How does this relate to autism? I read here people who seem more susceptible to fear in certain situations, or in general. I'm assuming at a higher percentage than the general population. But I also know of autistics whose awareness of danger and threat is lowered, thus they don't realise a situation is highly dodgy and they are at risk, sometimes until it's too late. I have always found myself to be in the latter category. I don't seem to have the appropriate awareness of threat or danger and I have got myself into some very dodgy situations with dodgy people because I am simply not afraid. It's not a macho thing, I promise. I honestly just don't perceive the danger. Even NT people have asked me of certain situations "weren't you scared?" And no, I wasn't. Because I just didn't get it. Same with the comment "you're so brave!" No, to be brave you first have to perceive risk.
How does everyone go about recognising risk/danger/threat? Does that make you unafraid when you should be and freaked out when you shouldn't be?
I have sound sensitivity/misophonia, and I know my sense of danger or threat is very closely sound related. Walking past a bar on a Friday night, a group of people on the street corner suddenly start yelling and cheering, and I instantly perceive it as threatening even when I know simultaneously that they are celebrating/drunk and not making the sound in a threatening manner. It doesn't matter if I understand the benignality of it intellectually - loud noise still = threat in my head.
Others?
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Alexithymia - 147 points.
Low-Verbal.
23 Oct 2015, 7:13 am
