Published on 12, July, 2020
I was wondering today if this is an autistic thing.
I've spent several decades collecting objects and the last decade+ trying to rid myself of the majority.
However, I have given up on the idea of ever being minimalist.
I notice that I remember where everything came from, even, when purchased, which shop in which town.
I try not to be sentimental about things, but sometimes I can't help it.
My mother, who I believe was autistic, was a hoarder in quite an extreme sense.
My autistic friend finds it very hard to part with belongings.
Everything has an association.
Are others like this and are there contributors here who are genuinely minimalistic and don't have an attachment to things?
I have always had very trong attachment to my belongings. When I was a teenager I couldn't stand it if something was missing. I had to know that I have everything on its place to be able to relax, The knowledge that something is missing caused me a huge anxiety and stress discomfort and anger. Now i manage these emotions and I know how to soothe myself. I had no idea at that time, that it may be linked to autism. But once I watched a documentary about a single mother taking care of her teenage autistic son. He had also intellectual disabilities but the issue she had with him was so similar to mine! She had to be very careful when cleaning his room, because if she misplaced some of his belongings, he had meltdown. It was long time ago, but that was one of those moments when I thought 'hey, it's so relatable!'.
Alienatedhuman said:the issue she had with him was so similar to mine! She had to be very careful when cleaning his room, because if she misplaced some of his belongings, he had meltdown. It was long time ago, but that was one of those moments when I thought 'hey, it's so relatable!'.
A eureka/lightbulb moment ...
Yes! Not only this one. Other time I went with my family to see an exhibition of pictures painted by autistic children. I was around 12. All my family members got bored quickly, they said that all these pictures are nonsense. I was the only one who understood, what was there. I showed them, look here is a forest and river, bird, here is a face, etc. They were shocked and my sis made fun of me and laughing she said that I'm also an autistic child.