Hiding

Post Reply New Topic

This was something I did more when I was younger, but if I find myself at a small party or familial get-together,
I sometimes have a desire to be away from everyone. So, I hide in a closet or some other out of the way place
within the house (assuming its indoors). I prefer this to going outside for some odd reason--I get some strange
calm and satisfaction from just sitting in the dark and hearing the goings-on of everyone else without them
knowing where I am. I almost never do this because I feel uncomfortable or distressed--more often as a product
of boredom. I've even done this at parties held for my benefit (birthdays, etc.). I also do this at home if I wish to
actively avoid interaction with family members or (again) if I'm immensely bored.

I'm just curious as to whether or not this is typical of others with AS.

I'm exactly the same. It's a bit difficult to hide on top of the cupboard or behind the dresser now at my age, but if I could I probably would. It's in my instinct to just hide from people. Technically I'm not actually diagnosed with AS (although I believe I have it) so I can't say for sure if it's an AS trait. Perhaps it could be related to Avoidant personality disorder.

When I was a child I used to leave my grandparents flat without telling anyone, and go back into our own flat a couple of storey's down. Even if the door was locked, I'd find a way in through the small gaps in burglar proofing of the window. I felt so content knowing I was alone in the flat with no one else there.

I used to hide on top of one cupboard to actively avoid family members. I kept my colouring books, crayons and pencils up there, so I could have something to do when I climbed up there. I also remember my 4th birthday, when all my cousins and second cousins (and their parents) as well as neighbours were invited. There was a pic which showed me clinging onto my mum, not wanting to join in, even though the event was for me.

But still today I actively avoid people when they come to visit at my home. I guess it's still in me to hide in my room, and only coming out when they're gone. Since I basically know no one, it's not people who come to visit me, otherwise I would be forced to interact with them, which would be very awkward. Whether this is an AS trait, I can't say for sure. Maybe some diagnosed aspies on the site, will be able to verify it.

I remember when I was about 9 I went through a phase of wanting to hide away. I used to get myself into a huff about something or other, and walk off in a mild temper about it, and go and hide. Then when my cousins wondered where I was and came to look for me, I used to get angry if one of them found me.

I remember one afternoon I hid up in a tree, and spend a whole afternoon missing out on playing with other children. Now I regret doing that because now I'm adult I wish I could get them days back again (like we all do). And if I could turn the clocks back and re-live my childhood, I would try to be a much more sociable child, instead of getting the hump over something silly and hiding away.

Yes, although my mum told me that I was being rude and antisocial. I've had occasions where my family came over and I hid in my bedroom the whole time.

When I was a child I would try to hide by sitting in the corner or even on a sunny day wear my parker with the hood on.
I remember My Mum told me not to take my parka to school but I did anyway I would've worn it in class if I was allowed hood on and all.

I used to do this all the time. At parties. At school. I loved the feeling of being there yet hearing it all from a distance.
If I couldn't get away I would pretend to go to sleep to avoid interaction. That usually makes people upset.

Nowadays, I can't get away, but I REALLY want to.

At social things I would do the usual hide behind the punch bowl trick, until I finally learned to calm my anxiety down.

I have another odd hiding behavior. When I was a child, if I was playing outside by myself, I would hide whenever a passerby or car went past my house. I would time it so that I could see them for as long as possible, but they couldn't ever detect that I was there. I would sometimes imagine the car was a gang, and if they saw me they would open fire like in a drive-by, so I had to make sure my timing was just right. So even if I was just walking into the house, if a car was coming, I would hurry up and get inside as quickly as possible.

Oh, but I wouldn't allow myself to run. That "rule" came from watching The Last Unicorn, when the unicorn tells Schmendrick, "Never run from anything immortal; it only attracts their attention." I learned that running attracts attention, so I learned to walk quickly and stealthily.

I still do this today, just nowhere near as often as I used to.

I would (and still do) hide under my bed or in my wardrobe when stressed. Now I'm at university, I can just lock my room if needs be. Although my stress levels have dropped a fair bit now I'm not living at home.

I also live in a house with 4 roommates and lots of random visiting friends. When I get bored or uninterested I'll just go into my room and sometimes shut the door depending on how much I want to block the noise. Sometimes I'll leave the door open so I can hear the conversations, but not feel obligated to participate. I don't think of it as hiding anymore, but instead just "doing my thing."