3 things you thought were normal but weren't?

I thought I had to meet the needs of other peoples expectations.

1. Like Homebird , I need to research things I hear in passing. 

2. I cut labels off clothes. 

3. Number plate recognition. Loosely related to being faster than most people I know at basic mental arithmetic, yet I’m not good at maths. 

You and me both Martin, I wonder about a combine harvester to get round the shops, especially at xmas and bank holidays.

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Whats wrong with the number 1?

I know the neighbours by their number plates not their faces! But only the ones where it makes an interesting pattern of letters. 

1. Having to research things I don't know about, for example mentioned in passing on TV, in every possible detail.

2. A strong sense of smell. I didn't understand why colleagues at work couldn't smell a lot of things I did, especially around food, hot smells ( like photocopier) etc.

3. Being fascinated with patterns, for example in wallpaper or carpets.

I feel sad for empty houses at xmas, they have no family to decorate them and be happy and celebrate in them. I wonder if they feel left out because other houses around them are decorated and happy?

Only my goodness! I totally relate to the car number plates. I have such a strong recognition for number plates, especially as you said ones that seem to make an obvious pattern. I noticed the same ones either in driveways or even on the roads. This is because I walk my dog nearly the exact same route every day. 

Also really good with birthdays. I remember birthdays even if I haven't seen someone in years. I thought this is normal but then I started to feel weird when others couldn't recollect any. 

Other things I thought were normal...

1. Absolutely never interrupting someone's conversation even if it's some I know. Example being going to pick my kids up from school. I never go up to anyone if they're already talking to someone...even if I know them but apparently people do this all the time. I mean school pick up and drop off is a complete nightmare full stop.

2. Rehearsing conversations 

3. Having to have the curtains open as soon as I get up and have to shut them as soon as it gets dark. The complete aniexty and stress if my husband has not opened the curtains immediately. There is actually internal rage.

4. Correct lighting at the correct time of day and definitely no big lights in the evening.

5. Overexplaining/oversharing or saying nothing at all.

Turns out there's a pretty long list...I'm fairly sure we could all go on and on lol.

    Living the dream…. Well not quite, but better than without the two handed sword….

1. I didn’t realise other people don’t research anything and everything.
2. I also feel immense attachment to inanimate objects.
3. Often needing solitude.

I remembered one...

I used to dry my hand completely, making sure not a single drop of water remains... What opened my eyes is when I see other men take a single tissue and just wipe it once and throw it with their hands still soaking wet and leaving the toilet! How can you do that??

Then I realized my diagnosed son do the same as me when drying his hand... then I realized this isn't something normies do... or more like they aren't bothered by it...

I like to imagine the reaction if I had a two handed sword. Just the threat would clear a goodly amount of space around me.

I'm the same about inanimate objects, but I feel they're imbued with life from being used and loved. The other things about that is its very selective, almost everybody has something thats THIERS, a cup or a spoon. Then theres things that might be inanimate but are alive and aware like plants.

I've never watched Toy Story, but my childhood was full of toys that came to life, Andy Pandy, Bill and Ben etc as well as talking animals.

I really struggle with number 1. I spend a lot of my time whilst out in the world in crowded spaces devising fantasy systems that would help people move and behave in more considerate or efficient ways in public. 

I’ll never forget the day I learned that the majority of people put on their clothes, and then, after a minute they stop feeling them/being aware of them until they consciously bring their attention to the feel of their clothes at which point they can feel them again. This is called sensory gating apparently and most people from the predominant neurotype are doing it all the time…. Just filtering out their sensations. This was one of the biggest revelations of my adult life. I walked around for weeks asking people if it was true that they just stop noticing their clothes and everybody said “well yes, of course!”. 

Wait I thought of one. Remembering things in great detail. It's taken me a long while to realise that most people don't remember the things I remember or don't remember things accurately. 

1. Being wound up to unbearable levels of irritation, resentment and blazing anger by being in crowds (especially in the street).

2. Always needing to cut labels out if clothing - as per Lotus.

3. Reacting to last minute changes to anything that has been planned by being totally floored/mentally eviscerated and needing at least half an hour to digest it, before being able to move on and do something else.

I could never work out why clothing manufacturers seemed oblivious to 'everyone in the world' cutting out their stupid, unbearable labels. I now know that only a very few people - some autistics - feel like these labels might as well be made of sandpaper or razor blades, most don't even notice them. Allistics must have hides like rhinos!

Interestingly I'm struggling to answer this question even though I'm late diagnosed. There are things that I don't understand why other people wouldn't be bothered by something or like something. But I think I always grew up with the knowledge I was different and things I did were not normal I almost assume it's a me thing. I just didn't know why I was different for a long time, or not for certain anyway.

Inanimate objects absolutely! You are bang on there B 

1. Being extremely irritated by ticking clocks or watches

2. Having to cut labels out of clothing

3. Scripting conversations