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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

    Im like that. If I am having a conversation with someone and they say something that needs a lot of processing I just completely lose track of the conversation and struggle to finish it cos I need to process whats been said. 
    Also I often find I hear far more of the conversations at the other side of the room than the person who is actually talking to me

  • in reply to Billy87

    The processing time is so important. My closest friends/family get this about me, not so much others though.

    Billy87 said:
    Also I often find I hear far more of the conversations at the other side of the room than the person who is actually talking to me

    I find this very interesting- for me, each speaker seems to drown the others out, they pretty much cancel each other out. I have to really focus in these moments, but I can also imagine the intensity of having someone talking to you, whilst others are speaking could alert the listener in the way you describe too. It’s always great hearing of shared experiences, but with different presentations.

  • in reply to Oakling

    I actually didn't realise how much processing time I need until recently. Although it depends on the situation.

    In terms of conversations, someone can say a simple thing and it can throw up an array of different images and words, some may be amusing but only to myself and its like flicking through a book of words and pictures related to what was said. Is it any wonder we get so tired if this is happening while keeping up the facade of conversation. I think I understand more now why I might've said things out of context and killed a conversation.

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  • in reply to Oakling

    I actually didn't realise how much processing time I need until recently. Although it depends on the situation.

    In terms of conversations, someone can say a simple thing and it can throw up an array of different images and words, some may be amusing but only to myself and its like flicking through a book of words and pictures related to what was said. Is it any wonder we get so tired if this is happening while keeping up the facade of conversation. I think I understand more now why I might've said things out of context and killed a conversation.

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