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Snowy Owl
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21 Feb 2016, 5:37 am

I'm awaiting high functioning autism diagnosis, but so far everything about autism seems to match who I am, excedpt of the fact I like new. New ideas, new interests, new people (for a little while), rearranging furniture and redecorating, new food (as long as it doesn't interfere with my food issues), new places.

I remember when I was in primary school, one of the child moved to another place and I harrased my mum for a couple of months that we should do the same :-)

I have some routines like drinking coffee in a particular cup or reading time table every time I turn up on the bus stop, even when I know exactly what time the bus is supposed to come, I really need to make an effort not to wear the same clothes over and over, or I do the same work out at the gym over and over even though I know I'm supposed to alternate but that's about it. I score high on obsessions and not being able to understand other people, I have sensory sensitivities, but I like new. Does that exclude autism?



EzraS
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21 Feb 2016, 6:23 am

I like new stuff. We moved to a location that is an entirely different environment from where I grew up, and I absolutely love it. Love exploring every inch of it. Love the new house, which is really a very old house, and completely different from the 1990's house I grew up in. I like new books and movies. New toys. I am hesitant to try new food, but am really happy when I try something new that I end up really liking.

New is not really the problem per say. It's more like unexpected unwanted change. Especially when it comes to routine. Like you were saying about the cup. Someone was talking about Subway being out of the kind of bread they always have for their sandwich, and that's something that would mess me up too. Everything you said sounds fine to me for someone with autism.



untilwereturn
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23 Feb 2016, 4:29 pm

EzraS wrote:
I like new stuff. We moved to a location that is an entirely different environment from where I grew up, and I absolutely love it. Love exploring every inch of it. Love the new house, which is really a very old house, and completely different from the 1990's house I grew up in. I like new books and movies. New toys. I am hesitant to try new food, but am really happy when I try something new that I end up really liking.

New is not really the problem per say. It's more like unexpected unwanted change. Especially when it comes to routine. Like you were saying about the cup. Someone was talking about Subway being out of the kind of bread they always have for their sandwich, and that's something that would mess me up too. Everything you said sounds fine to me for someone with autism.


Yup, I think that pretty well sums it up for me. I enjoy traveling to new places, trying (some) new foods, etc. But if somebody or something interferes with my daily routine or throws me an unexpected change in schedule, I have a hard time dealing with that.



tetris
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23 Feb 2016, 4:36 pm

Apart from food and clothes, I'm pretty good with new stuff.



AuroraBorealisGazer
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23 Feb 2016, 6:10 pm

I like new things, but struggle with change (though certain changes don't bother me too much). So while I like new things such as new adventures, new clothes, etc, I have a tough time giving up old things or old routines. For example, I moved around in recent years, to a different state and then to another country (I'm back home now) without many issues. However, when I had to get a new car (thus getting rid of the old one) I had a hard time.



UnturnedStone
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24 Feb 2016, 12:14 am

I can... But old habits die hard with me.

The fact that Mythbusters is coming to an end and Top Gear (as it was) is over, greatly upsets me, a lot more than it should.

I still have my car I bought when I was 16, even though un-drivable, I cannot let it go. Sometimes even sitting in it when I am feeling overwhelmed.

Yet other cars have been sold without issue and I have looked forward to getting a new (used) car.

I am very sentimental and I hold on to a lot of things that have a positive meaning behind them.

I will try new foods these days, I didn't until my partner took the time to learn what I like and why I like it and suggested new things which I may also like which has opened many new dishes to me.

Again with clothes my partner knows what I like and dislike and helps me choose new clothes, which is also kind of an adventure.

Routine is the hardest thing for me to change, It really unsettles me when things do not go as planned, but I am improving on this.

Edit: Also with the subway comment, I can completely relate. If they don't have my bread I don't know what to do, I find it hard to pick another one as it will ruin my whole sandwich, but if i don't pick another bread I don't have subway at all. It can almost break my brain.



AlanR76
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24 Feb 2016, 12:35 am

I can relate to many elements of these posts. I am new to these forums, my name is Alan. I have struggled with social issues for the better part of my life. I became a field service engineer in the computer field, a great career in my early twenties. I was used to working close to home and having much time on my hands. I had a good schedule, and I was often able to adjust to small changes. However in 2002 I had to relocate employment to Boston. This required a lot of driving (4hrs commuting per day) losing personal time and not being able to do my usual activities. I was also a homeowner. I could do a lot of stuff myself. My stress levels were always high. I got into two automobile accidents, one in 2001 and another in 2008.

The one in 2001 was stressful because I had to adapt to getting another car, missing work etc. It takes me a long time to get used to public transportation too. Often mis time the buses and stops.

The one in 2008 disabled me to this day. I received a traumatic brain injury, and neurological damage to my spine. Many of the memories of my life vaporized that accident. While long term memory is good now and most memories came back, short term is bad sometimes. I also have ADHD, I test Aspie 170 out of 200.

I also have what people calling a "savant syndrome" my piano and singing skills really good but social very bad. I was sort of this way before the head injury, but the social got even worse and the musical skills better. This went overlooked by medical system till a few years ago. I still struggle making friends. I am a good person, I am often misunderstood. I come off with dry personality like Dr Gregory house, I don't mean to be rude, and arrogant or anything. I speak the mind and cant filter well.

I lost my home, and everything I had worked for. I am going through some of the biggest adjustment difficulties ever. I struggle so much, because everything before accident was routine. I have had to keep starting over and over, with little time to adapt. I also get upset and brain lock when I go to stores to get certain grocery items, and they are out. I get the Subway effect you say at many places I frequent, I don't know what to order if the menu changes too much or they don't have my favorites or even the second options!

As you can see I go on and on, sorry as this is one of my traits. Since my accident rehab I can type 78 WPM, I get all these awesome advantages from these traits, but can't seem to stay on top of simple things that regular people take in stride. I am always told I'm lazy or acting weird or don't care. Its really hard, I'm 39 and still struggling to get back on track from what happened almost six years ago. Good luck to you all, perhaps I can meet more people that I am like. Regular people (neurotypicals as they are called) misunderstand me, the only ones I can relate to are children with these autistic symptoms. Never met any adults like me yet. It is becoming a lonely world.



AlanR76
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24 Feb 2016, 12:57 am

A new season of Mythbusters would be nice. I re-read the post , and that's a bummer the shows coming to an end. I don't get cable, but am able to see from time to time. I am really stuck in the old tv formats, 80s and 90s; plus some black and white era shows too. This new techno sounding over colored flashing-light drama and reality shows stink, in my opinion. No offense meant of course. There isn't really anything creative on now a days. I liked the Mythbusters , they always were blowing things up.



GodzillaWoman
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24 Feb 2016, 1:14 am

I like new things IF they are my idea to do them or I was involved in the planning!! If I helped plan the trip or picked out the activity, I like it pretty well. I do plan any new activity down to every single possible outcome: where we'll go, how to get there, where we'll stay, what we'll do. However, if anything unplanned happens, I get really stressed out! I'm obviously not very good at spontaneity.


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mr_bigmouth_502
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24 Feb 2016, 2:29 am

I dunno. I tend to fall into the trap of doing the same things over and over every day, and I easily get sick of it, YET, I also don't have the best history with trying new things, and drastic changes in my life often cause me undue stress and anxiety.


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EzraS
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24 Feb 2016, 2:43 am

Most of my days are pure repetition. Same limited variety of activities and eat the same things every day.



StarTrekker
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24 Feb 2016, 3:25 am

EzraS wrote:
I like new stuff. We moved to a location that is an entirely different environment from where I grew up, and I absolutely love it. Love exploring every inch of it. Love the new house, which is really a very old house, and completely different from the 1990's house I grew up in. I like new books and movies. New toys. I am hesitant to try new food, but am really happy when I try something new that I end up really liking.

New is not really the problem per say. It's more like unexpected unwanted change. Especially when it comes to routine. Like you were saying about the cup. Someone was talking about Subway being out of the kind of bread they always have for their sandwich, and that's something that would mess me up too. Everything you said sounds fine to me for someone with autism.


^This. I don't mind, and sometimes enjoy "new" (except for the new house thing, that bothers me every time it happens, which in my lifetime, has been a lot!) What I really hate is unexpected and unwanted change, like one of my social skills group leaders leaving, having substitute teachers at school (this bothered me all the way up through college), sudden, unexpected dinner guests, etc.


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