A new fixation (quite stressful)

I did have a nice day thank you. I allowed myself as many breaks from socialising as I needed and it made a real difference. I made it clear at the beginning of the day that I would do this and it was like a weight lifted. I hope you had a nice day too

LostGUY said:

I feel very at ease on this forum

I do too. I occasionally feel the self doubt that I’ve practiced for my whole life creeping in, but I do my best to squash those feelings, as I truly feel very heard and understood here. 

This is very true. I was thinking only if condensation control, but you’re right, they can let the noise in and, living on quite a busy road, it can at times be a bit much. 

Trickle vents let quite a bit of noise in but I've mostly got used to that I'm glad we have got them.

Hope you had a good day. I've got to say I feel very at ease on this forum. Wouldn't dream of posting this stuff else where without editing/masking myself. 

The military operation side of things I can entirely relate to! I’m glad that I’m not alone in this fixation, but also pleased to see that it doesn’t dominate your time in the way it used to. I’m also pleased to see that me writing this down has somehow helped you, or at least alleviated some doubts (which I think many of us have from time to time). It’s nice to be able to relate. I doubted myself for even posting this series of rambling thoughts, but knowing that it’s helped in some small way feels nice. It was also nice to get it off my chest. Your journey with the windows sounds like the exact one I would have too. An odd sentence, but trickle vents all the way! The fact that the salesperson didn’t recognise this is odd to me. Take care and I hope you have a good, but low condensation levels, day today.

Hi coffee guy. It's funny, your 2 fixations you mention were ones that I had as well. only recently realised / diagnosed autistic. I became obsessed with keeping the house cool during the heat wave, it became like a military operation. 

As for the condensation issue, this is the one that really resonates with me, I became majorly fixated on it in the past. It started when we moved to our current house, which needed new windows. My thinking was that I must solve the condensation problem in the house before getting new windows as condensation would cause mold and ruin the windows. After much research my first strategy was to rid the house of excess water. So I converted part of the garage into a utility to house the washing machine and tumble dryer. Next was to install a fan in the bathroom, after much research to find the best option I could afford. so this was going well, next I bought some mini sensors for most rooms to monitor the humidity levels in the room. once convinced I'd improved the situation I was ready to buy the new windows. So the next dilemma was whether to have trickle vents in the windows. The salesman said why would you want to put holes in brand new windows....to stop condensation of course, i said. After lots more research I went with the trickle vents, so glad I did. The extra ventilation seemed to help as well. Anyway things were all going well until the cost Gas went through the roof, not heating the house has caused the condensation to return, but not as bad as before, thankfully. 

Anyway, just thought I'd reply, kind of enjoyed writing this for some reason. When I see people who I identify with it makes me more confident in my diagnosis as I get days/ times when I doubt it.  

I think that could be a contributing factor as to why I’m so fixated on it. Spiralling costs mean that I’m probably just being hyper vigilant in maintaining the property. But yeah, I must accept that she, and you for that matter, raise a good point.

Hmm, they do sound interesting. I might explore a bit after Christmas. If I start now, I won’t stop in time for the festivities I’m sure.

I'd agree with your wife, a bit cold to be leaving windows open, especially with the price of fuel! When I was a kid we got condensation between the window and the double glazing, so my parents put cloth bags of some kind of absorbent granules in the gap, I don't know what it was, but you could try something like that?

Honestly, it’s all perfectly normal amounts of condensation. Nothing at all to worry about and certainly no damage. At home anyway- some of the building I walked past the other day might be experiencing something a bit different.

I have just fixated on it for some reason. It’s like a mission. I just seem to have zoned in on it. Trying to create order and control what I can’t, I imagine.

I try to leave the windows open a bit, but my wife has different ideas on the matter! 

Happy Christmas to you too.

What is it about the condensation? Is it that it's kind of...not supposed to be there and it might damage the house? I often leave windows ajar for a bit even on cold days but our problems are at the bottom of the doors.

Anyway, Happy Christmas.

Well, I’ve done the rounds with the window vac this morning. Windows open slightly. Condensation free. Now time to put it out of my mind for a bit (with great difficulty). We have people coming over later. Funnily enough, they breathe. So condensation will be more likely, especially when paired with cooking. As long as I stick to my scheduled times, I’m hoping it won’t take over my day. That said, I’m probably going to be thinking about it, even when I’m not physically acting on it. Don’t know why I’m updating you all, but perhaps it will act as a log to help get it out of my mind. Who knows at this stage?

If you happen to read this, have a nice Christmas Eve.

Not so much of a paid job but more of an attempt at being the world’s most useless superhero. But, at least I could wear a cape, so not all bad I suppose.

You need to get paid for this. 

Ouch! This reads like a guide for "how to stop autistic children being weird and annoying."  

It doesn’t offer any advice about adults, and it seems focused on trying to stop behaviour that neurotypical people might find inconvenient or unsettling.  I get that some behaviours can be harmful, but reducing the time Sally talks about her favourite TV show?  

I will continue to collect my little ponies and sparkly stuff, even though I'm 45, and if anyone has an issue with that, they are most welcome to go and play somewhere that's else.

Thanks! I’ll take a look. It’s not quite at the point of terrible stress, but I can certainly feel it ramp up a little.

Luckily, I have several instances like this from my past to reflect on, so I am planning to give myself set times to express this focus. When I wake up, around cooking times and before I go to bed. That way I’m allowing myself to do what I need to do, but hopefully limiting it so it doesn’t become all encompassing. Perhaps I’ve caught it early enough.

Hi Oakling, I am sorry to hear you're going through such a stressful time due to your new fixation. Our page on Obsessions may be useful, especially thinking about strategies you could use to help: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/obsessions/all-audiences.

Best wishes,

Anna Mod