Mimicry

Hi, it’s something I’ve always done, if I was staying in say Scotland, I sort of scan people and after a couple of days I can have an accent that is indistinguishable from a local person. I can see how someone walks, which letters or words they  accentuate or don’t, there mannerisms and even how they breathe. I tend to fix onto people who have a stronger character than me. I suppose it’s how I learnt to just fit in and act like normal people.

1. Thsnks. I agree. Useful to hear though

Yes I do this - try - to do it. Some things I mimic well others not so well. If I see a woman walking I'll try to mimic how she walks, or how my mum butters bread and how she speaks.

I don't think alexithymia is a diagnosis in itself. However it was mentioned in my report. Echoalia I think is the same. They are just part of possible AS traits. PDA is something different as I think this is a subset of ASD. I'm sure others will correct me if I'm wrong.

I have to control what I listen to, because if someone I know feels pain or discomfort and tells me, I feel it to. I actuall get ill if they are.

Also, how do those of you diagnosed in the spectrum know if these other aspects, were you also diagnosed with those characteristics as well?

Things like: alexithymia, echolalia, or PDA?

...so I need to seek further assessment to looks for these things?

I do the same, I feel this is normal, but I agree that to be true to ourself takes confidence that whatever happens, whether the situation accepts or challenges us, both are ok and we need not react or take it negatively.

Good luck, keep it up, stay positive

Actually the bit you said about mimicking issues pain etc. I feel like this might be a bit of a problem for me. I think alexithymia plays a part. I'm a bit of an emotional sponge and others emotions infiltrate my own. I'm very easily influenced by others emotions. Eg I thought something was resolved but 2 people have indicated they still feel negatively about it. It's causing me to doubt myself, open up the emotions of the situation again and feel like it's unresolved. Its like my mind says because they are not ok with it that gives me cause to not be ok with it. 

I do echolalia without realising it too. It might be something off the telly or a bird noise

That's a good question. I have a few thoughts but I'm still putting them together. I think it's an imperative that needs to be given attention. 

I try to fit in with whomever I am with but after finding I am Autistic I am trying not to do this so much and try to be myself, it is very hard.

Luckily for me, I tend to mimic internally. But I didn’t as a child! As a teen it was all the time .
I’m particularly good at certain accents and voices from the TV. The other day I was sat here with my son who was visiting, and a car horn beep-beeped, and I instinctively copied it. Then I realised what I’d done. It was quite funny. I felt embarrassed for a millisecond then just forgot about it. I’m still unmasking at home lol

That is so interesting. I'm now looking back on life and thinking about how I learned socially, and it's so clear, absorbing behaviours from peers. Not a good way to develop, but also, what else can we do when fitting in is made paramount by society

I noticed internalising traits of the lead characters in books in my 20s. I suddenly stopped eating eggs due to one of Margret Atwood's characters who found them horrendous and that's when I noticed - I still couldn't bring myself to eat them for several months. There were other specifics I had picked up. I wonder if it's due to the nature of how we learn, a sort of full incorporation of a thing and then it might pass or become part of us. I had to learn to be very careful about what I allow myself to be exposed to.

Yes its like I absorb things off people. And I don't know I'm doing it half the time. Or I realise but think oh well. I don't see a problem with it, should you? I've been told also that I mirror very well. I think it only becomes a problem when you start absorbing others' negativity. 

HELL YES !  Accents is one of my biggest things / problem.  Cockney, Scottish, South African and South Country - I absolutely cannot help myself.  As you can imagine, people normally think I'm taking the piss - but I'm really not, I just cannot help myself.  It isn't even a slow adoption - its virtually instant.  Thankfully, I am told (by natives) that I do them rather well, and to be honest, it can be a very useful affliction in some circumstances.

I'm fascinated that you have included other peoples "pain" in your list......I think that you have just provided me with yet another blinding flashlight of further self-enlightenment.  I'm going to be reflecting on that for a while.  Thank you sir.  I've always considered / been told that I have a hyperactive empathy gland!

The only way I can stop the accent mimicry is constant concentration, self-restraint and self-awareness.  Its exhausting and it makes me feel rather "other" when I'm speaking to them in my normal dulcet tones.

Excellent new thread JT - hope it takes off - really interested!