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Hello :)

Sophie
over 4 years ago

Hi, I'm Sophie. 

I'm in my 30s and was diagnosed a few months ago. Like many people who were late diagnosed I've finally come to terms with the fact that I'm not a broken neurotypical, but a perfectly functioning autistic. I have gradually stopped masking too and now I have fewer but better friends.

I have pretty bad sensory difficulties (airports and public transport are awful) and find humans very complicated (unlike dogs, who are probably better than us).

I am happiest in nature, preferably running. I run very long distances (96 miles in one go is the longest) usually on trails. This coming year I hope to run 100km in less than 8hrs. I am obsessed with everything to do with ultra running, which is extremely useful as I enjoy planning and analysing my training and reading about new and better ways to train. I can't really conceive variations of "a long way", races are either short (I don't need a back pack to carry water etc) or they are long (carrying water, food, jacket etc). So 96 miles doesn't seem any farther than 50.

Keen to learn more about coping with sensory difficulties.

Parents
  • over 4 years ago

    we have some runners in here eg Original Prankster.

    what sensory difficulties do you experience ?  

    oh yea, welcome to the forum : Slight smile

  • over 4 years ago in reply to aidie

    Cool. Running is the best.

    I have problems with sounds (small irritating ones like people tapping, sniffing, or clocks ticking (I've taken the batteries out of so many clocks...), loud unexpected ones, people talking at once; loud televisions or TV shows/films where the volume suddenly changes (I watch Star Trek and the BBC Merlin over and over because I know when the volume changes and can prepare for it); and with lights - too bright usually; and with textures: I can only wear very soft clothes and either very loose or precisely tight (only my running tights) but not in between, I won't eat glutinous foods or ones where there are too many different textures (I have never eaten a doughnut after biting into one as a child - wet, dry, doughy and granulated [inserts vomit emoji]). I was diagnosed with anorexia at 13 but think it was probably more an autism thing (I was at boarding school so had limited choice and if the things I was expecting/could eat weren't available I didn't eat something else). 

  • over 4 years ago in reply to Sophie

    Running IS the best! Laughing

    I'm known for taking batteries out of clocks when I stay with friends or in hotels but I LOVE the sound of my self-winding wristwatch but then the fast 'chkchckchkchk...' noise it makes is lovely vs. the heavy 'CHK CHK CHK' or labourious  'TIK TOK' most clocks make.

    You could try getting some regular in-ear type headphones - like people use to listen to music on their mobile phone, they usually block sound quite well and if you get corded ones in a visible colour but just put the end of the wire in your pocket i.e. not connected, you:

    - block external sound to a good degree

    - people can see they may need to wave or something to get your attention as they'll assume you are listening to music

    I'm also quite light-sensitive but only when trying to sleep and will go round unplugging devices in the bedroom if they have an LED that shows they are powered up or putting underwear over them if I can't turn them off for some reason!

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