Published on 12, July, 2020
Any time I start to talk about things that are important to me or just things I waited all day to talk to someone about I'll get interrupted, this happens with my family and friends. I tried for a very long time not to let it bother me but the other day I sort of snapped a little bit going off on my friends and girlfriend and angrily telling them how it makes me feel for now it seems to have stopped my friends and girlfriend from doing it but I still deal with it from my family and getting angry at them and yelling at them will just cause more issues. Yes, I know waiting till I'm angry is not a good approach but I often struggle with saying things in a way that hurts people's feelings and that causes the same reaction I get when I just get angry so I'm not sure what to do and how to handle issues like this. Yes I am an autistic adult I'm 20 and got diagnosed when I was in 5th grade but was only told about it in 2022 so I have never really been able to talk to someone about it and get an understanding of it, it doesn't help living in a place where that kind of help is hard to get as the only place I could go to near me acts like you are lying about everything. I'm sorry this is kind of all over the place but I have so much I'd like to talk to other people about that understand me. Thanks to anyone who gives advice or words of encouragement.
I really struggle with being interrupted, which has always caused a lot of fractious interactions with my family because they are all arch-interrupters, so you're not alone there. I think I have quite rigid mental models of how communication works and so I'm really careful about interrupting others, but that doesn't stop people from doing it to me and it really winds me up.
It's understandable to feel frustrated when your thoughts are interrupted. Try direct communication, use visual cues, and practice assertiveness. Manage anger with mindfulness and identify triggers. Seek support online or through professional help. Remember, you're not alone.
It might be normal, but it's as annoying as hell. In my case it's men talking over me that really bugs me, it's like I don't exist, not do I not get a chance to join in a conversation, but it's like I'm not there at all. It especially bugs me when the conversation is on something I know a lot about and I'm excluded.
I don't know if it's because I'm an only child or not but I always thought that during a conversation one person spoke and an/others listened, then replied, now I'm told this is wrong, how does anyone get heard? I think this social cacophony is a big reason why I find socialising difficult and frequently frustrating.
Oh I'm terrible. I never can speak at the right time in conversations I speak over people all the time. I give upmost of the time it's difficult. I don't like getting interrupted either. It takes me so long to get the sentence right in my head and interruptions break it up and I forget what i was saying.
No wonder I don't like socialising!
Whistler is totally right about interruptions being 'normal'. But it's not just non-autistics. I went on a social with an autistic group last week and it was hard to get a word in.
One technique that I have learned in my long years is this - put your hand up (almost as if you are still in school maybe not so high but just enough so that people can see) The important thing is to do it with a smile on your face. Another important thing is not to overuse this technique either. Once or twice per meet up is probably enough.
Yeah, that stuff sucks. I also wish I dealt with things like that better.
I've come to realise that interrupting and being interrupted is just a normal part of social interaction. I find both interrupting and being interrupted very difficult. I usually feel I have to wait until there's a suitable gap in the conversation to say what's on my mind. By that time, the general conversation has moved on and my comment can seem unconnected. And being interrupted by family before I've finished my sentence is a common complaint of mine at home. I wish I dealt with it better.