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Attention to thoughts

Deleted User

After a brief conversation with someone, I wanted to find out about attention to thoughts in autistic people. Quite often when faced with too many options for something, say, a task, I don't know where to start, all options are shouting just as loudly as each other. I think this is the same for thoughts. I can get fixated on something insignificant which seems to shout loudly but when this shift moves to something else such as existential matters, this shouts just as loud. It does often feel like my brain is full to the brim like a room full of people chattering away. And I don't know which conversation to join. It's like I have difficulty prioritising what's a little thought or problem to what is a big thought or problem. 

I found this link really interesting but I haven't checked the references properly yet.

https://embrace-autism.com/autism-and-disorganized-thoughts/

I just wondered if anyone can relate to it or if you had any comments.

Parents

  • This is an interesting thing to consider. My mind is always active it seems, so something focusing on the right thought can sometimes be an issue. It seems I can talk myself out of a lot of things due to this too, if I give myself too much time to think about something. 

    I also wonder if this is why I struggle in conversations sometimes too. If something is said that inspires a thought or creates a connection, I have to explore it, but that makes keeping up with the conversation difficult. It then becomes impossible if many conversations are happening in the room.

  • in reply to Oakling
    Oakling said:
    . If something is said that inspires a thought or creates a connection, I have to explore it, but that makes keeping up with the conversation difficult

    Omg yes! And then by the time I've filtered through and formulated my response, conversation has moved on.

  • in reply to Deleted User

    It’s why I really admire the autistic brain for being able to create connections so instantly, but I think it’s due to that skill that the social side can be tricky sometimes too. Everything thought related seems to be intense and quick, for me at least, and I really enjoy exploring a thought properly. It just has to happen then and there is all- so, sorry conversation, you’ve been demoted in priority!

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  • in reply to Deleted User

    It’s why I really admire the autistic brain for being able to create connections so instantly, but I think it’s due to that skill that the social side can be tricky sometimes too. Everything thought related seems to be intense and quick, for me at least, and I really enjoy exploring a thought properly. It just has to happen then and there is all- so, sorry conversation, you’ve been demoted in priority!

Children
  • in reply to Oakling

    Yes and often it's noticing detail that others miss. Even in social situations I think I can pick up very subtle things that other people do not notice. But the more obvious stuff goes over my head. I know what you mean about thoughts happening so quickly. And then it's kind of making a leap to retrieve the one which you think fits best in the context out of all the possibilities and that can be tiring because it's like trying to keep up with the other people rather than going at your own pace.