A few weird things about me.

[Keith]

First, I don't know my own volume. I'm sometimes told to speak more quietly and not to yell even though I don't know I'm speaking more loudly than I should. However, it's hard for me sometimes to speak more quietly. I think it happens the most when I get excited.

Second, sometimes it appears as if I don't know my own width. I'm broad-shouldered and sometimes my shoulders bump up against things. I've actually begun to leave my bedroom sideways so as not to catch my shirt on the light switch. We always wondered why my shirts had holes in them on the right shoulder. I think that's why.

Third, I walk a little faster than most people. It's my usual pace and it's hard sometimes for me to walk more slowly. I even generate a gust that knocks lightweight things off our kitchen counter.

 

[Bramble]

I am similar. I often speak too fast and too quietly. XS

 

[Peace]

First, I don't know my own volume. I'm sometimes told to speak more quietly and not to yell even though I don't know I'm speaking more loudly than I should. However, it's hard for me sometimes to speak more quietly. I think it happens the most when I get excited.

Second, sometimes it appears as if I don't know my own width. I'm broad-shouldered and sometimes my shoulders bump up against things. I've actually begun to leave my bedroom sideways so as not to catch my shirt on the light switch. We always wondered why my shirts had holes in them on the right shoulder. I think that's why.

Third, I walk a little faster than most people. It's my usual pace and it's hard sometimes for me to walk more slowly. I even generate a gust that knocks lightweight things off our kitchen counter.

That is so funny. I have virtually no control over the volume of my voice. I constantly get comments about it. Too loud or too quiet. I have noticed that it goes hand in hand with my mood.

 

[Sparticus]

Yeah me too. People told me many moons ago...so I "started" to notice how loud my voice was. Took a long time and I'm still trying to learn not to "talk to loud." As for bumping into things 1) you made me laugh! 2) I've heard a lot of us do that, that maybe it's an Autistic thing. Some say we are clumsy. I've always been excellent in sports but lately have noticed [thanks to my female friend pointing it out] that occasionally I knock into things.

 

[Keith]

Thanks. I guess with the bumping into things it's a spatial awareness thing. I just zip through an area without knowing that I'm at risk of bumping into something or someone.

 

[Judge]

I've heard a lot of us do that, that maybe it's an Autistic thing. Some say we are clumsy. I've always been excellent in sports but lately have noticed [thanks to my female friend pointing it out] that occasionally I knock into things.

LOL...I still remember the first time I read about the Aspie trait of physical clumsiness. Thought about for a second and dismissed it. I was ok at sports...but excellent in terms of hand-eye coordination. So I smugly laughed it off. OK, that's one trait I DON'T have! So there!

But I couldn't leave it alone....had to read more and find out there are many different manifestations of that "clumsiness". Whatever. It still couldn't be me! So I kept reading.....my bad.

Eventually I came across reading about physical awkwardness...manifested in things like "stilted walking". Kids used to make fun of me and my walk like that. Ridicule eventually forced me to learn to sway less when I walked. But there it was....just as plain as day. By their account I was clumsy...at least in this one instance. Ok....I walked weird. I may still do it for all I know. I sure do pace when I get stressed. But it's not stimming! Yeah, right. LOL.

I'm an Aspie....and that's that. Weird or otherwise...I'm me. What a shock.

 

[Keith]

Your mention of walking reminds me of something else about me. For years I would wear out my right shoe faster than my left. Mom said I walked with a limp and a weird gait. I eventually saw an orthopaedist and he measured my legs and determined that my left leg is slightly longer than my right. I got a lift for my right leg and my gait has improved greatly.

 

[Stacey]

I think you're awesome!
This has made me laugh.

 

[Judge]

Your mention of walking reminds me of something else about me. For years I would wear out my right shoe faster than my left. Mom said I walked with a limp and a weird gait. I eventually saw an orthopaedist and he measured my legs and determined that my left leg is slightly longer than my right. I got a lift for my right leg and my gait has improved greatly.

Hmmm...my left foot is a little longer than my right foot! Oh well...things could be worse for me.

But you'll never catch me wearing a bowler!

 

[Sparticus]

I never thought I was clumsy till my ex-girlfriend pointed it out. Then I started thinking about that time I was a waiter in college and while under stress [too many tables at one time!] I'd spill hot soup on someone etc....funny how coordinated in sports I was....but other times, maybe I was just like a bumbling Professor; my mind is on other things.

LOL...I still remember the first time I read about the Aspie trait of physical clumsiness. Thought about for a second and dismissed it. I was ok at sports...but excellent in terms of hand-eye coordination. So I smugly laughed it off. OK, that's one trait I DON'T have! So there!

But I couldn't leave it alone....had to read more and find out there are many different manifestations of that "clumsiness". Whatever. It still couldn't be me! So I kept reading.....my bad.

Eventually I came across reading about physical awkwardness...manifested in things like "stilted walking". Kids used to make fun of me and my walk like that. Ridicule eventually forced me to learn to sway less when I walked. But there it was....just as plain as day. By their account I was clumsy...at least in this one instance. Ok....I walked weird. I may still do it for all I know. I sure do pace when I get stressed. But it's not stimming! Yeah, right. LOL.

I'm an Aspie....and that's that. Weird or otherwise...I'm me. What a shock.

 

[Sparticus]

A podiatrist measured my legs and told me my right leg is longer than my left. No wonder my right foot hurts more! She told me I pounded more on my right foot...

Your mention of walking reminds me of something else about me. For years I would wear out my right shoe faster than my left. Mom said I walked with a limp and a weird gait. I eventually saw an orthopaedist and he measured my legs and determined that my left leg is slightly longer than my right. I got a lift for my right leg and my gait has improved greatly.

 

[Ste11aeres]

I used to bump into other people all the time when I walked alongside them. Haven't been doing that lately.

 

[Sass]

I lose my balance all the time, even when standing still. I'm also constantly hitting my head on things, even though I'm really short (although if the rumours are true I'm taller than Prince, hazaar!).

 

[Marvin]

Too funny. My childhood was filled with battered and bruised shoulders from running into doorways.
It's not us that's clumsy, inanimate objects are sneaky, never know when they'll attack. Perfectly flat even floors are particularly tricky.

 

[donkey_kebab]

All of the above lol.

I'm more prone to shoulder butting doors/walls when I'm in a strange environment. I think I build a subconscious mental map when I'm in a place long enough. (Until someone moves furniture three inches then I WILL go arse over tit). If I don't physically watch my hands when I do stuff I am the clumsiest man alive, it's like I don't know where they are.

I can hang myself in my own clothes trying to get dressed somedays. And dont even start me on headphone cables!


Sportster - Your 'need a little help here' comment still has me chuckling

 

[Keith]

I've also been known to walk through narrow areas and sometimes bump into people without saying "excuse me". Our kitchen is rather small and the entrances are narrow. Despite this, my sister and mom often stand there looking at stuff or talking to someone. I've solved this issue by walking through the adjacent living room.

 

[LittleFiddle05]

First, I don't know my own volume. I'm sometimes told to speak more quietly and not to yell even though I don't know I'm speaking more loudly than I should. However, it's hard for me sometimes to speak more quietly. I think it happens the most when I get excited.

Second, sometimes it appears as if I don't know my own width. I'm broad-shouldered and sometimes my shoulders bump up against things. I've actually begun to leave my bedroom sideways so as not to catch my shirt on the light switch. We always wondered why my shirts had holes in them on the right shoulder. I think that's why.

Third, I walk a little faster than most people. It's my usual pace and it's hard sometimes for me to walk more slowly. I even generate a gust that knocks lightweight things off our kitchen counter.

My mom started telling me when I was in 6th grade or so that I needed to learn to not yell all the time. There was a girl at my church with whom I sometimes spent time, and she always had a really hard edge to her voice; it was unpleasant to listen to her speak, very classless and hard. So whenever I would speak too loudly (which my mom pointed out mostly happens when I'm talking about something I'm really interested in but about which no one else cares), my mom says "Stop yelling, you're doing a Sara ------ again." Now I've learned very well to monitor my volume (especially because, as a violinist, I've frequently performed for events where my company would not appreciate an unreasonable volume; yelling at a senator would not go over well), but it took a very conscious effort at first, and even now I sometimes forget.

I don't share your difficulty in regards to gauging spaces, but I think the walking fast (at least in my case) is an anxiety thing. I don't know if this is the case for you, but I personally hate crowds; my boyfriend will want to walk around the Prudential Center at Christmas time and just gaze at the shops and enjoy the season, and I'll meanwhile be snapping at him and being ridiculously impatient because I'm so frustrated by the leisurely speed of those around us. I need a structure, a destination; which shop are we going to? Where are we trying to get? Okay, let's GET there and maybe get away from all these people! I don't like the in-betweens; I focus on goals and then I need another goal, so I walk fast because I'm trying to get there. But it could be different for you, I have heard that all of the things you've listed are associated with autism spectrum disorders, so I could be misassigning the cause in my own mind... but perhaps if I'm correct it will be helpful insight in some way nonetheless

 

[Judge]

I don't like the in-betweens; I focus on goals and then I need another goal, so I walk fast because I'm trying to get there. But it could be different for you, I have heard that all of the things you've listed are associated with autism spectrum disorders, so I could be misassigning the cause in my own mind... but perhaps if I'm correct it will be helpful insight in some way nonetheless

I'm no expert here...so bear this in mind. That's not a trait that I would identify exclusively with Aspies or Neurotypicals. Or even OCD.

Are you familiar with "Type A" behavior? I have to tell you it's potentially lethal. It killed my father. If your family has any history of cardiovascular disease it's something to seriously thing about.

I've learned that when I get too stressed over my own desire to "look beyond the horizon", I have trained myself to pull back, and live life literally in terms of hours. Not days, weeks, or months...and whatever "goals" I am contemplating. It's helped keep me here.

I have comorbid issues as well...chronic clinical depression and OCD. It can all wear me out mentally at times...so coping mechanisms are very important to me.

 

[LittleFiddle05]

I'm no expert here...so bear this in mind. That's not a trait that I would identify exclusively with Aspies or Neurotypicals. Or even OCD.

Are you familiar with "Type A" behavior? I have to tell you it's potentially lethal. It killed my father. If your family has any history of cardiovascular disease it's something to seriously thing about.

I've learned that when I get too stressed over my own desire to "look beyond the horizon", I have trained myself to pull back, and live life literally in terms of hours. Not days, weeks, or months...and whatever "goals" I am contemplating. It's helped keep me here.

I have comorbid issues as well...chronic clinical depression and OCD.

I don't know how to live any other way :/ I started planning for college when I was in kindergarden (no exaggeration), I spent my childhood saying "If I can just make it to college, I'll be surrounded by people with similar interests and maybe then I'll fit;" since high school every week has been "If I can just make it through this week," or "If I can just make it through this project," or "If I can just make it through this semester..." I don't have anything that innately keeps me going. And I know that's not good. But I don't have anything in life that I just enjoy, nothing in life that I wake up looking forward to, nothing I enjoy in my day-to-day life. It's all this trying to survive through one goal, then placing another so I can keep going. And it's not good. But I honestly have no idea how to change.

 

[Judge]

It's all this trying to survive through one goal, then placing another so I can keep going. And it's not good. But I honestly have no idea how to change.

Just consider this. Try not to look so far beyond the horizon over what you know is really is not that important. Leave such concerns to what is truly time-sensitive and important. I'm a college grad as well, so I understand the pressures of school and deadlines. It's a way to start in small steps instead of large ones.

The thing is, when you set one goal and establish another and another before the preceding goals are satisfied, you are setting yourself up for a lot of stress. The kind that just accumulates with time. It's physically toxic yet invisible. It's not a matter of not setting goals. It's more a matter of not thinking about all of them over a short amount of time. A form of time management. Something I once taught in the corporate world.