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Is Isolation easier due to our Autism?

Kit McDaydream

Don't know about anyone else but I always enjoyed my own company even as a child. Don't know if that's cos I never understood other kids or they usually ended up bullying me so playing with others was not enjoyable.

Did manage to have friends and go to college and work and stuff in my twenties but by thirties was suffering from severe burnout and really wanted my own space again, no social pressures to comply with 'normal' and just do my own thing so feel I'm really thriving in this 'pandemic' situation....  Had 2 months to myself don't have to be visited by people i really don't want to see but feel I have to  to comply with being seen as 'normal', cos now its more important that I'm not in contact with anyone who could give me covid19  (am in vulnerable group due to other medical issues thankfully!)

Glad I live rurally so I can slip out at 5am and have the fields/etc to myself t walk my dog and suddenly its perfectly acceptable to go out of your way to avoid someone coming the other way (not that I see anyone at that time) or to avoid going out at a time where more people would be about. Spend rest of day drawing, painting, playing video games and sitting in garden with the dog. Perfectly happy and no need for other humans.

Only problem I have is sunny weather bringing the neighbours and the noisy brats out so can't enjoy my garden at 'peak times' (when usually they'd be at school/work during the week) but finally decided on some noise cancelling headphones to solve that issue.

Dreading things going back to normal and 'social expectations' going back to normal so hoping this 'bubble' idea govt has takes off where you're limited to one or two households of close family which enables me to conveniently still avoid some social expectations whilst still been able to see close family for our birthdays over summer.

NT's are complaining of loneliness and boredom but I'm happiest I've been for a long while. Just wondered if other autistic's felt the same?  Obviously there's going to be some people who need other people as carers for physical/daily living tasks, but if you're autistic and live alone (and have done for years) do you find you're NOT experiencing self-isolation the same as NT's? 

or are you an autistic person who feels they need constant reassurance from NT's that what you're doing is acceptable and seen to be 'fitting in'?   ..and finding it difficult not having other people around you to give that constant reassurance? (ie through being at work daily).

Kit

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  • I completely relate to this, I feel very lucky I have a nice garden and great green space at the end of my road and have always enjoyed being at home. I find I just about manage working full time as long as I don’t take anything else on and make sure I’m looking after me (I find it’s when I’m trying to make others happy I take a real dip) but then as soon as I’m home from work and my time off i enjoy being at home. My work have furloughed me and I’m very lucky I have a great job and work set up so for the moment as bad as it sounds I’m really enjoying lockdown life and it’s going back to normal that I am worried about.

    I could happily stay as I am now for as long as needed and this for me is so much easier to deal with. The only thing I’m finding is the struggle with shopping but I have my sister doing most of that to save some of that stress. I had not long changed jobs before the lockdown and found a role suited to me in a much better environment. (The work never seems to be the issue it’s the office politics I don’t seem to get on well with) I’m now feeling all the struggles I was having adapting to the new job have been lifted and I like the idea of a gradual return to work which makes that transition even easier. Who knows I can only hope but I am definitely feeling like lockdown for me is bliss compared to before!

  • in reply to Bumblebee

    when I was able to work it was always the social chitchat at 'break-times' and lunchtimes I struggled with, rather than the actual work. I struggle with processing language so it helps to see people's faces which of course are being stuffed with food usually in the limited time we had for lunch! ..so that never helped either! 

    I'm glad I don't have work to cope with anymore tbh!

  • in reply to Kit McDaydream

    I've experienced the same issues with lunch breaks in previous jobs, but where I work now there is no canteen or lunch area - some people eat lunch at their desk, but most either go out or go home (we have some staff who only work mornings). Those who stay in and eat at their desk usually go on the internet or read the newspaper while they eat and phones are switched off, so it's normally nice & quiet. perhaps I'm working for a secretly autistic organisation?

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  • in reply to Kit McDaydream

    I've experienced the same issues with lunch breaks in previous jobs, but where I work now there is no canteen or lunch area - some people eat lunch at their desk, but most either go out or go home (we have some staff who only work mornings). Those who stay in and eat at their desk usually go on the internet or read the newspaper while they eat and phones are switched off, so it's normally nice & quiet. perhaps I'm working for a secretly autistic organisation?

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