Superpowers

The media gives the idea that autism imparts with it some list of special creative or analytical skills unavailable to those without the condition.

I thought I'd like to share mine with the group.

I have a photographic, detailed and precise memory.

This special power seems to be limited to those occasions where I've screwed up, felt embarrassed, shamed or insulted or slighted. For these I have full 20-20 HD photorealistic clarity. I can literally re-live events and conversations from decades ago and feel the raw shame as if it was today. For most other practical purposes, my memory is abysmal.

Anyone else have special skills they can attribute to autism?

  • Awh, thank you for sharing. I am glad to hear the natural light lights up your world and lifts up your spirits, especially during this rather cold and grey Winter season Slight smile

  • Yes it’s helped lift spirits as it’s a tricky time of year due to lack of light and still some grey days? This has been lovely. Thank you Heart

  • Thanks. Loved hearing about your 'special powers' too (e.g., spotting patterns, glimmers, changes in light, extreme determination, research etc). I also love how we are all just recognising and celebrating our own (and each other's) unique talents and achievements here . It is just all so positive and empowering :)

  • Thank you. I also loved reading about your experiences on autism (e.g., how it enhances your ability to 'spot patterns' and 'appreciate small changes in light' such as dancing rainbows and shifting water reflections). It sounds so empowering and positive to read how we can all recognise and appreciate our own (and each other's) unique and special strengths on this chat :)

  • Maybe also extreme determination when it comes to projects so I will look or research constantly and become quite obsessive which may not always be a positive but I get things done 

  • Autistic glimmers so appreciating small changes in light especially rainbows or reflections on water. Small perceptions others may miss 

  • Hello,

    I used to think I was slightly psychic but I now realise it’s that I am

    good at spotting patterns and so I might accurately guess what people will do 

  • All the superpowers you just mentioned (e.g., precise memory, speedy mental calculations, intense ability to research topics at a deep and detailed level) sound so brilliant and special!

    Along with a ‘precise memory’ here are some of my own special skills:

    -creativity to build analogies that help me ‘make meaning’ out of seemingly abstract life situations (e.g., I envision coping with life’s tough times as ‘wading through a river of slimy, icy bitter gourd juice’ or enjoying life’s sweet pleasures as ‘splashing among a river of vibrant, sweet, silky rose-milk’)

    -eye for detail and design, which comes in handy for drawing, embroidery, data analysis, blogging and social media marketing.

    -insatiable curiosity to understand diverse viewpoints.

    -fierce commitment to solve any problem.

  • I seem to have similar abilities as you to remember events from the past to torture myself with. I've insistituted my very own 30 year rule, if it happend more than thirty years ago, it can be let go of as it's unlikey anything will come back to bite me, the government has a thirty year rule when things that were considered sensitive or about national security are published and I thought I'd have one too, its made the memory load a lot lighter.

  • I can definitely relive events from decades ago, most of them are the negative events from school, and they too cause me intense shame. I remember a few words and a few short sentences from the conversations during these events but not prolonged conversations or crystal clear imagery of the setting, just a few things like the colour of the wall, or if I was sitting or standing, so unlike your memory, it wouldn’t be a superpower. I would attribute my intense ability to focus on autism. It makes study and research easy and highly pleasurable. Although I’m not particularly mathematical, I’m numerate and have been told I’m very quick performing mental calculations. This is probably due to a life of repetitive counting which again is attributed to autism.

  • There are those called savants which you’ve most likely already heard of, there’s one guy who could read two pages of a book at the same time, I think he could also recall what the weather was like on each date dating back several decades. Some have photographic memories like yourself and some can paint those pictures without any photo Infront of them to be reminded of what they are painting. Personally I am not that talented, I’d love to have something amazing like this though.

  • I have a very good long term memory (not as good as yours by the sounds of it though) and I'm incredibly logical but I wouldn't call either of those things a super power.