I like things specified, but I don't take everything literally or as much literally as people assume and I wish people could specify and realize not everything is implied knowledge without treating me like I'm incapable of inferring things or like they have to be overly literal as if I take everything literally. No. I just want you to be very clear so I don't misinterpret something or so I know exactly what you want or can be sure I know exactly what you're talking about.

I AM A SURGEON

Wow I'm an extremely literal person n it gets umder my skin whenever people don't say what they actually mean

It's all a bunch of static until I know WHY.

You wouldn't believe all the normal things people are convinced are abnormal that aren't abnormal at all.

C. Diagnosed with Autism as a child and increasing my knowledge on the topic to beyond personal experience and guesses and assumptions based on personal experience that may or may not be true and understanding myself and others with Autism better.

As an autistic person who had to ask other people this question, I have actually done that research. There are numerous conflicting scales and frameworks. The military has one that's easy to find and more clear than the smiley faces. But honestly the difference between the numbers is huge and almost nobody properly adjusts relative to a real 10, so one of my favorites that I can't actually show most people is photos of injuries, like a nail through an appendage or an ankle broken completely sideways. That is real context. But there are also ones that are verbally descriptive of different feelings, though to me the contents are in conflicting orders. 😩

I'm not autistic and I relate to alot of these

no you aren’t. and i’m not like… well nobody has said i’m autistic but… to be fair. the last time i went to any dr, was detox like 6 years ago, and before that…. i think when i was 8 and got stitches. but that’s legit it. so?? but it happens to me a lot. and i’m also hyper aware of my surroundings/ environment whatever… and i thought i was the only only one

Yeah, because only autistic people do this kind of thing. I can assure you that it is not only people “on the spectrum” that have minds that go through everything you described, and more! Most women have that reaction. It is because women, especially when it comes to pain, are more likely to be dismissed by doctors. Your autism doesn’t mean that you and ONLY you (or others with autism) worry about their answer and worry about their issues not being “important” enough. Like I already said, but it bears repeating, most women have that same response! So, it is likely more to do with your gender, and women often putting themselves last, even in their own lives, than your diagnosis of autism. In general, no matter your gender, most people don’t know what to say when the doctor asks about pain. Everyone hates the pain scale. It’s so arbitrary to ask people to rate their pain from 1-10. Many people are already nervous just being in a doctor’s office. They have anxiety about being believed. This reaction is so common because as a society we are taught to believe that doctors are next to god. It can be intimidating. Your autism probably does make some things in life more challenging. There is no doubt about that ….. BUT, your anxiety about giving the “right” answer, and not knowing how to rate your pain, when visiting your MD is common for pretty much everyone.

I explain my scale. Like 1 being barely noticeable and 10 being passed out from the pain.

U seriously got me over here wondering if im autistic no joke

Me with dancing :) i throw some salsa on and it's a good day again

Is this not a shared human experience? These questions are almost always literally impossible to answer

Omg, I am in tears!! My marriage may have not not taken a turn for the worst if I knew this, if he knew this

I dont know how to get my husband to understand that our kids don't retain what he's saying when he delivers a monolog/sermon after a little innocent question from them. Kids and most people learn and retain better when you engage them with questions for them to come up with their own answers ("You'll never guess....", or "how do you think....", for example prompts for teaching moments). He has this stereotypical paragraph answer thing but gets upset when the (small) kids get ants in their pants during his long answers.

Anyone can use my pain guide chart below. My reference point is that a stubbed toe =7. Don't ask why. It's just truth. Would I rather have a stubbed toe than *this* pain? If "this" pain is: Worse than stubbed toe= say "It's between 8-10" Stubbed toe pain= "It's a 7 doc!" Less pain than stubbed toe = " Between 5-7, help" Anything 1-4 is usually not a red flag unless it's been over a month. Then I say, "The pain never gets to a 5, but it's been a month, so I'm concerned."

My answer was my back.Pain feels like two broken sticks rubbing together along my spine

When someone say "transwomen are women". What does that even mean? What do transwomen have in common with women? Don't tell me they, like me, have an inner feeling of womanhood. 1) I don't have an inner feeling of womanhood - I have an awareness of having a female body. That is not what the transgender person means with being a woman. 2) Before you can have an inner feeling of womanhood, you need some definition of womanhood the feeling can match with. I don't understand your definition!

Sorry, did you say something? I was distracted by the hand gesturing in the reflection behind you. I had to let it loop a few times, in order to confirm it was your hand.

Like with kids . Don't say clean your room. Write a list showing what you want done . Learnt that with my kids.

This is just a human experience

Wait I guess this would solve my problem actually. Because I can wash one dish at a time but I never realized this would allow me to save time and wash them all at once!

Amen

Odyssey of the mind…brought back memories. As an adult parent of a child placed in a gifted program the ability to observe externally made me realize gifted programs are a euphemism to teaching collaborative skills to ASD students lol. They just package it in a general way.

All of them but 3 or 4 fit me

This became easier for me once i experienced something that became my '10'. Then i could rank compared to that. Before that it was like idk man it hurts a little bit i guess. I do have the problem where i know i need to be clear to the doctor that my current state is unmanageable but then i get there and panic and underplay everything and screw myself over in the long run.

Yeah i learned if i just blurt shit out and smile and look at people fun and expectantly i fit in fine. But it is really a lot of effort and i feel hesitant to put myself out there like that, feels like im putting on a show. If you need 1 on 1 instructor attention sort of situation, just say you need to steal her for a minute when she is done with this or some little phrase thing like that

You are absolutly right!

Thats why recently, I realized something. Pain is very subjective and not everyone has gone through the same painful experiences in life and thats ok. The pain scale question is really just used to help quantify the pain you are experiencing so medical professionals can identify severity and help u be more comfortable. Someone's sprained ankle could be a 8 or 9, and they need some pain meds, but another person's sprained ankle of the same grade could be a 4 or 5 and they don't really need pain meds. Exact same injury, u don't wanna just give pain meds to everyone, but the ones who need it inorder to tolerate the pain can get it. So just say what u think the pain feels like, don't try to compare to others, if ur in pain say it so you can possibly get something to help. If u need it, u need it. Don't put yourselves through more than you can handle just because u think someone else needs it more, cuz u need it as well.❤

this is why when I worked in an office, the idea that I should “take initiative” (meaning do tasks I wasn’t told to do) was not only terrifying, but next to impossible. How am I supposed to work on tasks that were never laid out for me? My boss wanted me to notice something needed doing, and take initiative. But what if the papers I noticed and cleaned up turn out to be some super important documents? Please just tell me what I’m supposed to do!! I got less work done because i’d just freeze in fear trying to figure out what was expected of me

I feel the same way, but I'm 57.And I think the thing ISIS that you feel way more awkward than you look.So you don't notice the other people who feel awkward because it's not as bad as you think

I injured my thumb the doctor asked me that question. I could not give a pain level. I said before I fell my thumb did not hurt. After the fall my thumb hurts. 🤷🏾

100% me all the time!

Yes, I do a lot better when people tell me about things that they are going on through. I constantly think about things they could be doing. I want them to freely Express things as I have more anxiety when they show an emotion ,hide it, act like things are okay. and blow up later .❤

Here's the thing - it's YOUR pain. It's subjective. The worst pain you've ever had is a 10. We give pain meds based on what YOU say YOUR pain level is. If you say it's a 3, you get acetaminophen. If you say it's an 8, you get Dilaudid.

This happens to me... Except its at work where people are weirdly malicious at me so they deliberately interrupt me and ignore me when I speak, which i rarely attempt to do.... But they are always asking me for help with their jobs then ignore me when i speak?.... Idk....

I did it for a long time too. My solution has always received a little bit of backlash, but it was never mean-spirited, more incredulous. I just raise my hand. Usually the people will do exactly as I'm hoping they just would naturally; finish the thought they're on or in the middle of, then acknowledge me. Usually with a, "wtf are we doin here? Raising our hands? What's up, what do you need?" (Verbatim from the last time if I'm remembering correctly. He's just gruff. He spent decades in the oil field, but he's really a super nice guy. Always smiling.) In the end, I don't really care what people think about me raising my hand. It's a very effective method of getting a question answered. If you, the reader, might find this option to be too extroverted for your liking, I understand that part too, but I haven't really figured out a great solution otherwise.

My thing is my feet. I hate getting my feet wet unless I'm in the shower or swimming. For example, I have dogs, they drink from their bowls then come and drip on my toes. Drives me bonkers!

I do this.

God yes this.

I'm with you

Thank you for using the dyslexia font! 💜

I always wonder if I am I am only one whom is aware of their personal space? Because most of the time people will just talk over me or not even notice me!

Yes,! So glad someone gets it 😅

I get you exactly and even at Zumba! I wonder, do they even see me?

Yes! I’m like: 1-10 of what or when?