viscosity of rain is perfect and I can experience this sense in a positive way.
Finally, the look of the rain. Everything changes colour and to some degree texture when wet. Dry and dusty become wet and glistening. The ground becomes a wash with puddles which create new reflections of the world around us. The clear air in front of you suddenly has a texture as the rain falls. Shapes and patterns are formed as rain drops slide down surfaces or form ever decreasing circles in existing bodies of water – patterns on ponds for example. It creates new things to look at as well adding new perspectives on existing views.
This all probably sounds a bit poetic when you read and to be fair, I do find it hard to describe the feeling of sensory refreshment that the wet weather offers to me. Most people normally hate it, and after the long period of sun, I am enjoying hearing people say nice positive things about the rain for a change. So you can read what I have just written and hopefully understand what it means for me or you can just accept that “I like the rain” as a shorter version. One thing for sure though, whatever type of weather you prefer, make the most of it when it’s happening – this is British weather and chances are it will be completely different next week!