List the extra things that come with your autism

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Misinterpreting statements made by precious lil "people" in wierd ways

Not fitting in

OK, can I call you my WP twin? Early in my relationship my NT husband suggested that I trust (assume) that he loves me rather than coming from a place of constant doubt. The challenge here is that while I am "too" expressive he has flat affect and few words --- so although I am really good at reading facial cues, he looks uninterested or grumpy most the time. Not so great for someone like me who wants to "see" and "hear" the love". They say to be specific with AS. Please specify love.

I would have said that I could identify and feel all emotions, but am realizing I also have a small vocabulary and can't really differentiate "irritable" (which is one tick from explosion or shutdown) from underlying causes/emotions. When asked in my assessment about traumas I was speechless until I later made a list of events, categorized them and rated the intensity (which was really hard, b/c they all seemed equally intense and equally not intense --- like of course it was horrible (or not?) that ### happened, but then it wasn't really, but it was... and wasn't... but was).

Annoying stuff:
- Facial blindness
- Auditory processing issues
- ADHD
- OCD (Pure-O)
- Dysgraphia
- Dyslexia symptoms
- Extremely sensitive photic sneeze reflex <- dunno if this one is related to AS, but it causes me to annoyingly require sunglasses most of the time.

Cool stuff:
- Synesthesia
- Ambidexterity

Last edited by Fern on 05 Nov 2019, 1:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

That was my childhood in a nutshell. I was so bad at holding a pencil, penmanship, spelling, etc. I had a 5th grade teacher who was sure what I needed was to be kept in at recess to write lines. I got a writing callous so large on my right hand that it misshaped the distal joint of my ring finger for life. I wish I could say I outgrew this, but I didn't. I'm still really messy with my handwriting.

I’d love a twin sister!

Just be warned that being my twin comes with some plot twists in the genetic realm....

It's unusual to talk with people who are similar to me in many ways. Teasing: Really rains on my **I**-am-the-unique-strange-one party. And I am glad for that; just takes some adjustment.

What has not been normal in the past is all of a sudden normal now (within these parameters).

It's refreshing. I am NOT alone. I have to remember that when I am up "against" the skeptics.

I'm similar to you in these 10 ways, similar to my AS-like BFF in these 10 ways, similar to many other people on WP in these other 30 ways... It's all there. Except for the deja vu... I haven't seen anyone write about stress-related deja vu, maybe I need a separate post for that.

• Dark vision (good) and Light sensitivity (bad)
• Difficulty understanding analogies and metaphors
• Dislike of changes in plans or routines
• Enochlophobia (Social anxiety)
• Focus on problem-solving over giving "comfort"
• Literal communication style
• Pattern recognition (good) and Pareidolia (Bad)
• Seeing the "Big Picture" as well as the details
• Sleep disturbances (Light sleeper)

Why is Pareidolia bad? How does it affect you?

I had to look up the definition, but it was very brief. I am not familiar with this symptom.

I've got many when it comes to mine, but sometimes it's hard to remember most of them but they happen frequently in my life so I will list them down here, since they regularly affect my behaviour and stuff most times, really hard to explain them though, not a strong point of mine.

Heavy Anxiety/Stress
Severe Social Anxiety
Random thoughts/thinking
Making funny and weird noises
Saying and repeating words slowed down
Stimmings (mostly flapping and bouncing)
Uncomfortable with direct eye contact
Heavy sensitivity issues (bright lights, loud noises)
Getting really happy/excited over my interests
Occasional emotional changes (happy/sad variety)
Constantly moving/running around the place
Anxious/Nervous with being independent (shopping, working)
Overall affection in my behaviour and life (mostly anxiety and emotion issues)

Well, there IS an odd way many kids hold writing implements. I did that through primary school and a bit later. I doubt it affected my penmanship though. I ended up having a tutor, primarily because I didn't do the work, etc.... and one thing she did was get me to hold the pencil a nire accepted way. She was cute and nice, and if I did things right, she gave me credit in this science shop she either owned, or simply worked out of, and I was into chemistry, etc.... and if I wanted some chemical they had, or some piece of equipment, I could get it.

Anyway, I have even seen adults almost as old as I am now holding writing implements that other way.

Yeah, I know it doesn't really help, but you were and are not alone. BTW Although not as bad as monk, I WAS bad. I had a level at which I wanted my signature to be, and it was fine if I had to do it once, twice, or even three times, but one day I just HAD IT! I basically tried to effectively sign my name subconsciously. My first name is basically 90% acceptable(to me), and my last maybe 50%. Not the best, but better than most doctors, so I was ok. So eventually THAT part of my penmanship SANK! But it is faster, and less effort.

BTW for those that don't know, at least in the US, doctors here are LEGENDARY for never having legible handwriting.

Various sites dispute the above claim, but they dispute it because there IS a claim, and I can tell you the claim is LEGIT! Anyway, HERE is a less biased reference:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018 ... 80702f1f20

My handwriting was fairly legible. It just didn't look age appropriate. It looked too much like the writing of a child just beginning to write, but doing it well, would look like. Others wrote more fluidly and much faster.

I used my superpower for quick learning to study calligraphy, study acting, study psychology, study grammer and editing (study vocabulary, study relationships, study parenting)... no wonder I masked for so long... I had great handwriting, appeared confident (with limited exposure), etc. etc. I am so used to compensating (and self-denial), I don't even know what limitations I have.

I am the bunny in a tiger suit... or am I the tiger in a bunny suit?