Looking at your own image

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I've been reading a book about two autistic brothers by Charlotte Moore and she mentions how they can't bear to see pictures of themself as it upsets and confuses them. Do you feel uneasy seeing your own image? I especially can't stomach seeing myself on video walking around, its almost like I can't comprehend it.

I doubt my problem with my "image" has anything to do with AS...I just always hated the way I looked and could never figure out who that "thing" in the mirror was...I remember looking at all my "bits" seperatly to try and figure out what was wrong with me....each bit seemed fine by it self...no strange anomilies but when they got together...I just hated it.I look at old pictures of myself and think...I wasnt bad looking...but it still doesnt seem like "me".

I've never really tought about it. I don't mind photos of myself, but seeing myself on video actually now that I think about it would be pretty disturbing.

I cant look into a mirror because my dazzling handsomeness scares me.

Sometimes when I look in the mirror I don't recognize myself or I think I see someone else (you don't have to tell me this is a symptom of schizophrenia ). I have flace blindness, so I don't think I see the details in faces that other people do. For instance I have trouble watching movies because all the actors of the same gender, skin, and hair color will look identical to me and I can't tell any of them apart.

It doesn't bother me to see a picture of myself but sometimes I don't recognize myself in it, especially if there is a group of people, or people of the same gender and hair color as myself.

I was buying some stuff on the Ferry ride back from Victoria BC. I was looking straight ahead and I've thought that there was a Cockney facing me and looking at me. I've said Hello to the Cockney and than I've preceded to walk into the mirror.

I used to have more of a problem with this when I was younger. I don't even really know why, but if I was being taped I'd run away and hide. Maybe it was low self-esteem or something. I dunno.

I am quite obsessed with my own image, particularly in mirrors. I get vet very agitated if I cant check my hair.

I don't know if anyone really sees themselves as they look to others - just like the sound of your voice on a recording seems weird.

There's always a second or confusion/fear every time I look into a mirror, just before I realize it's me.
I don't like seeing pictures of me. I think I look weird.
Don't know if that has to do with AS, though.

-=forgetting my previous post here (i was bored)=-

i dont mind looking in the mirror, since im not ugly or anything, and i dont find it uncomfortable. i do however HATE being videoed. i can tolerate photos (although id still rather go without) but i really despise my every movement being filmed and stored. it just makes me... shudder o_o

I'm now ok with having my picture taken and being recorded on video... but for a very long time, I hated both of those things. Even now, when I hear myself on a recording or video, I hate the sound of my own voice. It seems very nasal to me! But a couple of weeks ago I had this discussion with some of my workmates and they were telling me that my voice didn't sound nasal at all, that my voice was actually really nice to listen to. I thought they were joking with me, but then again, they seemed serious and reassuring when they said it. Hmm don't know, maybe it's a self-esteem issue for me.

As for my appearance, I've gotten more used to how I look physically. I could stand to lose a few pounds, but yeah that's me I see.

I hate seeing myself on videos. When I watch them, my first thought is "What's wrong with her???????" I see a girl who looks like she is in a wrong place at a wrong time. Awkward movements, odd facial expression - compared to others. Then I understand why so many strangers make fun of me. I don't want to see how abnormal I look.
My photos are OK because you can't see my movements in them.

I hate pretty much anything that lets me see or hear myself, each with a different degree.

Microphones
I can tolerate them fairly well, as long as they're connected to nothing but speakers. My voice sounds pretty bad when played through any audio equipment, but I taught myself to ignore it. After all, my voice simply passes through the wires, leaves the speakers as sound waves, and disappears forever without being captured.

Mirrors:
I see them as a necessary evil. Everytime I see myself into one, it reminds me of how ugly I am. At the same time, if there were no mirrors, I wouldn't be able to make myself look at least somewhat presentable, such as through shaving, combing my hair, etc. Again, since mirrors don't capture my image, I don't mind them.

Voice Recorders:
I hate them with a passion. I can't even stand the way my voice sounds on the voicemail greeting sounds on the office phone. My friend (who is now an ex-friend) used to record my voice with his Pocket PC and play it back, just to watch me frantically trying to grab it out of his hands. I especially hate voice recorders, unless I'm the one holding it and even then, I only use it for recording something brief, like my parking space number.

Photo Cameras:
Something I can put up with, but would rather do without, except in some specific situations. Even though I'm slightly above the ugly mark in real life, I look totally nasty in photos, not to mention extremely tense. So whenever someone pulls out a camera, I cringe. The only exceptions is when I'm drunk. Then I pose with a big smile on my face while putting my arms around the girls next to me (I'm male). One of the few photos of myself that I actually like were taken in Israel on vacation, or while I was dancing (an activity I'm good at).

Video Cameras:
I wish they were never invented. I completely freeze when I know that my every move is being recorded. I feel like Big Brother is watching my every move, trying to catch me engaging in crimethink (a term from the 1984 novel). When I see myself on video, I don't see myself; I see some loser practically asking to be beat up. Unlike photos, I can't stand videos even when I'm completely drunk. Whenever someone points a video camera at me, I give an uninspiring "hello", then quickly leave the room.