Straightedge

[weth]

Ok so I thought I would put this out there and see if it's just me or if it's an aspie thing.

I don't drink, do drugs or smoke and havnt since my teens. I used to do all to excess though.

So my question is would an aspie be more drawn to clean living ( straightedge) or use and need booze drugs smokes to get by day to day ??

 

[unsurewhattoname]

I've never done drugs or smoked but I do drink - not excessively or anything, but use it to cope with public transport when I have to use it. Will drink the rare times we go out to eat unless I'm driving, have it Christmas, new year, celebrations but other than that barely anything. I think that is pretty clean living.

 

[weth]

I'd agree that sounds like clean living to me. Do u believe that clarity helps an aspie ? I believe it gives me focus if I drank I'd be a nightmare but wanting to get opinions of others so thanks for sharing

 

[On the Inside]

I tried to be "bad" in my youth, drinking to excess. I came to my senses when I was 19, realizing that (a) it cost too much (b) I didn't like being hung over and (c) I somehow knew that it was the road to certain failure and misery for me. While I like a beer or glass of wine now and then, I can go weeks or months without.

I did use marijuana for a short period in my 20's, I enjoyed the feeling, and reveled in how sociable it made me. But it lost it's appeal as my anxiety got worse. I don't think I'll ever try it again.

I was diagnosed Aspie as an adult, and looking back, I now think that I was somehow unconsciously aware that there was something about me that wasn't normal and that it was best to keep my wits about me. That and the fact that I didn't have much in the way of support or family to fall back on kept me a bit "straight edge".

 

[unsurewhattoname]

I would not be able to stand public transport without the extent alcohol causes me to zone out. I'm overloaded by my senses on places like trains, so the less clarity and the more dull the better. Alcohol works for me, makes it better. But it'd be different for each person. While I benefit from what it does, another wouldn't. There are complete opposites under the same diagnosis so I wouldnt be surprised if another person will reply and say they hate what alcohol does to them.

 

[watersprite]

Welcome weth.

I don't use drugs at all. Tried a few when I was young, decided it's way more fun in my head without them. If that makes sense. Sometimes I enjoy a drink or 2 in the evening. Other times I need the feeling of clarity as you mentioned.

 

[weth]

That's exactly the phrase I would say I feel the most keeping my wits about me and believe me if you have have ever been to the north east of England on a night out you need all your wits

 

[weth]

Hi kestrel thanks for your response I'm seeing a pattern already which is really cool.
In no way am I anti drinking but I am very anti drugs and smoking and I've stayed away from people that do drugs since my 20's. I'd say I'm anti drunk people though I find it really difficult to be around drunk people.

 

[LeroyT1000]

Sounds familiar. When I was younger I used to do drugs and drink to excess on nights out. It made me feel at one with my surroundings and took the unease away. I also liked the feeling. It was only my parallel life of being into fitness that faded that part of my life out. I know what it's like to feel healthy and clear and I actually love being hyper sensitive at times with my surroundings so would rather feel like this than a few hours of craziness.

The flames soon lick at your heels when you continue to dance with the devil until eventually you're too late and you are engulfed in fire

 

[Bumbalina]

I drink but I try not to get drunk. I hate hangovers and they give me enhanced anxiety. I'm also mindful that you don't like it and when I'm drunk you struggle to understand why I'm behaving the way I am. I also suffer with acute memory loss when I'm drunk and I worry about how I've behaved or what I've said. Thankfully I can now drink without getting drunk but sometimes it's hard to socialise with friends because I worry about your reaction if I come home hyper.

Is this something that other aspies experience? An intolerance of drunken antics??

 

[weth]

The flames soon lick at your heels when you continue to dance with the devil until eventually you're too late and you are engulfed in fire

Wow I freaking love this quote - seems like we were all wild kids who found our way eventually

 

[umbrellabeach]

I've never had drugs or liquor before.

 

[weth]

I've never had drugs or liquor before.

And how old are you is that's not too personal a question?

 

[AGXStarseed]

I've never done drugs or smoked - not good for your health, hard to stop when started and (most importantly in my opinion) my parents would kill me if I did it even once.

As for alcohol, I think I'm intolerant to it. I can't stand the taste and aftertaste (not even a weak cider) and if I do force myself to swallow it - as I did when I was younger and my dad gave me half a pint of cider - it really mucks about with my stomach.
Why anyone thinks its a good idea to drink loads is beyond me; I hate it and get scared of my family if any of them has too much to drink as they are suddenly much harder to predict and their emotions are all out of balance - meaning they can become quite a pain in the neck or overly emotional in an instant and so I then have to spend my time watching over them until they eventually settle down.
By the end of it all, I'm often exhausted. The next morning, they often only have a few memories of the night before so are often shocked when i tell them some of the things they got up to during their drunken mood swing.

Due to my sensitivities, I can't eat or drink certain things. For example, I can't drink coke as the acid burns my tongue, screws up my insides and leaves a chemical aftertaste in my mouth.
As such, I would definitely say I'm a straight-edge kind of guy.

 

[LeroyT1000]

I drink but I try not to get drunk. I hate hangovers and they give me enhanced anxiety. I'm also mindful that you don't like it and when I'm drunk you struggle to understand why I'm behaving the way I am. I also suffer with acute memory loss when I'm drunk and I worry about how I've behaved or what I've said. Thankfully I can now drink without getting drunk but sometimes it's hard to socialise with friends because I worry about your reaction if I come home hyper.

Is this something that other aspies experience? An intolerance of drunken antics??

Yes being sober with drunk people is awful. You can hear different conversations in the bar and you get uninvited touching. People too close pushing past. The bar stinks and everyone is just irritating!

 

[Judge]

So my question is would an aspie be more drawn to clean living ( straightedge) or use and need booze drugs smokes to get by day to day ??

I haven't seen anything to lead me to believe that Aspies have no more of a propensity to such a thing than do Neurotypicals.

 

[LeroyT1000]

I've never done drugs or smoked - not good for your health, hard to stop when started and (most importantly in my opinion) my parents would kill me if I did it even once.

As for alcohol, I think I'm intolerant to it. I can't stand the taste and aftertaste (not even a weak cider) and if I do force myself to swallow it - as I did when I was younger and my dad gave me half a pint of cider - it really mucks about with my stomach.
Why anyone thinks its a good idea to drink loads is beyond me; I hate it and get scared of my family if any of them has too much to drink as they are suddenly much harder to predict and their emotions are all out of balance - meaning they can become quite a pain in the neck or overly emotional in an instant and so I then have to spend my time watching over them until they eventually settle down.
By the end of it all, I'm often exhausted. The next morning, they often only have a few memories of the night before so are often shocked when i tell them some of the things they got up to during their drunken mood swing.

Due to my sensitivities, I can't eat or drink certain things. For example, I can't drink coke as the acid burns my tongue, screws up my insides and leaves a chemical aftertaste in my mouth.
As such, I would definitely say I'm a straight-edge kind of guy.

Keep it that way my friend you are not missing out!

 

[AGXStarseed]

Keep it that way my friend you are not missing out!

Thank you.
Been the only sober one reminds me of a joke that Peter Kay made, where he states that he doesn't drink and that it's a blessing and a curse;
It's a blessing because you can always drive home from anywhere, but it's a curse because everyone else wants a lift.

 

[weth]

Agreed ur not missing anything at all except incomprehensible / pointless conversation and someone starting a fight with you because the drink gave them miss guided super hero confidence

 

[LeroyT1000]

Thank you.
Been the only sober one reminds me of a joke that Peter Kay made, where he states that he doesn't drink and that it's a blessing and a curse;
It's a blessing because you can always drive home from anywhere, but it's a curse because everyone else wants a lift.

But if everyone pays some money each then.....win win situation!