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Repetitive behaviours

Autismman

Just curious to know what others may do compared to myself. I’ve got a few things that I am aware of that I do which may differ from the so called norm. For example I don’t make plans with others I wait to be invited or asked, the thought just doesn’t occur to me and if it involves more than one person I’m usually going to make an excuse. I tend to leave the room for extended periods of time if I come back at all when people visit my home to see the family because all of a sudden I feel I’ve got a list of things to do and must go do them now as if these people are going to try hold me to one spot. I suppose the person or people in the house make it feel cluttered or not right in some way. I am a tidy person who doesn’t like a disorganised living environment but some people come in and place their bags in places which then change the internal neatness of the room. It all seems very petty but I am very aware of others in my space. I don’t invite friends over either and prefer to see them at their place or out in town although I see them very little. Another thing I do is wear more layers when I’m somewhere I feel uncomfortable so for example id wear a hoodie and jeans to work even on the hottest day. The heat wouldn’t phase me much. Another thing I have only become aware of lately is I will wear the same clothes basically till they have holes in not realising that the print on the t shirt had almost completely gone or in some cases non existent. I’ve done the same with jeans, they lose all their shape and I didn’t consider this abnormal? Anyone else relate? Be great to hear from you 

  • I understand the need for neatness, I like everything in place and spend many hours returning things to their rightful place. I do think when we have visitors which my partner finds embarrassing and a little rude. Keeping moving and having a purpose keeps me distracted. A need for order has been a habit of a lifetime and mostly preferred to have an order to my toys rather than playing with them. I don’t wear my clothes to the death (apart from socks as I’m very particular about them) but I do always have multiples on hand for an immediate replacement.

  • in reply to Martin

    I have always found it hard to leave the house without a coat or jacket as well, even if I carry it. It feels wrong somehow. I thought it was just wanting pockets to put stuff in for practicality. But maybe it is just familiarity.

  • I tend to feel more 'safe' in public when wearing a coat or jacket, so I tend to wear them even if the weather is warm. I dislike being overheated so will often take a jacket off if the weather gets too hot, but will still leave the house wearing one. I just end up carrying it.

  • OMG! They're not using a coaster! Noooooo! (Yeah, you're not alone.)

    If I have people around to the house (usually some rare major life event for the kids, or whatever, that my wife has organised entirely by herself) I like to keep myself busy all night serving food and drinks. I rarely stop in one place for long or engage in much conversation. Too much smalltalk.

    I, too, wait to be invited places. I'm never the instigator.

    Regarding the clothes and wearing them until they have holes in them: isn't that what everyone does, or is it just us?

    I like to dismay my kids when we are matching up socks and retrieving jocks from a fresh load of laundry by pointing out that a particularly holey pair of underpants is older than they are. (So comfy, though.)

    My wider family had to stage an intervention (they ganged up on me at a family do) to get me to buy a new pair of jeans, as my 20-year-old pair were "so out of fashion". I should have held out, though, as only five years on and baggy jeans are making a comeback.

  • I can about the clothes, I've given up on asking people to do things, like going places, it all gets too complicated and I rarely go along to social stuff anyway.

    I suppose some of my behaviour is quite repetitive, in that I have the same thing for breakfast and don't like my routines being disrupted, then I get told I'm lacking sponteneity, but I think people who like to do things spontaniously can do so because other people do all the routine stuff, like walking the dog, cleaning, shopping and cooking.