Anybody else with AS who dosen't fear changes?

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Personally I love changes, if I know they are coming or are required of me personally, since they are a challenge. Everything that is a challenge is enjoyable: Socialising properly is a challenge and is thus enjoyable, learning is a challenge etc etc.

However, when people think of autism they always think of somebody who resists change, who throws a fit if something new happens, and who "blackouts" if something unexpected happens. So I wonder, is there anybody else who enjoy challenges, no matter what kind?

I don't enjoy change per sé, but when things stay the same, I'm a lazy git.

When things are new, I'm at my full potential, and I'm alive. I love change only because it brings out the best in me.

How wonderful to hear that you don't have a problem.

Perhaps you were misdiagnosed.

I don't "fear" changes, but there are some types of change that I dislike. It all depends on the type of change.

At work, I like to keep things interesting - which often leads me to find different ways to perform the same task. If I find the change to be an improvement, I pass it on to my co-workers. Sometimes change is imposed upon me - which is fine, as long as I understand what's expected of me.

I would also like to make changes in my personal life from time to time. That kind of change is more difficult for me, since it usually requires a change in my personal routine (what time I get up, what I eat, when I can work out, when I can practice, when I can sit back & relax, etc.) As long as I can figure out how to arrange my personal schedule to accommodate the change, I'm pretty good with it. I can cope with unexpected changes, but I find them annoying.

I don't especially like to be interrupted. I put up with it at work & respond with a smile - but once I get home, my time is my own & I'm not inclined to answer unexpected phone calls or an unexpected knock on the door.

I love change, honestly I don't have an issue with it at all. I embrace change when it comes. I hate routine.

I love change, honestly I don't have an issue with it at all. I embrace change when it comes. I hate routine.

I don't really mind change all that much, but from time to time and depending upon the situation, I can become rather upset. I don't have a meltdown when something changes, but I do have a tendancy to ruminate about it. This makes me even more upset because I would generally like to leave whatever it is in the past and move one, but find that I can't.... it is sort of like a cirlce. On a more humorous note, my four year old daughter is also on the spectrum. She goes to a daycare right now because I wanted her to socialize and little and to get outside of her comfort zone a little. Mostly to help me identify what sorts of things may become an issue when she gets to kindergarten. So far, she is doing alright. She likes the routines, but hates the noise... this is another story, however. The daycare is a temporary situation and she is only going to be there for another two weeks. When I gave the center the 30 day notice that we would be leaving, they took her name off of her little cubby hole thing that she hangs her coat in and demoted her to a hook on the wall. I don't know why they did that!! ! My daughter was upset by it for about a week because they didn't bother to let her know that the change was comming. She didn'g get upset about it at school, but we heard about it every evening at home. She is one that bottles up all of the sensory issues and complications and lets loose at home. The funny part of this story is that my child has moved on and accepted her new "hook on the wall", but I have to really work hard to not flip out about everyday when I take her to the center!! I know... it is funny, but I can't help it. I didn't know that change was comming and I don't like the hook! We can never find her shoes and there is no place for her stuff. It really sucks... Probably a lot of folks would have been upset by that, but I am really having a hard time moving on. My husband actually took a box to the center and left it. He said that the move was upsetting his whole family! What a great guy

So.... to sum things up.... I never really know what sort of changes are going to send me into shock. I am just glad that most of the time I am able to cope really well. It isn't everyday that I have an experience like the "hook".

I don't fear changes, but I don't pursue them. Some things, like vehicles and clothes, I keep until they fall apart. Jobs, I get bored quickly. If I'm at a brewpub, I don't drink more than one pint of any brew and I'm likely to buy the sampler, even in my favorite place.

I was raised in a constantly changing enviroment so it's hard to tell if I ever had a problem big changes. If I did it was overcome when I was very young by my constantly moving around parents. however, it does come up now and then with small change. I eat the same thing every day and right now the grocery store is out of the brand of sausage I usually eat. Not good. I'm anxious about it. But things like, moving to a new city, are fairly easy for me and even exciting. I relate to whole, "things that are challenging are fun." I agree. I also think things that are scary are fun as well. Moving to a new city is very scary and challenging so it's also exciting. Changing my hair style, or my routine is not either of those things so I don't do it.

I was raised in a constantly changing enviroment so it's hard to tell if I ever had a problem big changes. If I did it was overcome when I was very young by my constantly moving around parents. however, it does come up now and then with small change. I eat the same thing every day and right now the grocery store is out of the brand of sausage I usually eat. Not good. I'm anxious about it. But things like, moving to a new city, are fairly easy for me and even exciting. I relate to whole, "things that are challenging are fun." I agree. I also think things that are scary are fun as well. Moving to a new city is very scary and challenging so it's also exciting. Changing my hair style, or my routine is not either of those things so I don't do it.

The problem with change is not so much the change but the breaking your expectations. If you know the change is going to happen and accommodate within your expectations of that day/week/month then mentally preparing for it is not normally difficult. That said, routines are not vastly important to me so perhaps I have it easier.

I am one of those who doesn't mind it.

It isn't so much that I fear change. It's just taxing. When things are unpredictable I can't relax. It's more of an uncomfortable tension that I can't alleviate. Also, predictable change is sometimes welcome. It's the unpredictable that taxes and burdens my mind the most.

I had been wondering if the enviroment in which you were raised affects how you deal with change. My parents loved to travel and would take to the road for months at a time, so, like you, I grew up in a constantly changing environment and change doesn't really trouble me (the experience did however leave me with a hatred of camping ).

Even if I did dislike change, I think my practicality would outweigh it. If something is bad, you change it (or work towards changing it). I've never understood people who are happy to whinge about their situation but won't actually take any action to fix it.

When I was younger... I was pretty annoying to people, I always wanted change.. and I would often run off on my clueless way to make it happen. Lead, follow, or get out of the way was my motto. I was as stubborn as hell and did not know how to choose my battles. I was and am often socially clueless.

I fear making a complete ass out of myself and loosing the few friends I have not driven off. Life is change and change I can live with. The unintentional hurting of others through my words and actions is something I would prefer not to live with. It still happens too often..

Now I am older and have more responsibilities, any changes that affect my family make me uneasy.

Marriage, kid... finding out kid has AS, finding out that I have AS.. people I know dieing off. There are many changes that scare the heck out of me. #1 is watching my son become a teenager and hoping I am up for the challenge.

I don't fear change... However, what is change? Is it really anything more than a mere observation?
The past is as it is and always will be: unchanging. The future is at it is and always will be: once again, unchanging (though not necessarily predictable).
In the end, why fear an observation?

Incidentally, why is this in the Haven?