More Autistic In A Unfamiliar Setting

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Do you tend to act more autistic or withdrawn in a strange setting and then start to open up as you become used to the environment?

It depends on the situation. If I'm nervous or waiting a long time I'm sure I stim a lot more, but otherwise I think people are more likely to notice my autistic tendencies in settings I'm familair with.

Like the above poster said, depends on circumstances. If it's an unfamiliar place but I have figured out where I am and how to get around, I'm on time, no one is stressing me out and there's not too much sensory information, I'm fine. Generally, new restaurants, places I go with friends and other situations fall under this category. However, if any of the above conditions are not so, or anything else is going on that isn't right, I'll have rather... odd behavior. Maybe not all of it is autistic (like, when I'm anxious, I tend to stutter a little bit, and I twitch quite a bit), but definitely not what most would consider "socially acceptable." This is the case in crowded areas, airports, and other environments that I don't like.

If I am in an unfamiliar situation I have two descisions, hide and observe, or when I can't I am left open and I tend to get stressed and act more autistic, and I stim a lot.

I tend to act more autistic when I'm not feeling well. I suppose it's because I don't have the energy to act less autistic.

If I'm suddenly having to interact with one or more people I don't know very well, or even talking with someone I do in front of strangers, I litterally go into a catatonic state.
So I suppose so, yeah

Yes I do. Even my old therapist noticed how bad I stimmed and figeted when I first came to the session and I would slowly open up.

I don't think it makes me more autistic. For me autism is essentially a processing issue. I devote all of my resources to the work I'm doing in my internal world leaving next to nothing to process new information with in the external world. I'm always autistic, but how much being autistic affects things is situational.

The more unfamiliar a place is the more information there is to process. Whether I want or have to be there also makes a big difference in my attitude and meltdown susceptibility. If I get rushed or herded along I get irritable but waiting generally doesn't bother me as long as I don't have to pay attention to anything and I can retreat into my own little world.

I wouldn't say that I act more "autistic" (because I may not even be on the spectrum) however I tend to feel stressed out and withdrawn in some unfamiliar situations. Some aren't bad, and I can act/feel pretty calm and collected, but others... Not so much.

yes but i dont always open up, sometimes i stay permanently low functioning for the rest of the time unfortunely

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Being Normal Is Vastly Overrated

I talk less because there's more data to process in a new environment. After processing is complete, I behave in my normal manner. Still quiet but less distracted.

I definitely get distracted in unfamiliar places and especially if there's a lot of people around. I tend to get really withdrawn and try to hide when I feel uncomfortable in new settings. If my husband is with me and I'm in a place that I'm unfamiliar with, I tend to get a little clingy, but he's used to that, now.

I am always uncomfortable when dealing with his ex's and I'm sure they think I'm ultra weird. I also get really uncomfortable when the house is full of people, even if it's just his kids and various boyfriends, etc. because it's a situation that is not normal. It doesn't hlep that it's overstimulating and he goes into power cleaner mode and gets me all out of whack before they get here, either.

I can't stand all that pressure!

At conferences, which I have to attend alot because of my job, I tend to try to hang back because too many people gives me too much sensory input and makes me nervous. I tend to do some minor stimming things. I sway, I rock on my feet, I tic with my fingers. I don't talk much.

yes, when I was on vacation back in may...i visited a friend in Tampa....her house and her kids freaked me out... my mum noticed and pointed it out to me later...

Oh gosh yes, new places are quite the nightmare for me. Anything unplanned/out of routine upsets me, actually, and I think it drives my husband crazy. We can't just spontaneously go out to dinner; I have to know days beforehand so that I can prepare myself. On his days off, I pretty much have to lay out a schedule of errands, and any deviation from that just flips me out. Even if it's something rather small, like we're out grocery shopping and on the way home he needs to stop for gas. While he's pumping the gas I will just sit in the car and rock, and panic, and try not to forget to breathe. The longer I'm gone from home the worse I get. Agoraphobic much?