Hypo-Sensitivity to Light

I wondered if anyone else here is hypo-sensitive to light rather than hyper-sensitive? I’ve seen various comments here about “If the world was more autistic-friendly, all the lights would be muted,” but I’m slowly realising that I’m the reverse. While I like muted light when watching TV and getting ready for bed, muted light the rest of the time makes me feel sleepy (although I don’t like bright flashing lights). My work office, for example, has terrible lighting and I’m sure it affects my efficiency. I like quite sharp, bright light or clear contrasts. At university, when working after sunset, I would turn all the lights off in the room and work by the light of a bright desk light, so I could focus on my desk and my work and not see the rest of the room and get distracted. I liked that sharp contrast. I feel slightly weird as other autistics all seem to be the opposite way, although I know that for anything most autistics experience as hyper-sensitivity, some will experience hypo-sensitivity. I guess it fuels the "I'm not really autistic" impostor syndrome.

Parents
  • Yes, I find contrast really helpful for focus too. In the evenings I turn off all the lights in my living room and then sit right under a lamp with a daylight bulb in it, because that's what helps me to focus on my craft projects while still being able to see what I'm doing. I would get overstimulated if all the lights were on, but having one very bright light doesn't have the same negative effect.

Reply
  • Yes, I find contrast really helpful for focus too. In the evenings I turn off all the lights in my living room and then sit right under a lamp with a daylight bulb in it, because that's what helps me to focus on my craft projects while still being able to see what I'm doing. I would get overstimulated if all the lights were on, but having one very bright light doesn't have the same negative effect.

Children
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