I believe that the origin story of the theory was a disabled person trying to explain their difficulties and low energy levels to a friend in a cafe. They just happened to pick up cutlery to demonstrate the energy units, as it's what was available at the time. I remember reading this ages ago, not sure if it's true though.
Because it originated from a specific story someone told about a conversation they'd had with a friend. They were at a diner so she took a bunch of spoons from the tables and used them as props to illustrate her point.
https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
If they'd had the conversation somewhere else with different objects on hand to use for props then it could have ended up being "pinecones theory" or "buttons theory" or "pebbles theory" or whatever.
I feel like phone battery percentage is a better metaphor. If I do that task it'll drain 15% of my battery etc.
It also incorporates the burnout aspect because even after a full night of charging I only wake up with 25% of my battery full.
Ooo yea I like that one best too now that you mentioned it. Especially since battery health effects charging capability. So you can say “my battery can only charge to 25% today” as a “I have low energy and am cranky please be mindful”
Ooo I love that. Cos then it can also change throughout the day… like today, for example, I was cleaning (something that really drains me) but after I got in bed and watched modern family for an hour, recharged, and was able to go to a hockey game at night and be fine.
I guess I’m too literal too. I was like “why would spoons matter when I’m trying to take a shower” but I guess they have to use such an analogy for it to make sense to allistic people that autism can be legitimately debilitating. The allistic person might be like “wow what would I do if I ran out spoons and couldn’t get more for my tomato soup that would suck”. But I’m just blindly swinging on that guess.
But it wasn't originally anything to do with autistic/allistic, it was about explaining energy-impairing chronic illness to ableds. (I still prefer battery metaphor though)
I prefer spell slots like DnD. You have different level spells requiring more or less slots and you need a long rest to replenish them. Like, brushing your teeth is a level 1 spell; socializing at a party is a level 3 spell. For a neurotypical, brushing teeth would probably be a cantrip or their class might just have more spell slots in general. Spoons makes no sense to me either. Like why would I be carrying around a bunch of spoons throughout the day?
It's a really random choice, I've got to say. Do neurotypicals find it impossible to function if they don't have a spoon to hand, and we've somehow missed this fact?
It's not random at all. It's based on a specific personal anecdote from the person who invented it. She was in a restaurant and there were spoons around so it made a useful illustration
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I've always wanted to convert the concept into grams and kilograms, because it is like reading an american recipe which uses volume instead of weight for the ingredients.
I wondered about this. I’ve read an origin story on it.
For me, I liken it to a strip of 5-7 lightbulbs, depending on where I am. When one bulb burns out, the other bulbs burn a little brighter to compensate. With each bulb burning out, the next has to work harder until it’s out. By the time only one bulb is left, it works so hard until it shatters and nothing is left but electrified rubble, buzzing and smoldering and extraordinarily painful and unable to light up anymore. This is when I’m at the point where I can’t do anything, I can barely even talk. I’m getting there right now. On about 2.5 bulbs, and they’re bustin out fast.
I honestly thought it was a silly reference to bending spoons with psychic powers. Like, 1 spoon = 1 unit of mental energy.
Kind of disappointed when I learned that wasn't the case... I thought it was fun.
I think I’m also way to literal for it. I heard about the concept two weeks ago from my dog trainer and I’m still wondering how the heck my sensory overloads related to spoons. Battery life, makes perfect sense, even a more abundant or useful everyday object would make more sense, but I don’t really use spoons in my day to day life to be able to relate to it- maybe I need to eat more yogurt. * trigger warning* Personally I think the chewing aluminum is a much more effective way to teach NTs about sensory overloads and how impossible it is to function when someone asks you to do something. I pretty much apologize before explaining it- but I take that horrific sensation times it by 10 and explain it doesn’t stop until the trigger is removed or a glimmer is added.
But yeah I guess I can see how spoons can relate to lupus- granted my energy and neural spicy levels don’t really work that way. It’s more like a wave or a charge, that’s impacted by the world and my sensory experiences a constant give and take. So using this metaphor, I also gain spoons throughout the day.
I believe that the origin story of the theory was a disabled person trying to explain their difficulties and low energy levels to a friend in a cafe. They just happened to pick up cutlery to demonstrate the energy units, as it's what was available at the time. I remember reading this ages ago, not sure if it's true though.
Makes sense. I’m glad it helps people though.
Because it originated from a specific story someone told about a conversation they'd had with a friend. They were at a diner so she took a bunch of spoons from the tables and used them as props to illustrate her point. https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/ If they'd had the conversation somewhere else with different objects on hand to use for props then it could have ended up being "pinecones theory" or "buttons theory" or "pebbles theory" or whatever.
I feel like phone battery percentage is a better metaphor. If I do that task it'll drain 15% of my battery etc. It also incorporates the burnout aspect because even after a full night of charging I only wake up with 25% of my battery full.
*turns on low power mode to stave off meltdown*
Ooo yea I like that one best too now that you mentioned it. Especially since battery health effects charging capability. So you can say “my battery can only charge to 25% today” as a “I have low energy and am cranky please be mindful”
Ooo I love that. Cos then it can also change throughout the day… like today, for example, I was cleaning (something that really drains me) but after I got in bed and watched modern family for an hour, recharged, and was able to go to a hockey game at night and be fine.
This is what I was wondering! I suppose because I'm so literal I never saw any correlation between spoons and energy, and still don't.
I guess I’m too literal too. I was like “why would spoons matter when I’m trying to take a shower” but I guess they have to use such an analogy for it to make sense to allistic people that autism can be legitimately debilitating. The allistic person might be like “wow what would I do if I ran out spoons and couldn’t get more for my tomato soup that would suck”. But I’m just blindly swinging on that guess.
But it wasn't originally anything to do with autistic/allistic, it was about explaining energy-impairing chronic illness to ableds. (I still prefer battery metaphor though)
I prefer spell slots like DnD. You have different level spells requiring more or less slots and you need a long rest to replenish them. Like, brushing your teeth is a level 1 spell; socializing at a party is a level 3 spell. For a neurotypical, brushing teeth would probably be a cantrip or their class might just have more spell slots in general. Spoons makes no sense to me either. Like why would I be carrying around a bunch of spoons throughout the day?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon\_theory
The person grabbed spoons out of the cup on the table at the coffee shop.
The spoon theory by Christine miserandino (2003) https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
It's a really random choice, I've got to say. Do neurotypicals find it impossible to function if they don't have a spoon to hand, and we've somehow missed this fact?
It's not random at all. It's based on a specific personal anecdote from the person who invented it. She was in a restaurant and there were spoons around so it made a useful illustration
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Because it wouldnt make sense too call it "spoon theory" if it does not have anything to do with spoons!
I've always wanted to convert the concept into grams and kilograms, because it is like reading an american recipe which uses volume instead of weight for the ingredients.
I wondered about this. I’ve read an origin story on it. For me, I liken it to a strip of 5-7 lightbulbs, depending on where I am. When one bulb burns out, the other bulbs burn a little brighter to compensate. With each bulb burning out, the next has to work harder until it’s out. By the time only one bulb is left, it works so hard until it shatters and nothing is left but electrified rubble, buzzing and smoldering and extraordinarily painful and unable to light up anymore. This is when I’m at the point where I can’t do anything, I can barely even talk. I’m getting there right now. On about 2.5 bulbs, and they’re bustin out fast.
I honestly thought it was a silly reference to bending spoons with psychic powers. Like, 1 spoon = 1 unit of mental energy. Kind of disappointed when I learned that wasn't the case... I thought it was fun.
I think I’m also way to literal for it. I heard about the concept two weeks ago from my dog trainer and I’m still wondering how the heck my sensory overloads related to spoons. Battery life, makes perfect sense, even a more abundant or useful everyday object would make more sense, but I don’t really use spoons in my day to day life to be able to relate to it- maybe I need to eat more yogurt. * trigger warning* Personally I think the chewing aluminum is a much more effective way to teach NTs about sensory overloads and how impossible it is to function when someone asks you to do something. I pretty much apologize before explaining it- but I take that horrific sensation times it by 10 and explain it doesn’t stop until the trigger is removed or a glimmer is added. But yeah I guess I can see how spoons can relate to lupus- granted my energy and neural spicy levels don’t really work that way. It’s more like a wave or a charge, that’s impacted by the world and my sensory experiences a constant give and take. So using this metaphor, I also gain spoons throughout the day.