Self-reflection has been something I have done a great deal more of the last five years and change. One thing that I have always had issues with is noise. The earliest memory of a noise related incident was my brother and I playing when I was maybe 3 or so. We were playing and my dad was attempting to watch a movie that had alligators in it if memory serves correct. He was never loud, but he yelled. It shut me down. I had to switch jobs today not because I did not enjoy the work or because of the people (they were really cool), but solely because the noise and environment was overwhelming me and causing excess stimulation. If any of you have ever felt burnt out at times this has been a life-long issue and at times can derail things for me in life. Had I known I was on the spectrum as a child I would likely have received help and guidance on this.
Mostly I just navigate this issue myself. Sometimes good and sometimes not so much. I get burned out mentally and emotionally much quicker than y’all ever will. Recognizing it though, even later in life as an adult, does provide me peace of mind knowing when too much stimulation is just TOO MUCH. Sometimes when I explain this people attempt to be kind by saying they feel like that too. It’s not the same, but I get the sentiment of wanting to be nice. I feel like autism provides me a whole bunch of good, but this would be something in the con column.