Comment by leggomylibro | Hacker News Reader

Comment by leggomylibro | Hacker News Reader

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I can definitely see the aspect of returning to a familiar activity, which is apparently very soothing to many people on the spectrum. Heck, even in 'normal' people quitting cigarettes, it's pretty common to have trouble not just with the lack of nicotine, but also the lack of the comforting 'hand-to-mouth' motion.

But I'll bet that the isolation plays a big part too. I could be wrong about this, and the article only mentions a few cases where people found that alternative cultures were simply more accepting of their quirks, but it seems like people on the spectrum often think a little differently, are painfully aware of it, and feel the need to be constantly scrutinizing their words and actions around other people. Combine that with all of the constant pressures of modern life, between staying on top of bills, holding down a job/career, managing social events, keeping up on housework...it's like fingers on a chalkboard to a spectrum dweller's overarching craving for some quiet isolation every now and then. Life just feels so loud and hectic, with some days dominated by a desire to tuck your head between your knees and scream at the whole world to just hold up and calm down for a goddamned minute. And the aversion to sudden, unexpected changes doesn't help. How can you ever really relax when just the act of navigating day-to-day life feels like tap-dancing on an avalanche?

So would it really be surprising if it does turn out that many such people reach for the bottle at an early age? I don't think so, but I'm sure glad to see people putting more effort into finding an answer than my vague 'that makes sense' hand-waving.

While I've escaped "traditional" addiction (maybe I'm on this computer too much), the lack of "quiet" is a real burden.

Workplaces. Homes -- a string of bad neighbors in multiple locations. (I mean, when they are across the street and down the block, and still make your life miserable inside your buttoned up home, they are bad.)

When I get somewhere I can achieve and trust that quiet in my life -- not all the time, but when I need it, without undo effort -- the rest of my state-of-mind simply falls into place. I'm not stressed. I'm at peace. Alone, and with other people.

I look at how much imposed stress many people in the U.S. have placed upon them. Not just nor particularly worries about eventualities, but immediate, physical and attentional stresses in their lives. And I think, that has to be a key to all this.

P.S. And the way these things can shut down physical activity -- in my and friends' experiences, a key to coping. If you can't go out and about in your yard and neighborhood without worry, your activity level may plummet.

I wonder what effect this is having on kids who no longer walk to school and maybe aren't even allowed to play outside on their own or simply go running, cycling, etc. down the block.

As some with Aspergers, much of the middle part is true for me. I feel extreme discomfort in highly social situations. It's tough because being social doesn't come naturally ever, but it's more of constantly pushing myself to go out and then becoming exhausted easily from it.

I'm acutely aware of it, every single day.

Yes. Depression results in turn as you realize that you are not normal..that other highly intelligent and 'normal' people have a better angle on the future and that your peculiar perceptions are not something you can leverage.

Then alcohol to forget..and competition with others who recognize your illness and take pity on you. Cyclical and ugly.

The worst part is how badly this affects your prospects at school/work in the long run. Even if you're smart/kind/decent, interviews don't measure jack-shit, and most people end up getting hired through networking.

>it seems like people on the spectrum often think a little differently, are painfully aware of it, and feel the need to be constantly scrutinizing their words and actions around other people.

You don't know the half of it..

I dunno, I might; I've always skittered along an edge of introversion and avoiding people, but it hasn't been totally crippling to my life and I can keep myself pretty happy between work and hobbies, so I haven't bothered to look more into it.

I mean, there's always the possibility that I'm just a conceited asshole, so why go down that road?

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