Autistic Overwhelm: 10 Things that Drive My ASD Brain Crazy

One of the biggest things that drives me crazy is a significant difference in the audio volumes of music/sounds vs dialogue in movies, tv, or videos. I hate hate hate hate the sudden burst of loudness and I hate having to adjust and re-adjust my device volume to accommodate it.

Noise cancelling headphones and earbuds made my life so much more liveable. People do not understand that noises as simple as eating can have such a devastating impact on those of us that are sensitive.

Finally, someone who gets the, “how are you?” trigger. I could cry right now. If only I could afford an ASD evaluation.

I too have a long list of things: When people make a whistly sound everytime they pronounce the letter "s" 😖 When people sniff in their own mucus. Ambulances 😵‍💫 Itchy clothes and labels. Lose threads hanging from clothes and touching me. Food that has bugger texture 🤢 Sticky or slimy feeling in my hands. Someone whispering in my ear. Feeling cold. Feeling hot. Neon lights Car lights. Lights in general. Sudden volume changes on TV. "How are you doing? " "What have you done today? " (People checking on my productivity) When people tell me to do a chore their way. When people ask me to wait for an indefinite amount of time. When people tell me to do something just because. When people don't take "no" for an answer (I feel forced to please everybody) When I am expected to be in a party for an indefinite ound of time without knowing what we will do all that time. When people speak shouting over each other. When people ask me something and then don't listen to the answer or interrupt it. Funerals When someone touches me with wet hands When someone touches my husband too much 😅 When someone stares at my eyes when they talk to me, or holds my hand or is too close to my face while speaking Sudden phone calls from an unknown number, or anyone. Texts Whatsapp chats Someone visiting unexpectedly When the plan changes several times And the list continues

"If I'm walking, and someone honks their horn, I elevate suddenly. 16 feet in the air. That hurts because I'm not supposed to be 16 feet in the air. That hurts my knees. And my back. And my brain. And my butt." 1. Same. 2. You've got my favorite style of deadpan humor.

BEING INTERRUPTED! Having to suddenly pull my brain out of what I'm focused on and focus on something else while trying not to forget where I was up to with the original task - it feels taxing Light glare, sunlight, lights that shine at you.... literally hurts

"Lighter fluid" got me to choke on a cookie.

So happy to hear that I am not the only one considering murder when there are loud sudden sounds! And I heard so often that autistic people run rather hot - but for me personally, I am always freezing and can only think about the temperature when it is not exactly at my preferred range. That has ruined many experiences for me! Love the videos, keep 'em coming :)

I watch a lot of funny stuff, and I laugh internally a lot at that stuff. Your videos, including this one, make me burst into laughter, like out loud, often. I’m sorry the world is so dumb and annoying and alarming, but thank you for putting these videos together. They bring me lots of joy and a sense of camaraderie. ❤

I only like small talk with my mom. She’s just a really pleasant soothing person to talk to, and she seems genuinely interested in comparing our weather, since we live in different states, and there is no emotional charge that I have to navigate. Super nice, super calming, definitely get dopamine from that. With any other person on the planet, no thank you.

I hate when automatic toilets flush while I’m still on them…it fills me with rage. People chewing next to me is nails on a chalkboard. Cafeterias, loud restaurants, and the low hum of ac units in big buildings that permeate through every wall drive me crazy. Testing environments are a nightmare because you can hear the ticking clock, the pencils scratching against the papers, tapping of feet or pens, the slightest cough or sneeze or sniffle. Ad interruptions make me want to throw my phone and people driving really really close to my bumper fills me with annoyance and anxiety.

I got in a lot of trouble as a kid because I lost it one day and yelled at a family member for chewing too loud at the table. I also can't stand the sound of silverware scraping against plates or bowls.

What my ASD discovery has been doing, among other things, is to give me, as it were, a "pass," an incredibly liberating deeply internal psycho-emotional pass at long last, for a lifetime's worth of the most natural, involuntary, intrinsically personal responses, instincts, intolerances, aversions, revulsions, fascinations, delights, thoroughly transfixing or utterly repellent stimuli that I'd labored for a lifetime under the complex that they were all somehow infantile at best, pathological at worst (you know, like suddenly being physically arrested walking along the street with friends by the glorious olfactory assault of a massive lilac tree in full bloom and simply being gutted, yes, eviscerated, at the notion that ANYBODY could just walk by this, NOT NOTICE (?! 😳) and not get why you just HAVE to stop and...MELD with this experience RIGHT NOW---I mean, are they all CRAZY? WHAT could be more important than THIS and RIGHT NOW?). Countless facets of my inner life, and my lifelong perplexity over it, and embarrassment and shame at somehow not being as genuinely "developed" mentally or emotionally as others, have just clicked into place, and it's all, all, all...O.K. Is there any way to ever really put it into words what that MEANS?

OMG!! I HATE when people ask me how I am doing. You are so right about that!!! And small talk senseless chit chat is the WORST!!

Did you sleep well ? I hate this question every morning ! My neighbour's favorite game is slamming his car's doors. It sounds like his car has 20 doors, at least, nightmare ! People showing photos of their kids (with those damned smartphones, they always have thousands of them in their pocket). People in waiting rooms playing with the sound on. People kissing to say Hello AND Goodbye. Eating and drinking too hot or too cold. People asking if I'm fine every 5 minutes when my face don't show emotions. Movies/TV series with flashlights directed straight to the camera (and my eyes). Neon colours. The doorbell, I'll have a heart attack because of it, some day. The list could be much longer, but these are the first few things that came to my mind. Great video !

I hate hearing someone else's music. Those boom cars in the city are the worst, with the heavy bass blasting. And just the fact that some people are even able to play their music that loud for all to hear and not feel badly about what they're inflicting on others amazes and infuriates me.

I used to hate small talk but now I like it. I don't know when and how this changed but now I can appreciate the opportunity to connect with people on a surface level. And I'm suddenly able to answer how're you doing? false or on the surface. What I have problems with. Sudden slow wispering 😱 I have noticed this where a slow wispering voice is cut in to a pod out of the blue at random places. It's to the point that I have contacted the pod makers and asked them to remove this. Without any luck unfortunately. 😉 Light is a big problem too. Sharp lights from cars is really bothering me. It's like someone is pointing two big spotlights into my brain! Crowds walking chaotic at public transport hubs is hard in itself and at that point when some is approaching me to sell something 🤯

So grateful for YouTube recommending this channel! Thank you!

I relate to all except the popcorn and cereal. I love both and actually just really love crunchy things in general.

Just stumbled upon your channel. I like it here. My brain can't stand food that is not the appropriate temperature to it's liking. I cannot eat food cold that my brain perceives needs to be warm/hot or vice versa. For example why do people eat cold hard boiled eggs? Or cold raw fish.. Uargh! I am with you on the chewing thing, it makes me want to rip my own and the other persons face off. Also here is finally a person that shares my love of chilly temperatures. I don't understand why everyone insists on making all the places too hot. My mother in law always calls me an 'arctic creature' because I like to stand outside in middle European winter while wearing 'only' a T-shirt and a cardigan. Also by now I get really frustrated by people asking me if I am not cold the way I am dressed. Dude I am 41 years old, please believe that I know how to dress for my own comfort!