• Replies 24 replies
  • Subscribers 36 subscribers
  • Views 984 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

What are your quirks & strenghts?

Deleted user

This is really aimed at finding out a little more about everyone and having some shared experiences. Im curious to see how similar (or different) we all are on this surface level. I'll refer to quirks as capturing things others may find annoying, too (my wife would have a long list). Dont be shy in shouting about your strengths as sometimes it's all too easy to focus on the negatives. I'll go first:

Quirks

  1. can be very articulate and monotone with my words (only when super stressed). It's a giant flag that I need to wind down or destress. 
  2. very quick to get irritated and need to escape the house if its too busy or chaotic and already at burnout stage (mess, kids crying, TV too loud, in-laws showing up uninvited) 
  3. can be a bit blunt at times and say 'can you just get to the point!' 
  4. will often appear as though I have switched off - my mind just wanders at times (thanks, ADHD) while being spoken to, so better make it interesting :D 
  5. finger drum at times, making music everywhere I go :D
  6. everything has to be neat / tidy in the house, especially my study area/spare room. Not quite clinical, but nearly. My wife is the opposite (yep, this can clash). 

Things I view as strengths

  1. Very entrepreneurial - started a software company, profitable. Always thinking of new ideas and ways to improve what I see as gaps in the tech and mental health space.
  2. Extremely empathic and understanding and can easily tell when someone needs help. I can listen for a long time and reassure (although can drain me if not careful).
  3. Despite having C-PTSD from childhood and now AuDHD, I am very proud of who I have become; holding a professional job as a lead engineer, overcoming obstacles and achieving financial freedom at age 38. It hasn't come without struggle though; deep depressive episodes, sustained burnout and some loss of trust in people along the way (seeing there are some real nasty people out there).
  4. I remember phone numbers, number plates, dates and faces very well.  
  5. I love piano and classical music, can compose music and hear melodies in my head. Music has a special place for me, it's calming, grounding and enter hyper focus easily. 
  6. Have an ability to read the room and pickup peoples intentions without them saying much at all (if anything). I already gauge if someone likes me or not. 
  • in reply to SunshineDrive

    My spice cupboard isn't that organised, just the stuff I use more frequently is at the front.

  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    Hahaha I love this! I have a very specifically arranged herb drawer too and even my canned veg under the cupboard I have a full row of tinned chopped tomatoes, a row of chickpeas, a row of tuna etc etc don’t mix up my tins Joy

  • in reply to Orangegnome

    Maths is very hard for me too, I sometimes shut down in disagreements too, usually when the other person won't let me speak, I just end up thinking 'why bother, why waste energy on you?' And I hate people moving my stuff and going into my stuff, it dosen't matter if it's a benign reason, like finding all my herbs and spices have been moved about when my DiL's been cooking, it still grit my teeth.

  • Strengths: I can remember where things are in the house or find anything that is missing. 


    I am a good listener, apparently. People will often bare their soul to me.

    I am pretty good at spelling, grammar and punctuation.

    weaknesses: if I can’t find something then I can be irrational about it, same if someone moves my things. 

    I shutdown in disagreements and must be very frustrating for the other person. 

    Maths is very difficult for me. 

  • in reply to profdanger

    I do that mid conversation all of the time too especially if stressed 

  • in reply to Lotus

    I like number 2 - I’m a bit like that too 

  • in reply to Deleted User

    I imagine he likes house or electronic music - he enters hyper focus and is busy, I have heard some people choose to listen to that, particularly house music while working at a fast pace - it can also be a powerful tool for emotional regulation especially for people who work in an intense environment or are irritated quickly. 

    I feel point 3. Unfortunately think I have C-PTSD from being bullied in my last job.
    But on the back of that point 1 sounds interesting and positive…

  • Would you say piano music is your favourite? Or do you listen to other genres? 

  • USEFUL

    1. I am very logical with projects - and make 'to do' lists out of most tasks 

    2. I am the same with shopping - for food and other stuff, also when preparing recipes or laundry

    3. I enjoy mundane tasks - filling in databases, sorting the recycling, cleaning

    4. when I listen, I really listen - 

    NOT SO USEFUL

    1. my logical sorting makes it hard for me to know when to stop - good for former bosses but colleagues got annoyed

    2. sometimes I wish I could do things without endless planning

    3. if I see a spot of dirt or book out of place or can't find a specific pen I want to use, I get frustrated 

    4. sometimes I feel like a 'butterfly pinned against a wall' when someone is regaling me with a problem. I don't know how to tell them to stop and I seem rooted to the spot

  • in reply to B

    Yeah... really....I suppose it's possible...I do know they have different personalities, so why not.

    (⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠)

  • in reply to Cinnabar_wing
    Cinnabar_wing said:
    Ahh, an autistic bee with face blindness?

    Correct Slight smile

  • in reply to Lonehare12

    Ahh, an autistic bee with face blindness?

  • in reply to B

    Mmm....I'm starting to doubt if you are truly a bee.

  • in reply to Lonehare12

    I don't believe so.

    I can't. 

  • in reply to B

    It is true that you can recognise human faces?

  • Quirks

    1. I don't do emotions like most normal people. Mostly I think them. I do have them, sometimes delayed, often buried, but very strong when they get through, and largely fleeting.
    2. Hyper independence.
    3. My house is a tip, but I know where almost everything is. I have to tidy it.l up. I tend to hoard things and I must throw more things away.
    4. I live on my own.
    5. I like things that are elegant, well made, and time consuming to have created.

    Strengths

    1. Systems level thinking. People, animals, equipment, everything. I never realised till the last few months. I internally model everything, as long as I am not overloaded, when I can become over sensitive and deadlock. I have tried to figure out how AI "thinks", what patterns it is using, and I can detect when it is changing modes. I can't stop it, I analyse everything and notice small details. Very sensitive to tone in writing and behaviour (can mostly learnt to ignore it).
    2. Growing orchids, plus just about anything I fancy. My prize is a metasequoia I grew from seed. Growing stuff from seed is hugely satisfying.
    3. Communication protocols. ASN.1 definitions always seemed elegant to me. I used to attend ETSI and 3GPP meetings. I remember looking at TCPIP and thinking it was trivial and being amazed you could have a job related to it. Not much call for it anymore and I do other stuff now. 
    4. A strange memory. I remember lots of details about odd things. 
    5. I can analyse myself. I watch myself and how I think all the time and can remember stuff in good detail.
    6. I tend to notice small details about everything.

  • Quirks

    1. I'm hyperlexic - I don't ever remember not being able to read and I read fast. Hyperlexics are supposed to have trouble with comprehension, but I don't with most everyday text and novels, it's only if I'm reading something technical with unfamiliar ideas where I have to go back and re-read parts for understanding.

    2. I'm clumsy - I trip, slip and walk into things quite often.

    3. I can get bored in certain situations (such as work or social events) and sometimes my mind wanders when someone is talking (although I'm not ADHD according to the online test I did) But I am good at finding entertainment or projects to get immersed in, which stop me being bored. When I announced I was retiring, people wondered if I'd get bored not working - no, work was boring. Reading books and playing games at home isn't. 

    4. I've never been very good at maths but I was quite good at accounts when I was working and I can see patterns in numbers.

    Strengths

    1. I'm methodical and a good problem solver. When I was working I was often told I was good at my job, and that was in all three fields I worked in - a SEN teaching assistant, a teacher of English as a foreign language, and in accounting roles.

    2. I'm good at written communication, spelling and grammar. (It annoys me when I do a typo!)

    3. I have a natural "ear" for music and can tell when notes are right or wrong, despite not being able to read music. I can also tune a guitar by ear, and I used to create musical tracks from samples on a PC.

    4. I'm empathetic , and although I can "catch" the emotions of others - which can be difficult for me - I am usually able to find a pragmatic way to help people.