Does anyone else practice conversations before they take place.
Also comment other things you do/did that were due to your autism but you didn't know it at the time
Does anyone else practice conversations before they take place.
Also comment other things you do/did that were due to your autism but you didn't know it at the time
I do quite a lot of so-called 'scripting' of conversations, yes. I tend to create all sorts of scenarios in my head and think about my response to a certain set of circumstances, as an attempt to reduce the uncertainty that is associated with social interaction. Sometimes I write it down but I tend to just think about it in my head mostly.
- Sp. Oc.
So difficult with doctors call as the wait gives time to get worked up and forget we will say. Usually a longer wait than an appointment time.
Not for "everyday" interactions like at work but if I know I'm going to be meeting someone I will. I took part in an online group last night and had to introduce myself and my situation relevant to the group. I hadn't practised this but jotted down a few notes about myself as others were speaking. I didn't look at my notes and went in "cold". I always struggle with going in cold and I'm no good at anecdotes. Even when I do rehearse things I seldom use it save for a few snippets. Then if I do jot a few bits down i feel I get stuck with them and can't ad lib very well.
I've realised I actuslly practise a LOT of conversations..,it's not even a conscious thing because I've always done it. A lot of the time im not worried what people think of me. I think it's more the panic of getting things out in the right order so they make sense.
Yes, I practise conversations in my head a lot. In fact, quite often I've had a full blown conversation from beginning to end trying to anticipate what might come up. If I'm alone I'll do this out loud too to get a feel for how it comes across.
Like others have said, however, by the time it comes to the actual conversation my mind becomes a desert with tumbleweed rolling across it. Even writing it down doesn't help as then I sound even more robotic than usual! It's SO frustrating because my practise conversation skills are actually quite good.
Yeah the telephone is the worst - I definitely write down a script to read for that every time. I never answer random calls - leave a message if its urgent then I can get back to you with my notes of what I may need to say. And now all my doctors appointments have been over the phone since the pandemic and its SO DIFFICULT to express what I actually need when my brain goes into panicked autopilot to say whatever will make the phonecall end the quickest.
I try to practice, I spend a lot of my day working alone so I am able to talk to myself. If it’s my nemesis the telephone then I try to make notes. I had a phone call last week to let me know the sale of something had fallen through. I answered the call as my wife recognised the number. My answer was ‘that’s brilliant, bye’. The person must of thought that I was a complete numpty. It was my brain telling me to get rid of the call asap. I find I spend most of a call saying sorry, I can never get when I should talk. How do NT people do it? I can’t see the person, how are you supposed to know when it’s your turn?
I wish I did. My autistic friend says he has scripts in his head ready to deploy but he also worked in customer service and can switch on this persona in a way I can't. Of course thats just masking and I'm sure it tires him but I wish I could own it and pretend to be an actor like him - create a clear seperation that I am in control of. instead of people pleasing leaking into all my interactions and exhausting me.
I tend to ruminate on conversations after the fact - i didnt realise this was me trying to analyse what had happened to be more successful and therefore safer in future. The other day I had the thought that I wish my next special interest would be inane neurotypical conversation. I worry other people can sense the robotic-ness that I feel when I engage in small talk and will dislike how uncanny I come across.
I do practice conversations, but I'm not sure how it goes. It's useful to have a script for basic things, but complex conversations invariably go down an unexpected path no matter how I prepare.
As for other things I do that are from autism... too many to name. I was only diagnosed last year at the age of thirty-seven, so I spent many years just thinking I was generally weird and dysfunctional.
No problem :-) It's just I have been here before and I feel like people are fishing. Welcome to the forum.
If you click/press your name, then press edit profile, in the top next to your picture circle you can enter your own username.. click save profile and hey presto you are named 
Hi I'm not a generic user I'm new to the website and don't know how to change the name. Thank you for the response though
Post deleted.
I have done it again. I have over shared on a thread created by someone with a generic NAS username. I'd be surprised if we hear from this user or get a reply as it happens time and time again. Apologies if you are genuine. If so I shall reinstate my post.
questionning if I have been correct in my interpretation of things that have been said to me.
a lot of that too
Yes. Not all of the time, but a lot of the time. These practiced conversations aren't said out loud but in my mind.
I also find myself playing back certain conversations that have taken place (overanalysing), and questionning if I have been correct in my interpretation of things that have been said to me. I can have a tendency to take things literally when they weren't intended to be taken literally, and also to not take things literally when they should have been. Hope all that makes sense?
