Whats the one autistic trait you Don't have or can hide?

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If I get extemely upset, I can't hide my traits. I flap a little, and finger tic ALOT. I also get somewhat non-verbal because I can't process the words that I need. So I usually just say something like "I need help" and my boss and co workers are getting pretty adept at knowing that means that I need to get away from other people so that I can start stimming to get myself calm. I didn't realise until my boss mentioned it in joking the other day (we all know I'm AS and I get strung out pretty easy) that I toe walk when I'm stressed.

I can do the eye contact thing. Well, not really eye contact, but intensely focusing on the bridge of your nose. Usually when people find out I'm AS, they tell me I can't be autistic because I make eye contact. I laugh because I'm never making eye contact. I also don't do much repetition.

The one thing that I can never hide is my ability to take things literally. Usually, though, when I take things literally, it ends up being funny, so we can usually twist it around.

Gee, one of these days I am going to have to see you get upset! I, for one at least, would never guess you are AS! I know you ARE, and your desciption sounds like it, etc.... but you CAN hide it well, apparently. Then again, people can see something different in ME, even though I think I hide it well, so maybe I am wrong.

As for ME, I can have problems talking, take some things literally, and get more sensitive, if I get very upset or nervous. Also, I just don't want to do ANYTHING! I'm too likely to make a mistake in that condition. About the twisting things around, that is interesting! *I* often do that also! Sometimes I almost subconciously respond to ludicrous things in an unemotional manner, and people think I believe things I don't, or will do what I won't!

Unless something askes me about something I know a lot about, yes I can 'hide it'. Then again I simply appear as knowing a shedload about things so that doesn't come up as "autistic" simply "very intelligent" (lol I get that often as compliments).

Interestingly in HS a teacher noticed I was autistic a year before I was diagnosed with Aspergers. The guy was possibly autistic who managed to hide it over time (he's in his 50s, grey hair, is an agricultural angineer, etc) He also read Temple Grandin's books as well. So possibly it's detectable, another one of my HS teachers might have noticed it.

I can't hide that I'm soccialy awkward. No matter what I do I just can't seem to get it right.

get other socially awkward people to hang out with

O, I don't have "meltdowns" (lashing out at others and/or the environment due to being overwhelmed); I have its polar opposite of withdrawing into myself.

I didn't toe walk either.

My sig says it all. the one thing I can't hide is the stim-like things, especially when I am nervous.

I'm good at pretending that social chats are very interesting

One trait I do not have is that special interest trait.

Well, what I call a meltdown is NEVER really violent. I usually don't even raise my voice. I often DO appear to withdraw into myself. Outside of the lashing out, with me at least, what I call a meltdown matches what others seem to call a meltdown.

I think from reading topics about this that most people here on WP call shutdowns meltdowns. I don't know why that is.

I do not know to which others you refer, but I'm just going to write the following anyway.

Shutdowns include shutting down functioning, loosing the ability to keep up with the situation. The same as with meltdowns.

But with shutdowns, it's in a way that is directed to the inside without lashing out, exploding in anger loudly or even in forms of violence.

Crying silently in a corner, mentally withdrawing from the environment, feeling confused/lost but incapable of expressing that by the according actions and displaying an overall lacking response to outward stimuli is a possible form of a shutdown.

A meltdown is more like trashing the place, yelling, displaying hyperactive movement, running away, become extremely agitated, expressing anger in recognised or unrecognised forms.

Shutdowns seem to go with an immediate tiredness and a general loss of energy and ability to display responsiveness.

I have meltdowns. I can't, for example, go silent, curl up and cry in a corner, need to retreat into a silent room or become dull, unresponsive and unusually quiet. I explode.

I don't look to people faces (maybe this is the cause of my prosopagnosia), but when I'm talking to someone I "glance" at their faces. I think that they don't realize that I don't really make eye contact.

I ALMOST referred to that! I Didn't see anyone refer to shutdowns until recently. I have always said mine were non volent, etc....

It isn't like I retreat 100%, become dull, curl up, cry, am unresponsive, or even really go silent. It is simply like I am like a different person. One that just wants to be left alone, isn't as smart, and doesn't communicate as well. I generally become quieter, and leave the offending situation. If it follows me, I may now refuse to go further. If that fits with a shutdown, OK! Sometimes I might FEEL like acting like you guys/gals in meltdown, and perhaps even want do, but I never do. Even when I DO act "violent" or "yell", it is BELOW what a normal person would consider warranted. That is RARE though. In the last 10 years, I might have been like that 5 times(The "violence" may be a little threat, or quick push. The "yelling" may be for 5-10 seconds. The goal is to STOP the offending garbage, or counter lies.). The shutdown deal may have happened DOZENS of times.

I don't stim, per se. But I do draw shapes in the air with my fingers. I do this very privately. I will sing a song in my head and make these very precise shapes. Anyone else do this, or am I just a weirdo? lol. I also pick my finger quite a bit. always the right thumb, nothing else...hmm. Maybe I am NT eh? lol

I'm now a butterfly, that's cool..lol

head banging. i tried it a long time ago, it was ok but unpleasant at the same time. i'm ok with not banging my head against the wall now.