Do our autistic sensory profiles change as we get older?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
- Some of the sensory things that were a big deal for me as a kid or teenager, no longer bother me now that I am older, but others are still as strong as ever. What has changed? Is it exposure and masking? Or is this just normal for us to change our sensory profile as we develop over the years? I'd be fascinated to hear what other people experience!
Apologies for the bright background, I decided to film in a different location today, I hope it is not too distracting.
Thank you all so much for watching these videos and commenting, they are really helpful and appreciated!
As common experiences like food sensitivities demonstrate, we're not incapable of adapting; it's just a slower process for us, one that's heavily dependent on the overall context, e.g. eating at a restaurant as an autistic child who hasn't fully developed their coping/masking skills is certainly overwhelm territory, whereas an autistic adult who is more familiar, comfortable, and competent dealing with all of the elements and details of that setting is less likely to experience the same degree of overwhelm. As you noted, being "allowed" to be autistic/sensitive i.e. having the freedom to be ourselves is probably the key consideration to facilitate autistic adaptation.
That makes a lot of sense. Learning how the whole process happens with eating in public, the social norms etc can over time reduce the anxiety. That sounds like what has happened for me. Thank you so much for sharing that.
Hi Gina, This is fascinating. I did the same thing with the cereal boxes when I was a kid. I built a little wall around myself and there were only 4 kids in my family myself included. I can't imagine how you survived in your large family. I'm glad that you were able to eat around other people when you got older. To validate your opening premise I will say that I actually went the opposite direction from you. When I was going through severe social trials as an adolescent it became nearly impossible to eat around other people including my family and I ate all of my meals in my room. To this day I very much dislike eating around others except for my wife of 52 years ( our anniversary today ). You might think of it as kind of a dirty sock thing. By the way, autism is wonderful and you sure sound autistic. Great video.
I just saw a podcast with dr. Megan Anna Neff. they said autistics hate being perceived- especially when we are eating.
Cereal boxes for the win! I have to admit I still feel a bit nervous about food and eating, but in no way to the anxiety levels I used to have. It's something I want to explore more for myself - why has it changed? Am I possibly still masking to a high level?
Happy anniversary! 52 years is a huge achievement!
I still struggle eating around people. Whilst conceding there are things I dislike intensely I am starting to believe peoples comments about my eating habits have always been mildly traumatizing. I have a very narrow set of foods I like especially outside of dinner where I am a little more daring. I don't think I have ever sat down amongst my siblings and a comment and then disccusion hasn't ensued about my eating habits. I don't think I have grown out of a smell or taste. Last few years I added anything in fried or in oil, except chips, has become inedible. I never had audible issues yet they are now far worse. I feel like I am getting worse. To my understanding your experience is more typical for autists.
My son has a narrow set of foods he eats, but I have noticed that as we don't shame, he is sometimes open to trying new foods. Shame around not eating what everyone else was eating was high in my upbringing too.