I have a pretty consistent internal voice, but I have partial aphantasia as I can’t “picture” things. I think/remember in sensations and words. My best friend for years was an art student, and she was profoundly confused by me not having images in my head the way she did.

I have my glasses slightly grey tinted as well as transitions lenses, and that helps for me. Is that an option for you?

My partner said that he wasn’t honestly surprised, but if it helped to get a diagnosis he was with me all the way. He’s been super supportive and helped me find things that help with overstimulation.

That made me think of a quote from Temple Grandin that seems to sum up my experience with being autistic - “I identify more with what I do than with how I feel”. It seems like that might be the same for you?

I’m excitedly and eagerly expecting eloquent epitaphs and eschewing excessive effluence.

I really loved Woo, partially because the show really takes the time to get into how she gets around things like sensory issues. She’s a savant, which is rare.

I can say that my weighted blanket is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever gotten. The full body pressure helps me relax and keeps me feeling connected to my body - I didn’t realize how much I disconnected when anxious until I got it

Rabbits, pro wrestling, voice actors. Nothing too crazy.

Yep. I have light and sound sensitivity to the point I wear earplugs at work at all times, and I have certain sensitivities to textures (both food and touch). I’m grateful I don’t have temperature sensitivities, although my lack of reaction to cold temps is its own problem.

What I mean by all this is everyone’s sensitivities are different even if they can overlap with someone else’s. My light sensitivity may be less or more severe than someone else but we still share the base of it.

I’ve been playing Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name and I’m in love. This feels like a perfect bridge between Yakuza 6 and Like a Dragon. The play styles for fighting feel really clean and are actually fun, compared to some of the fight styles in earlier games.

I don’t know about spoiling enjoyment per se, but I do recommend at least playing 6. It sounds like you’ve already gotten through the early games. Are you enjoying yourself, or are you burning out on it?

This, absolutely. The claw catcher is my jam.

That’s me. I will get “stuck” on something for hours and hours and suddenly it’s 12 midnight and I should have been in bed 2 hours ago. I just… Can’t pull myself away from it.

I’d be curious about the demand avoidance one! It apparently affects most people with autism (per my therapist anyway) but no one really mentions it and I’d be curious to learn more.

I’ve tried to read between the lines when communicating with people and end up either confused or reading things that aren’t there (they’re angry/frustrated when they’re not, etc). My team at work has gotten used to me asking clarifying questions and having me say “that’s good but I need to understand x”.

What did Dan do? I hadn’t heard about any controversy with him, but I’m not entirely surprised there is.

Some people can get through with just therapy and not need medication. A lot of people benefit from having both things working together, and the medication can be a short term solution to let your brain chemistry heal while the therapy does its work.

I’m one of the people who needs both, because my brain chemistry is totally screwed up. I see my therapist every other week, and at this point I see my psychiatrist about every six months to check up on things. I’m probably going to be on medication forever, but it’s a lot nicer than being miserable and anxious and feeling lost.

The feeling of extreme frustration about people breaking rules. I didn’t realize that an overly powerful sense of justice was a trait of autism until it was pointed out to me. It’s given me a nose for fraudulent action at my job though.

I got a diagnosis partly because I needed accomodations at work. Light sensitivity and sound sensitivity are a bitch in an auto dealer showroom.

How different would my childhood have been if I had been evaluated when I was younger?

I have the same question, and I’m working through it with my therapist. I’m not sure there will be an answer that makes everything “better”, but it does help to realize that I have been this way my whole life, and that I can make my life easier now that I’m an adult in ways I couldn’t as a child.

I have the 16 dB Loop, and I honestly forget I'm wearing them sometimes. They're so comfortable and really work well to take everything down a few notches while still being able to hear.