Neurodiversity

[Girl_On_Fire]

I wanted to try to bring this thread back if anyone is interested.

Are you an "emotional barometer"? I find myself reacting to people's emotions before they even realize they're feeling them, which can make for sometimes awkward social interaction. Meaning somebody may mistake my nervous response to them as being self-conscious or guilty of something when really my inner core is saying danger! I have a hair-trigger when it comes to feeling sudden negative emotion from others, even when it's not outwardly expressed right away. Anybody else feel this way?

[Ursy]

Originally Posted by Girl_On_Fire

I wanted to try to bring this thread back if anyone is interested.

Are you an "emotional barometer"? I find myself reacting to people's emotions before they even realize they're feeling them, which can make for sometimes awkward social interaction. Meaning somebody may mistake my nervous response to them as being self-conscious or guilty of something when really my inner core is saying danger! I have a hair-trigger when it comes to feeling sudden negative emotion from others, even when it's not outwardly expressed right away. Anybody else feel this way?

I don't think I'm in touch with my own emotions enough to be able to tell where they are coming from at the time (intense though they are, does that sound ironic? I don't know how to explain it), and I don't trust how I read the emotions of others to be able to connect the two.

I kind of feel too much all at once, and it's so overwhelming that any introspection is difficult.

...deal with misophonia on a daily basis and feel like a freak because of it?

[Ursy]

Originally Posted by Daktari

...deal with misophonia on a daily basis and feel like a freak because of it?

I commiserate.
I don't know if I can say I have misophonia but too much noise does give me the irrits, especially if I'm trying to concentrate on something.

This makes me sound like a Grinch, but why do children have to be so loud? Especially when they are walking past our house on a sleep-in morning?

[Kelt]

Originally Posted by Daktari

...deal with misophonia on a daily basis and feel like a freak because of it?

Very much so. I didn't know there was a special word for it though. It's a combination of noise in general, but specific frequencies are actually painful. I only feel like a bit of a freak if I am out in public and some sharp sound makes me involuntarily duck or quickly cover my ears when no one else seems to notice anything.

Gots ear plugs and knows how to use em.

[Girl_On_Fire]

Originally Posted by Daktari

...deal with misophonia on a daily basis and feel like a freak because of it?

Yes. I just learned there was a name for it the other day. I cannot stand the sound of mouth noises. Chewing, swallowing or dogs licking their chops. Bleecchh! Sends me into extreme sensory overload. I can only block out so much of it before I start feeling like my nerves are on fire.

****

On another note, I found this really great article about the innocence of autism. I really think that this can be an easily-misconstrued component of Asperger's syndrome and other developmental disorders. No matter our age, Aspies seem to tend to retain some of their childlike innocence. The things we do or the way we interact may seem socially quite immature but we're oblivious to it until we look up and see a disapproving or confused look.

Here is the article: http://geekysciencemom.tumblr.com/po...-autism-part-1

I'll never forget the time I was out with my ex and I saw this adorable frog hopping along on the sidewalk and I went running up to it cooing and I caught it. I was so very in the moment of innocence and my ex, embarrassed, ended up going back to the car to hide. It broke my heart.

In the second half of the article, it addresses the hurt that people on the spectrum feel when their real selves are seen and then rejected. It's the hurt of a child and not that of an adult with hurt feelings. It's such a complete and whole hurt. It's like the world ended. That's how children feel and that's how adults on the spectrum feel as well.

Here is the quote: "People’s behavior didn’t match their words, so I was hurt many times. There have been many times that the hurt I felt was that of a child, not the hurt that an adult experiences."

How has your innocence/child-like tendencies affected you and your relationships whether personal or professional?

[ManOMan]

I find this thread very interesting. I have ADHD...so reading all of the responses is way too overwhelming. I am also a HSP.

I found a book (and the author) called "Scattered" by Gabor Mate, MD.
The book is about ADHD and he includes things that I would never have
associated with it. He also has it (and his kids) and he has some very interesting ideas about it's origin.

Frankly I'm only half way through it. I get very overwhelmed when reading it, it has pushed my buttons. I've cried a lot. I have yet to get to the part where he addresses how to handle this.

I've had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times. He has a heart of gold and truly cares.

If you have ADHD I highly suggest you pick up this book and give it a look.

[Girl_On_Fire]

Does anyone else find "Good morning" to be an intrusive/annoying greeting? I have always loathed the obligatory "Good morning" ritual. I'd rather say "Hello" and be the first to initiate social contact, especially in the morning. I don't wake up easily.

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by Girl_On_Fire

Does anyone else find "Good morning" to be an intrusive/annoying greeting? I have always loathed the obligatory "Good morning" ritual. I'd rather say "Hello" and be the first to initiate social contact, especially in the morning. I don't wake up easily.

I guess for me its habit now.