Hi. My second post, having just been diagnosed with autism in my 50s. I was also widowed 12 years ago and that time has been such a mess. I didn’t suspect autism while my wife was alive, but we had such a lovely relationship and she just understood me. I realise now that she was my shield from everything my ND brain finds difficult. And having met when I was 19, I had barely done adult life without her.
I’ve found a few old threads here about face blindness. I wouldn’t say I quite have that: I do tend to recognise people I know. That is, I know I know them! But I have such a hard time putting names to faces, or knowing where I know them from. I have spent a lifetime telling myself I have a bad memory and just need to make more of an effort. But it’s scary when people expect you to know their name. I’m a teacher, and recently did a summer course with two pupils I have taught one-to-one (weekly in school) for over three years. Because they weren’t in the usual teaching space, I had no idea what their names were. I had to go and look them up on the register. I realise I remember people by associating them with a physical location or context. If someone moves to the opposite side of the room I’m lost.
i have realised for years that I go through life talking to people I know are friends, but I have no idea what they’re called. Does this sound familiar? I have so many tactics for avoiding having to know anyone’s name.
