autism is a neurological condition - sylvian fissure abnormalities i believe - which is characterised by (broadly) social deficits, obsessiveness, and need for routine/repetitiveness.
although sensory problems are not diagnostic criteria, autism is very strongly associated with sensory difficulties such as sensory integration disorders including auditory processing disorder, hyperacusis and photosensitivity, as well as synesthesia (muddled up sensations, one of my friends can feel finger movement inside his mouth whenever he wiggles his fingers, gets tastes when he sees certain colours etc). most autistics are usually abnormally sensitive to touch as well, in vastly differing ways. "severe" autistic stimming (headbanging, rocking, spinning, screaming) is usually a way of dealing with some sort of abnormal sensation. this is in general, won't apply to everyone by any stretch.
although, alternative to a sensory dysfunction, someone suggested to me that maybe it's comorbid something-wrong-with-my-internal-thermostat, heh. that i get more stressed more easily by a lower temperature (everyone would get stressed and panicky at a room temp of 45 deg Celsius, maybe i get stressed at a lower threshold).
although that sounds like sensory again...
thanks again for your thoughts
oh -
psychological disorder: i'm also diagnosed comorbid (i think generalised) anxiety disorder, depression and possible adhd (that last one i think is rubbish). and ocd (waiting for dx on that one, possibly excluded if autism reaches far enough).. mm, maybe it's the anxiety? but why get anxious in the first place..
although sensory problems are not diagnostic criteria, autism is very strongly associated with sensory difficulties such as sensory integration disorders including auditory processing disorder, hyperacusis and photosensitivity, as well as synesthesia (muddled up sensations, one of my friends can feel finger movement inside his mouth whenever he wiggles his fingers, gets tastes when he sees certain colours etc). most autistics are usually abnormally sensitive to touch as well, in vastly differing ways. "severe" autistic stimming (headbanging, rocking, spinning, screaming) is usually a way of dealing with some sort of abnormal sensation. this is in general, won't apply to everyone by any stretch.
although, alternative to a sensory dysfunction, someone suggested to me that maybe it's comorbid something-wrong-with-my-internal-thermostat, heh. that i get more stressed more easily by a lower temperature (everyone would get stressed and panicky at a room temp of 45 deg Celsius, maybe i get stressed at a lower threshold).
although that sounds like sensory again...
thanks again for your thoughts
oh -
psychological disorder: i'm also diagnosed comorbid (i think generalised) anxiety disorder, depression and possible adhd (that last one i think is rubbish). and ocd (waiting for dx on that one, possibly excluded if autism reaches far enough).. mm, maybe it's the anxiety? but why get anxious in the first place..