Connection between Autism and CT thinking?

So apparently I have slight autism. I'm 28 and never got officially DX'd, but it seems this truly is the case. There was a period of time where I was trying to figure out what was "off" about me. I finally stumbled upon Asperger's and told my parents. Surprisingly, this was the first thing I'd mentioned to them about myself that they 100% agreed with. They actually were astonished that some condition actually so accurately described me!

I pushed this to the side for a while. The other day my mom made a comment that made me think about it again. She asked if I remembered about our communication system we had when I was a child. I hadn't a clue what she was referring to, and she told me how it went. It seems I was so aloof as a child that my mom had to give me reminders to do certain social things in the form of a personal code. She said it was things like saying my name and waving to me, so that I knew to say hello or wave to other people. This may sound normal, but I don't think it was. She made is seem as if I was the only of 3 children who needed this, and that this routine continued on for a while.

While I don't remember any of this, I do recall having a birds nest for hair, reading constantly, and not really understanding the point of interacting with other people >95% of the time. I was completely in my own world, and refused to do ANYTHING without knowing WHY !!

So I got to think that perhaps a lot of conspiracy theorists are slightly autistic. My reasoning is simple. Conspiracy theorists are of the mindset that tends to think independently from what the hive is thinking. They tend to not care about social norms much, and put more emphasis on truth & knowledge. Well, that's pretty much standard for the autistic. Most autistics derive a sense of stability over their minds and their worlds from knowing how & why things work. They understand the importance of truth and knowledge, and despise deceit & lying with a passion.

Well, that's about all I've got here. This is just a simple postulation that doesn't have any sources to go along with it, so thought it would do okay here in the off topic section. Do you think that autistics are disproportionately represented within the CT community, and are you on the autistic spectrum?

reply to post by unityemissions


I think I heard about this before, but never really read it. I believe I have a friend that might have this.
Asperger's Syndrome

Perhaps more people are autistic than they think? Maybe there is a level to it? I am curious how many people here on ATS are actually Autistic.

reply to post by leira7


Thanks for the reply!

Going over the link you provided, I find the need to mention a few more things I did as a child, so that perhaps someone may benefit from this disclosure. Who knows.. maybe there is an unknown autie out there trying to find his or her way.



Other things I did as a child were immerse myself entirely in one topic for an extended period of time. I would count numbers OCD like, often doubling from 1 to over a million and back down to one for hours at a time. I became so overly sensitive to sensory information that often I would hide in the closet and meditate for hours at a time. My handwritting and posture has always been poor, and it was difficult for me to learn the proper spelling of some words. I excelled in sciences and mathematics to the point that many considered me some sort of savant. I knew without learning traditionally. It was all internally motivated systems of understanding that I intuited from a young age.

No I don not believe the CT population is overly autistic but there are many sheeple who constantly state that CT people all have "issues" which make them so susceptible to believing. I think it might be on the most basic level that we have the time on our hands to research deeply and put two and two together, while the sheeple are too busy being sheep. On the other hand though, I do know of a few CTers who are mildly autistic. I think in general, the autistic population might be more open to CTs, but they are by no means a majority of us. Consider the fact that 1 in 60 boys these days has autism and it may simply explain why I know a few. Also I think people with autism quickly jump into CTs after they hear about mercury/thimerisol in the vaccines.

reply to post by unityemissions



Hallo unity emissions, your post drew me in. I never have been diagnosed with autism myself, but I do see where you're coming from on this. To my understanding, at least partially, the whole Autism 'affliction' as some would call it, is really more or less a more advanced development of the right brain. It seems to me that sometimes the left brain either does not work efficiently, or is not working AS efficiently as the right brain. I do know however that through proper course of action/interaction, any 'gifted disability' can be overcome. Usually at that stage, (which people with more severe cases of autism tend to rarely reach) it seems that they are the ones that are informing the rest, because they have unique capabilities to process a mass of information more quickly, reform a common approach more efficiently and to combine it with a creative solution.

I definitely do agree with the post. Conspiracy theorists and whatnot, how in some cases there may be an actual connection. Perhaps it is more common in the Eastern part of the United States (CT, etc..)

reply to post by MeiKilluminati


I don't think that I'm a sheep at all, but it seems pretty obvious to me that a large percentage of people within the CT community are ill to a large extent. It becomes a chicken and egg situation, where I haven't a clue if the original illness started physically or psychologically. They're both intertwined to some extent.

I think many otherwise healthy individuals stumble onto the CT world and get overwhelmed rather quickly. These people may manifest psychological disturbances just from having to process too much information all at once. These people seem to go temporarily slightly psychotic.

Other people I think perhaps there truly is something wrong with them. When I hear people talking about aliens picking up KFC for their family because they wished upon a shooting star after paps lost his job... it makes me ho ... huh?!



Others are simply intelligent and aware. Some people don't seem to have much problems at all in the CT world. Still, I think it's fairly obvious that a large percentage of people on this site have some major psychological issues, whatever the cause may be.

I don't think that having a psychological issue automatically discredits ones reasoning at all. It seems many brilliant people thought of some far out, irrational things in their lifetime. So what? If they are contributing to society, or aren't harming others, what's the big deal?

I don't think it's a problem to state that a disproportionate amount of conspiracy theorists have psychological disturbances. So what? I think the problem comes in when people use this as an excuse to shoot the messenger and not listen to the message.

Count me in. I have Asperger's and I love me a good conspiracy. I think that there is a misrepresentation of those who are on the spectrum, by that I mean that I think many older adults have gone undiagnosed due to it still being a newly understood condition, and also girls specifically tend to go undiagnosed as opposed to boys. I for one am a female who long went undiagnosed. There is a gross misunderstanding of autism prevailing throughout the USA, I can't speak for the rest of the world. Those who think it is something to be genetically aborted for, and those who think it is something that is there to cure, disgust me. Funding is inappropriately given to organizations that want to promote finding a cure or funding genetic testing to have those with autistic inclination aborted. The money should be spent on funding speech/communication therapy programs, sensory integration programs, and more constructive ways of teaching people with differently wired brains, those with autism can do amazing things if they receive the proper help, the earlier the better.

reply to post by tauschen


Hello!



This makes sense. I'm a lefty!

Yeah I pretty much agree with everything you said.

Autistics seem to have an overdeveloped right brain, and simply not process as the norm does. I know, without a doubt in my mind, that I use areas of my brain regularly that others seem to rarely activate. I've tried many, many times to do thought experiments to try and put myself in the average person's shoes and try to comprehend how they perceive the world.

For instance, when I drive, I see EVERYTHING! I don't filter out any incoming data. Same goes for auditory sensation. CAPD, they call it. Anyways, I often see people who don't realize that there's traffic, and that getting on someones ass doesn't do anybody any good. I see people who have tunnel vision. This seems very bizarre to me. I can see for miles and miles, and with a birds eye view if need be, with my eyes closed!

There's a reason why one of the main autie sites is called wrongplanet.net. It really does feel as if we're aliens from another planet.

The "golden card" of autism/asberger's. I know a lot about Asberger's and autism. I think you are very right on -- with your points. However-- from a medical perspective - here is how to figure out whether or not you may be autistic or have Asberger's. There are actually two very valid ways. The first one -- is it difficult for you to find a hat that fits? Asberger's and high-functioning autistic children/adults often have a head that is physically larger than others. This is also noticeable in the womb when doctors do what is called CRL or crown-rump length. The diagnosis of autism can be made at the point that the crown (head circumference) is larger than average. The second "golden card" of autism is this: What is your earliest memory? Often in autism/asberger's the children can remember things extremely early in their life (say....9 months old). I have never hard of the right or left temporal lobe theory. My pediatrician believes that autistic children often come from homes where both mother and father are very intelligent and the child inherits MORE pathways rather than less in the brain and the brain has a super-hard time with neuronal firing because there are so many pathways to choose and interfere with current. Having studied this subject for the past 20 years or so, I believe the OP is right on -- most very high functioning autistics/asberger's do not realize their diagnosis and I believe that they indeed WOULD be attracted to this website. (takes one to know one) -- I love my Asby.

I've wondered about this myself, and I've suspected that I might have Asperger's for a long time. I've heard that severe ADD can be indicative of Asperger's, and I've been diagnosed with that, so it's possible.

reply to post by aviatrix


I do have a large head. It's pretty noticeable in my childhood pictures. Both of my parents are highly intelligent. Neither went to college, both own companies, mom finished high school a year early because it disgusted her, and their combined income is in the top 2% for U.S. households.

My earliest memory I haven't a clue how old I was. I was either one or two. I just recall that everything looked very wavy. I have memories from being 3 or 4 that were much more solidified, but this one memory I have was very abstract-like.

Off to bar for a quick drink. My apologies for responding so much in the thread. I'll wait for any more responses over the next little bit, to give this thread some breathing room. Be back in a while. Peace.

reply to post by tauschen


That is true. The idea is that the part of the brain that dictates social developments and social interactions seems to be differently wired, smaller or just function differently, and the cognitive part seems to get all the action. It's like we are wired to be alone and just think all the time. While possessing mass amounts of information can be a good thing, it can also be pointless if not directed the right way, people with AS tend to have a hard time with organization and tasking. It's like our brains are always on overdrive of seemingly uncommon things, we forget to think about stuff like social norms and conventions. But then what is fun of convention anyway?

reply to post by SpaceJ


Yes exactly. For me to process something intellectually requires no effort. For me to process something emotionally and on a social level requires significant effort. It's as if I need to bypass regular ways of empathizing and visualize the problem with a different area of my brain. For me to empathize, I often need to build up an imagine of the problem, and realize how this has an emotional impact on people. I describe it often in two different ways:

1. I feel through my thoughts.

2. What comes easy for most others is difficult for myself. What comes difficult for most others seems easy to myself.

..okay, okay .. now off for that drink!

Damn, I think I might have Asperger's Syndrome and didn't even know it. to name a few things from the link about Asperger's Syndrome that was posted. ill just quote it and right true or false.

Not pick up on social cues and may lack inborn social skills, such as being able to read others' body language, start or maintain a conversation, and take turns talking. ( little explanation ) I do pick up on cues and what not, but I'm not that great at starting and keeping conversations going.

1.Dislike any changes in routines.True
2.His or her speech may be flat and difficult to understand because it lacks tone, pitch, and accent.. True, I'm not an outspoken person. And according to friends, I tend to mumble a lot. Also when talking, I catch myself speaking low and people around me can barely make out what I'm trying to say
3.Avoid eye contact or stare at others.True
4.preoccupied with only one or few interests, which he or she may be very knowledgeable about.True ( astronomy, and I do own a snake )
5.He or she may have an awkward walk. Sometimes when I'm walking and notice I'm doing it ( i hope that made sense lol) my walk will all of a sudden seem weird and wobbly

As the OP, I too have this feeling that something is wrong with me, and I cant put my finger on it. I've had depression for a little bit, but nothing really serious so I dont think its that. The thing I notice that I do a lot, is think about myself from another point of view. not 3rd person or 2nd person in particularly, but just in another view. Its hard to explain it. I wish I could find the words to describe on how I perceiver people and things around me, because sometimes it seems strange to me.

Originally posted by YouCanCallMeKM
Sometimes when I'm walking and notice I'm doing it ( i hope that made sense lol)

Totally know what you mean. I also overly notice how I'm standing or holding myself, during conversation.

Sorry, it posted twice.

reply to post by SpaceJ


To be honest, I do that too. Sometimes I'll just zone out during a conversation and start thinking about topics such as life. the universe and things like that lol...Sometimes I wonder if I didn't get into all of this, quantum theories, OBE's, stuff about parallel universes, string theory, things like that, would I be different that I am now. I never talk with friends about said topic because they simply don't understand. I feel like I'm on a whole other level then them when it comes to philosophical thinking, or just basic reasoning and logic ( and they are not some type of hard religious fans )

I think I should find some time, away from home, some place where I would find peace and quite and all the time to myself, go over myself on who I am, what I really believe, clear up many wondering thoughts. I think I got a lot of unwanted static going on in my head

Just on a side note...sometimes when I'm thinking, in a split second I would have this amazing idea that somehow felt like it was an amazing idea. like an AMAZING idea, breakthrough worthy ideas...like a vast amount of information just swept into me with mental images,and then it just disappears as fast as it came. And when I try to think a couple of seconds behind, I cannot remember one detail of the idea I had. Nothing at all. I hate it when it happens.

reply to post by YouCanCallMeKM




Welcome to my world 24/7 365. There's a continuous array of images layered in thought alongside various sounds, impressionable colorings, and feelings that never seem to come out entirely. At any one time there's at least a half dozen ideas rolling around. They're constantly trying to piece their selves together and make a bigger whole. They are very curious and like to stick it where ever it may plug in.



At least a dozen times a day I get an "aha" moment, and then it's usually gone and I'm off to something else.



I'm actually entirely okay with not "contributing to society" with any of these big ideas. I know quite well what happens to great ideas in this era. They end up being weaponized and doing more harm than good. No thanks. I don't want to be like Oppenheimer and spend half my life in bed, incredibly depressed because I know that I've given humanity the ability to wipe it's self out that much quicker. I'd rather just continue smoking on this nice cigarette-like thing and take it easy.

Well I'm not a doctor, of course, but I've done more research than you can imagine on the subject. So much that I've exasperated myself on the topic and moved on to other things, but one of my goals is to spread accurate information to people on the subject. There is so much ignorance surrounding it, even from people I know personally. Anyway, that's the point of this site right, deny ignorance.

I would definitely say those are all things that I experience in relation to AS. It is statistically true that those who go undiagnosed may have a higher rate of depression and anxiety disorders as a result. Also, a lot of other things can coexist with the AS, such as learning disabilities like dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia (which I have, it's basically being clinically clumsy, it's common for the whole spectrum).

There is also something called auditory processing disorder which can be a major component of AS, the simplest way I can put it is that it's a problem processing spoken words and speech in your brain. It is not a "hearing" problem, or anything to do with the ears. It is how your brain transfers the speech into sense in your head. I have it, and it's basically the worst part of the whole thing, or what gives me the most difficulties. It could be a lot easier to hold conversations with unfamiliar people if it weren't for the auditory processing issue. It is like I hear the words but they come into my brain in a mixed up order, not allowing me to make sense of it and respond appropriately. You could call it "auditory dyslexia" even. Not everyone has this part of AS though, just as not everyone will have the added learning disabilities above. Each case is so unique. There is a saying, "If you've met one person with autism, then you've met one person with autism."

Other common things that go hand in hand with AS are ADHD and OCD. You can have either and also have AS. AS also can mock OCD or ADHD in many ways so it can be hard to differentiate. In girls mostly, eating disorders like anorexia and such can be a common co-morbid disorder.

A lot of people, especially adults since AS is a rather new diagnosis, go undiagnosed for a long time or get misdiagnosed as social anxiety, OCD, ADHD, etc, as a child, until someone realizes the problem goes deeper than that.

YouCanCallMeKM, it's funny you mention all the stuff you did, I am interested in the same things and the people I know don't really care about the topics, at all. So I try not to talk about the topics with people, don't want to seem annoying with it or anything. But, I love theoretical physics and cosmology and especially string theory, it could definitely qualify as one of my typical AS obsessions. I was obsessed with astronomy, dinosaurs, fossils, Einstein, physics, the weather, Egyptology, and other seemingly odd things for a small child to care about. I'm also hyperlexic (think reverse dyslexia, I read too fast for my own good, I read very early but gained little meaning from the reading, but it stopped being a problem with age), so I read nonstop as a child, and now as an adult. If you guys have AS, then you will probably have had some unique interests and tendancies as children.

As for now though, I'm also into philosophy even if it might be dead, and in my professional life I'm an artist and photographer. I've always been very into anthropology and archaeology, so I minored in cultural studies. I would say my education/career choices are directly linked to my AS, because I couldn't ever be successful at something if I didn't absolutely love it and have a passion for it. I can't concentrate on anything I'm not passionate about. Call it selective learning if you will, but it's just like my brain will open for some things, and not others, and I don't have much of a choice in the matter.

People with AS are known for their need for ritual, like daily patterns of things, they can be rigorous in their ways. As children people with AS can be upset by sudden changes in routine, needing to meet new people, or go to an unfamiliar place. As adults, you might have a certain daily pattern you need to follow. I think I'm kind of lax in that area though, I'm pretty flexible unless it comes to social situations with strangers. My ritualistic-ness basically extends to the fact that I'm either always reading (learning), creating something, or listening to music on my free time.

I also smoke though, which can be bad in AS, lol, because you become so psychologically addicted to it, even if you aren't physically addicted. I could stop smoking anytime, honestly, but I just can't give up that part of my daily routine. It keeps me grounded, it's probably going to kill me, but in the meantime it keeps me grounded and keeps anxiety at bay.

When I'm thinking too hard, or when I'm on the phone or something, I pace. I pace way too much. But it calms me, so who cares? It just sucks because it's too easy to chain smoke when you are so deep in thought, or pacing, or whatever. I need to start like a quit smoking group specifically for people with AS or something, it's a much harder obstacle than it would be for someone without AS I think, because of the routine thing.

As for the static in your head, or losing ideas and "aha" moments, I know what you guys mean. Like I said before, AS can cause organizational problems, even in your thinking. It can also effect short term memory. That is one of the reasons it mocks ADHD. When your mind is working so hard like that, thinking of so many things at once, your ideas can get jumbled. People often say those with AS are in "their own little world." It is very true.

Another aspect of AS that can effect thought clarity though, is sensory problems. People with AS and all autism spectrum disorders have sensory integration issues. This can vary so, so widely between people, but no matter what the sensory issue will affect your ability to pay attention. That is the difference between ADHD and AS, ADHD people get distracted for different reason, people with AS often get distracted by their senses alone.

Some examples would be hearing everything too loudly, not having any sort of hearing filter meaning that every sound around you sounds equally loud. Or having under sensitive hearing. (Personally, I have hypersensitive hearing, I can hear electronics and lights buzzing, the TV turning off and on or changing channels across the house, I know when a phone is going to ring by hearing the phone make a sound beforehand, superstores and malls give me major sensory overload from all the noise and fluorescent lights, gives me migraines, panic attacks, makes me sick even, etc) Other sensory things are with clothing or textures, you may not be able to stand certain fabrics, it may even feel like it hurts or shocks you. People have sensitivity to light, where bright light hurts them. There is taste issues where you can feel sick from certain tastes or even gag or throw up. There is also touch sensitivities, and in a child they might seem to always touch their face or chew on things, etc.

Another common thing would be "stimming", which is basically fidgeting or stereotypical movement, but kids with AS will do it a lot more than adults. More severe autism might include more rocking, spinning, hand flapping, walking on your toes, in kids. Some kids will line up all their toys or organize them a certain way but not play with them. Kids with AS, especially boys, like to order things in categories, like by shape or color or texture. It can seem to an outsider that there is no order or point, but to the child there is a huge point. It can even extend to watching the same movie or show over and over, listening to the same song repeatedly, stuff like that. It can be as simple as carrying around a small toy just to touch or fidget with it, not to play with it. As a kid I'd always pick up rocks and have rocks in my pocket because I liked the way they felt, for example. It seems silly but it is an autistic persons way of calming their brain down from over stimulation, calming their senses from an overload, or just trying to focus. Like how a person taps their pen or shakes their foot when sitting. It's kind of something you grow out of a bit, though I'd argue to say my smoking and pacing are somewhat my adult version of "stimming".

One word of advice if you want to try to remember the things you think about, always try to write them down. Writing and lists can be AS's best friend. I make so many lists it isn't even funny. I would be so disorganized without these lists. I have a notebook set aside just to write down any possible good ideas I have whether it be random, or having to do with work, etc.

So I guess my point here after writing this novel for you guys, is that people can certainly unknowingly have AS. It is easy to hide the deficits of having it, it's very possible to learn how to act and blend in with society so as to not stand out. I'd say 90% of my social interactions are pre-scripted or acted. Girls (boys have a harder time blending in, the experts say, which is why it's more prevalent in boys, girls go undiagnosed and unnoticed more often) with AS make the best actors, lol. Girls and boys both with AS can go unnoticed simply because they appear too intelligent or gifted. Even some misinformed doctors have the misconception that people with autism have to lack intelligence, it's ridiculous. I was put in a gifted program early on and everyone ignored my oddities because of it, I often wonder if things wouldn't have been better if I wasn't pegged gifted so early on. It fostered my interests, being in the gifted program, but it also led people to discount my shortcomings which led to my developing an anxiety disorder at a very young age.

It can be hard to diagnose because of all the similar disorders, especially in adults, but if you think if would benefit you in any way then I would look into it for sure. They are actually revising the new DSM book that is coming out in 2013, to make autism spectrum disorders more organized, and AS won't be a separate diagnosis anymore, it will be a subtype of autism. But, just don't let anyone deter you from your interests and it's all good. I think the world needs a few people who think too hard about what "normal" people deem nonsense. If we all thought exactly the same the world would be pretty boring.

reply to post by SpaceJ


Oh my! The more I read into your post the more amazed I got because of all of the similarities. Especially about the smoking thing. I tried to quit one time and on my 5th day I was thinking about how I would have a smoke after a big meal just because of the routine. I realized I had no smokes, which made me sad and my life left like it went into turmoil because I didn't have the same routine any more...So I went out and got a pack, which made me

People often say those with AS are in "their own little world." It is very true...This I would agree with.
I believe I have hypersensitive hearing as well, but not to your extreme. I'm not sure if this counts, but I do walk up and down stairs on my toes while thinking I'm a dinosaur at the same time ahahah

But last night before I went to bed I got thinking....I don't think AS is what has been bothering me or let alone if I do actually have it, but there are some signs...But who's to say I have a disability? or any of us? What if it's just a part of us..I can write down many different things and call it some disorder. %50 or more people will bound to have the signs of the imaginary disorder I created. There are a lot of disorders out there and I think they are there to just label people because what is a "normal" person? IMO there is no such thing. Everyone is special in their own way, and yes there are some disorders that are unavoidable to notice, but just because some people have a couple signs from a certain disorder, doesn't mean they have it. I think lots of my problems came from the fact that I live in a family where there is stress 24/7 mainly because of my step father...I can notice my step brother who is 11, is already having serious problems socially and emotionally because of the stress at home. Instead of being a child and enjoying himself, he's already gone threw a lot of stress due to family problems, which in turn, made him have these social and emotional problems and I can see that he is going threw the same path that I went threw because of my step father (his dad) and sadly I think it's to late to fix things because his brain is already hard wired the way it is.