10 Hidden Autistic Traits You Probably Didn’t Know

[@plutoniumlollie9574]

I thought that I suck at pattern recognition. But it took me longer to understand the assignment than to actually find it 🤯

[@morgantseasrant1948]

Same, (still I found it before the videos unpaused timer ran out)

[@dancecommando]

"Do you ever get the need for closure" My partner "he should end the video right now"

[@Autistic_AF]

@@dancecommando I was tempted to!

[@Let_Toons]

​@@Autistic_AFYou could make a short of this that does!

[@FerociousSniper]

​@@Autistic_AF there's always April Fool's Day!

[@darongw]

Taking things litterally got in the way of me finding the box. I kept thinking it needed to be exactly the same (no lines crossing it) which got me confused. I knew exactly where it should be the moment I saw the image but I didn't understand from the instructions that the shape could have extra lines in it. I kept looking for some other option that would exactly match the first image with no extra lines.

[@turtleburger200]

Same for me, I got it in like 20 seconds but wasn't sure if that was it since it had other lines crossing it

[@katerinakruppova5473]

Same here, I spend like two minutes wondering what am I even looking for. Like do I need to find this exact box, meaning it would have to be constructed only with black lines (I first even couldn't see the black line between the blue and the yellow part) or am I looking for a laid out sphere of this box? And if it is a sphere, does it need to be just the shapes that aren't connected? Or am I looking for only 3 sides of the box that are visible instead of the 6 I was desperately trying to find there? I'm usually pretty good at imagining spacial objects and stuff, but I think the instructions threw me away. Idk whether that tells that I have signs of autism or wheter I'm just a really dumb allistic, but it reminded me how much I hate brief unclear instructions without details

[@NoreenV]

I get overly attached to objects and possessions, now I understand why. I have a boxful of childhood teddies and dolls that I don’t want, but I can’t get rid of them because I feel bad for them. If something in the house gets damaged or broken I become over the top upset or angry about it. It bothers me so much that it can ruin my day/ month/ year! Especially if it’s not me who has broken it.

[@FerociousSniper]

It took every ounce of strength today for me to throw out a 10 year old pair of moldy worn out boots that I haven't worn in 2 years, and after doing so, I felt so much anxiety.

[@NoreenV]

@ I feel that, it’s strange how our brains work isn’t it.

[@FerociousSniper]

@@NoreenV you are so right.

[@iankretschmer559]

Well, I always thank my car after a longer ride and pet it to let it know it has been a good steed. I know it is unreal, but I still need to do it.

[@Autistic_AF]

@@iankretschmer559 ME TOO!!! 😅 what’s your car called?

[@iankretschmer559]

@@Autistic_AF My car got no name. Any car I ride is just "The noble Steed". It also gets a picture in my head that depends on what kind of car it is.

[@michellewehner7179]

Our car is Fiona :)

[@yolandacastillo-newsome2697]

@@iankretschmer559 my car has a mustache on his steering wheel. I always tell him what a good boy he is and I'm so grateful he gets us around faithfully. His name is Ramón 😄 All of my vehicles he gave been male and Latino 😃

[@beatakubicki3070]

I recently traded in a car I wasn’t happy with and then felt bad and apologized to it for all my dissing and complaining as they drove it away. I felt genuine guilt 😂

[@ballisticsdummy7331]

I have aphantasia, which is the inability to see images in my mind. If you were to say 'imagine an apple' I would see a blank void but I 'see' it through it's conceptual factors. I know an apple is 'spherical-ish', it is red, it has a stem from the top center, and little feet nubs at the bottom. I KNOW those things about it so I can 'understand' what it should look like but I can't see it. It's essentially the inverse version of visualization and me and my other autistic friend who is able to see 3d space in intricate detail in his head have a lot of discussion about the topic. It's a fascinating rabbit hole to go down if it interests you and I do wonder how common it is in autistic people.

[@InterDivergent]

I also cannot 'picture' things in my mind. Until recently I thought this was just an idea.

[@davidwhite3042]

​@InterDivergent I am also aphantasic. I have to see things written down in words to be able to process them. When I am thinking I have to say the words (sub vocalisation) to have the thought. However I do have a facility with spatial thought. I can imagine a space - like my kitchen - and know exactly what is there and where, but just don't see anything.

[@hendrikrozijnenblad8666]

Same here. It's as if the part that "displays" to my awareness visualy is turned away from me, or wasn't conected. The image is there, i know it is, but i can't see it. It feels like having an expensive graphics card and a broken monitor.

[@mossoklontti]

I do the same with my partner who has aphantasia. I see 3d shapes and can check how, for example, a 5 tooth cog turns with different counterparts, meanwhile they need to calculate and go through some sort of catalog of definitions to have the same results. Fascinating

[@InterDivergent]

@@davidwhite3042 I'm exactly the same as you describe. In School, I always had to write everything down, I couldn't understand how other people 'pictured' things. I don't quite understand how we can get to such a mature age without either realising this or someone else picking up on it, teachers in particular.

[@SweetiePieTweety]

Oh my God overwhelming need for closure. Word! I can’t start a series unless the final chapter is published and all parts are available to do start to finish. Just can’t break-a-way. Why I’m always late… every task must be finished. And yes, the horribly awkward face blindness. Great vid ❤. Great shirt ❤

[@Autistic_AF]

@@SweetiePieTweety Thank you! ☺️

[@Batbitesthesecond]

Auyhh

[@Batbitesthesecond]

I do this too its so painful I cant get into anything that is incomplete

[@LiftPizzas]

I've been calling this completionism, and someone who does it is a completionist. :)

[@AergiaLaggante]

And it's really funny when you have ADHD too, so your brain absolutely wants you to complete the task at hand, but at the same time it doesn't give you the dopamine you need to stay focused

[@wendyheaton1439]

😂 Personification is just so me ... Here's a crazy example I wrap up all the scrapy bits of toilet paper stuck on the end of the roll in a larger piece to use because I don't want them to feel like their life didn't count...😂

[@Autistic_AF]

@@wendyheaton1439 😂😂😂😂

[@stephanieblahbiddyblah]

Omg me too

[@placeholder24678]

Like most of us, maybe the toilet paper aren't aware of their life purpose and the end bits would prefer to be recycled and hang out with the other recyclables for the remainder of their lives.

[@michellewehner7179]

Omg, I do that too!

[@JustClaude13]

I buy the dented cans in the store because I don't want them to feel bad if nobody buys them.

[@ikatmax]

I am fascinated by how things about myself that I thought were very odd and strange, when I speak to fellow Autists and people share my experiences it really helps me feel less alone, less odd and it makes me feel more comfortable in my own skin. Thank you Mike love this video

[@jenniferwhite7854]

Thank you for this, Mike. I am not officially diagnosed with autism, but there is a lot of it in my family. I have always been "odd" in numerous ways. When a friend of mine got a late in life assessment, we compared notes, and it is very likely I AM on the spectrum. I had a chuckle at your video because I check every box. And I found the pattern in about 5 seconds. Your videos assure me that, while I am weird, I no longer have to beat myself up about that, because I'm not broken. I'm just wired up differently.

[@Autistic_AF]

🧡

[@anthonyrowland9072]

Object personification has to come from hyper empathy. I open up bottles and jars before I throw them away so the liquids won't be trapped forever... lol

[@Plethorality]

I understand.

[@0riginal_Posterr]

I do that exact same thing lol

[@funniful]

Lol 😆…. My husband likes to put on a movie on his laptop to go to sleep. He’s asleep in ten minutes and I HAVE to stay up and watch til the end! I explained that to him, so now he puts on a short show.

[@funniful]

Yea…2 seconds to find the shape. I’m shocked that it takes others a full minute!

[@Autistic_AF]

@@funniful Same.

[@itstruckmeeveryday]

I tried for about 5 seconds but then my ADHD took over and I got bored 😬

[@placeholder24678]

Yes, same here.

[@KittyInTheGarden]

i spent ages being upset about the perspective errors before looking at the picture and finding it pretty quickly twice over (rotational symmetry of 2). total time about 25 seconds, with about 10 seconds actually looking.

[@lanawilling]

At first I saw 4 in different directions 😅 but then I understood that it has to be the one in the same vision angle

[@pauldugas1188]

faceblind here too,. sometimes even takes 2 -3 seconds to recognise my wife out in public.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

It's a pain, especially in the modern climate where people are expected to remember pronouns and know to ask. Or, where confusing people can be viewed as racist.

[@elvwood]

I don't know, I recognise people just fine in the right setting, it's just when I see them elsewhere, so not sure if that 'counts'? For example, I felt bad because a neighbour was disappointed I didn't recognise her when we saw each other at the leisure centre, but I'd have known who she was walking down our street.

[@pauldugas1188]

@@elvwood yeah that is me most of the time. Since unmasking, it is happening a bit more.

[@Forestnymph205]

I have never felt so seen about the time thing. I'm not timeblind, I know time is passing but I have no context for how much has passed. I can check my clock multiple times a minute thinking maybe 5 have passed and hours can feel like it is nothing. Having my clock with timers really help with this. It allows me to fully focus on a task without worrying about time. When I was young it was to the point that I would walk to my train 40 minutes in advance when the walk is 10 minutes. I've cut it down a lot now and only go 15 minutes early (so 5 minute wait) but it took a lot of effort and stress in the begining.

[@happyarjay]

''You level up like an RPG character'' I've often jokingly reffered to autism like this. With new ''abilites'' (autistic traits) getting unlocked as you level up.🤣

[@forestdweller3210]

I found the shape in about 45 seconds. Since the age of 4, every day of the week has had a colour and a shape for me. Many years ago, when I was a student, working part time in a supermarket, I served my GP and didn't recognise her. It was only when she handed me her bank card to pay that I realised who she was. Great video - thank you for making such interesting, fun and informative videos!

[@tamaraholloway9634]

All of the traits this far, yes, but the object personification, that's so me! If I take 3 cotton swabs out the package, I have to use them in the order I took them out. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair! Lol

[@turquoisemama33]

lack of face recognition in an out of context situation, is something I encounter more than I want to admit...... Everything Is Food.....

[@megleland6320]

About 6 seconds, but I have always been very good at these types of things. Yes I have mild face blindness, too. My ring finger IS longer, who knew! I always mean to just play/read for a quick 20mins, and 2hrs+ go by. I am over 40, but I still had to ask my mom to put an old smelly stuffy in the trash for me because I felt yucky doing it. We were doing a clear-out of old junk together and found my old racoon friend, and I just couldn't chuck it even though it stunk like mold:( What do you mean other people don't "think in pictures"??? What else would you do, just think the words? Crazy.

[@tardisgater]

Never found the box and it's bothering me that you didn't give the solution. Then everyone in the comments saying it's obvious... There weren't any rectangles next to each other...

[@carolinelabbott2451]

Poor instructons don't help. It would be better to ask which combination of lines in the second image make a very approximately similar combination of lines like the first image? It's not 100% identical but close enough. I had to ignore the find the box queastion and just find similar combination of lines. Still did not take me very long to do it once I ignored the question.

[@Let_Toons]

​​@@tardisgater It uses the square in the center, and the upperright CORNER OF THE PICTURE; As well as 2 other diagonals that touches the sides of the picture and the center square; As in, it uses the lines that mark the limit of the whole colored image. It also is _full_ of extras lines inside of it that do not exist on the original

[@WillowRowley-d1j]

@@carolinelabbott2451 I was going to say, that it isn't 100% identical threw me entirely and I'm still not entirely sure if I've actually "found" it or not because I require specificity in things like instructions. Oof.

[@honkytonkinson9787]

@@WillowRowley-d1j agree. I think I found it quickly but it doesn’t seem identical so wasn’t sure. I don’t like tests like that where I don’t know if I actually found the solution, but found a possible solution, and no way to verify. Then I have to remind myself that it’s just a stupid visual test that doesn’t invalidate my self worth

[@chrismaxwell1624]

What I saw immediately was a flattened box in dimension of the box on the right. That's not where I stopped. The lines are form boxes that go off the screen to right and come back on left to form the box in picture. Then my brain went to this is mess of lines and colors, I like red. Red is soothing. Yellow is kind of like the sun. Blue, I'd like to be at the lake in the sun but fire. Lots of forest fires this. I wonder if any are still burning. All rain must helped. Along images of Pac Mac(yellow) chased by 2 ghost (blue and red) off the screen to right and on back in on the left then the box was there again.

[@ikatmax]

8:16 hold on I do this with cars and with Crowley my Penguin soft toy that is 100% my comfort toy. Im also like that with my computer. 😂

[@heedmydemands]

Omg love the name Crowley

[@flapjackspeeder]

Matched all of these things ... except no synesthesia, and I think almost purely in words/facts/...ideas? Little to no visualization going on (aphantasia)

[@gamineglass]

Regarding my last vacation, I don’t see words or a picture but I remember the way my body felt in the space and how it smelled and sounded. And yes, I am autistic

[@anyaschneeweg5980]

Synaesthesia: For me taste is connected to tactile qualities. Things can taste round or sharp or cubic.

[@harrietwindebank6051]

Wibbly wobbly timey wimey

[@Mental_Health_Gym]

"Hey, it hasn't happened, has it? It has "will have going to have happened" happened, but it hasn't actually "happened" happened yet, actually."

[@carolinelabbott2451]

I'm time blind. Literally understand that time happens but not how long ago a thing was or how far or near an event is to occur, or how much time is currently passing. I need my nurse watch on me and lots of alarms to keep me aware of important events. Also 5 mins is nebulous to understand but 300 seconds feels so much happening now.

[@_xone]

Almost instantly, I spent more time looking for the stopwatch button on my phone when I was done 😂 BTW Mike, that shirt is 🤌

[@waywrdsun]

The first test with the box was so obvious to me I'm questioning whether I'm not doing it right. I didn't need to even measure my fingers--my ring finger is visibly, obviously longer than my index finger. This was a fun video, Mike! Yay, more validation that all the high scores on autism quizzes are correct! :)

[@lilykatmoon4508]

I experience most of these except for synesthesia and one other, I don’t remember, lol. As a former teacher, I struggled to remember students faces. I taught high school so had over 100 students. I discovered a work around using an alliteration name game that I played with each new class. Associating an alliterative adjective with each student helped me remember their faces. I greeted everyone at the door each class and if I had a problem remembering them, I’d ask them their adjective. This was very helpful at the beginning of the school year. After a week or two I was good- as long as I saw them in the class if I ever saw them out of school- I was often back at square one unless I tutored them or they were in a club I sponsored. The time thing really affects me. I can be reading a novel and next thing I know eight hours have passed. Same if I’m crafting or painting or something for one of my hobbies. I was diagnosed at 49, and my whole life has started to make sense these past four years. Great channel!

[@LiftPizzas]

Back in the day when using a calculator for school work, I always felt like the calculator had an opinion about my inputs. "You needed to type in 57 + 23 and couldn't just do it in your head?" Or that it would wonder why I was doing this particular operation on these particular numbers.

[@myworldautistic6839]

I saw it immediately and I didn't know what I was supposed to look for. So it literally took me a fraction of a second. I also saw many other details at the same time.

[@donnellallan]

Very interesting! Thank you. 💜 My contribution to this conversation is that it pains me to turn a song off before it's come to it's conclusion. How do people do that? 😊

[@LiftPizzas]

I'mmmmm sailing awaaaaaaaay...

[@helenedwardscomedy]

Always got really upset if the radio was on in the car and the driver turned the song off before the end.

[@donnellallan]

@@helenedwardscomedy, yes! 😄

[@CanisLupus1987]

You forgot speaking cat Language. Lol Joking. But cats are naturally drawn to me and me them

[@turtleburger200]

Cats are also the only thing I don't struggle making eye contact with

[@Armament0fJustice]

Cats usually like me because I don't bother them. I let them do their thing and if they say hi that is up to them.

[@IzzyKuma]

emphaty for objects! I've been nicknaming all of my computers since i was a kid! I feel super bad when i can't turn them on bc of technical difficulties (power outages or hardware issues), it's like "oh poor thing, i can't keep you alive for now". I'm also deeply attached to books, dolls (i still own most of my childhood toys bc i can't bear the thought of throwing them away or even giving them to someone else) and blankets

[@j.b.4340]

Fun video. Thanks. I hit all of these. (6:00, at work, I do the “heavy lifting”, and managed assigns a coworker to bring me water…because I get so wrapped up in the task, I won’t remember. It bothers them, for some reason)

[@jbr84tx]

I can relate to 'feeling bad for an object'. I rotate the mugs I use for my coffee because I don't want any of them to feel 'left out' or 'useless'. I know they're inanimate objects, but I still FEEL that way.

[@almostahippie]

Also the visualisation! I used to call them rehearsals. I do visualise everything so I am prepared.

[@CreativeAutistic]

This was such a fun video. I'm surprised it took so long for some people to find the cuboid as it took me around 5 seconds.

[@Starhunter1975]

I used to drive a school bus and the bus was my work mate and not just a vehicle. I like finding all the different ways my wiring is. I can’t tell when someone is talking fast, they sound normal speed to me, I don’t consciously know when I am holding or pressing to hard with my hands, this has coursed me to hurt myself but I am doing my best to recognise when I do this. I can build an object in my mind and I also have very visible hypothetical situations that I can create in my mind. When I was younger they were very negative, but as an adult I have learnt to make them very positive. I can even make my mind think I am happy or sad depending on what I visualise. While knowing at the same time that I am not having these feelings. I love how my mind and wiring work. I am also more logical with my way of thinking. My emotional and logical centres of the brain don’t seem to connect for me. It is like looking at events with two different point of views.

[@civishamburgum1234]

Whaddayamean under a minute? it took me under 10 seconds to solve this.

[@teazombie14]

the way you were talking about synesthesia and in my head a fraction of a second before you mentioned it i was like “man that must be what a mantis shrimp feels like” thank you for your content, it’s been helping ground me in a very stressful time

[@AkinaLOL]

I am very facinated by crime documentaries and we had an awesome crime show here that I always watched. It had active crimes, unsolved ones, an historic case every week as well and sometimes they would educate the audience about forensic tools and techniques. I have a post-it note from back then with doodles on that I made while watching one of those episodes and when I look at it I remember exactly what was on the screen and in my ears when I made it. The weather they had while filming the house, the time of day, the apple trees, everything.

[@suzannetunnicliffe2422]

I see things as pictures rather than words. For example I make cards for friends and family. I have a picture of the card I want to make in my head, then I get the bits to make it. If I'm interrupted I can lose it all and I'm not a happy person. Just thought you might like to know. Cheers Suzanne.

[@idreadFell365]

1:08 this reminds of how I make up guide lines in certain symbols I try to draw. Symbols that don’t already have these guide lines. Like seeing multiple different shapes in one complete insignia/crest. I’ve actually been drawing crests from a certain video game series on my calendar that is themed after that very series.

[@SebbyPlaysMusic]

All these "i got it in 5 seconds" made me feel like my autism is inferior or less valid. Damn you, internalized ableism! I've been pretty sure I also have ADHD lately; my eyes looked literally everywhere except the center. "Why is there no square?" 😵

[@Lutan_the_fey]

That was fun. I found the shape at the beginning in 7 seconds. But then again, one of my passions is drawing and finding shapes in things is pretty much one of the most important skills you just have to develop for that. And I definately do object personification a lot. It is a real struggle to throw away things.

[@sjzara]

Really interesting. I relate to almost all except not recognising faces - I’m extremely good with faces - completely useless at names.

[@Possumgrin]

I think being diagnosed late and then seeing stuff like this is interesting and at the same time feelings of overwhelm

[@CanisLupus1987]

Fascinating. Finger length also is linked to PCOS and "bossy"personality. Actually had a physician mentioning it when I got diagnosed with PCOS.

[@melinafaragao4379]

@@CanisLupus1987 PCOS are linked to autism due both being linked to metabolic disorders. And being “bossy” just might be an overlap between hormones and ASD assertions

[@fabs5163]

it took 2 second to find the box... do I get an award?

[@Autistic_AF]

🥇 🧡

[@JustClaude13]

You didn't show the box in the first section. I didn't see it at all. I could have cheated and said the yellow and blue sections are a lot narrower than they look and can be folded up to make a box, but they're just way to wide to make a square end. My brain isn't bending in the right direction to see it. Biphasic sleep is normal in people in their forties. Before electric lights it was a special time of night when people did small chores around the house.

[@jackpijjin4088]

I didn't know if we were allowed to ignore intersecting lines or if it had to be standalone with mo obstruction, it's gonna bother me all day >.

[@DJ_Black_Tourmaline]

cats are not my favorite pizza topping tbh. the object personification thing gave me a chuckle because i own four coffee cups and i do feel guilty if i am not using them equally often.

[@ikatmax]

4:27 what Im not alone in this with watching TV shows hahahah no way this is funny I do the same especially if I am watching with someone else and they get bored with the show or movie and my brain goes I need to know how it ends!!! Then I do the same IMDB thing hahahaha

[@Autistic_AF]

@@ikatmax 😂 Exactly!

[@edwardlulofs444]

My technique for coping with my ADHD is to work before others start. As a teacher, I would arrive at work at 3 or 4 am and leave early. At colleges where campus safety personnel change frequently, I would have a visit by them in those early hours fairly regularly until they figured out my work schedule. Every few years a new one would visit and I would have to show that I worked there. These work hours were nice when I could vent my meltdowns without bothering anyone. I’m glad to be retired…

[@wisecoconut5]

I get all of these! But the weird one is faces. I take a few seconds to recognize my relatives, neighbors, and friends, butt unlike my husband, I can instantly recognize celebrities. I will know their names and notable works, but I am not some uber fan. It is more of a random "talent." I can also spot those actors as children in movies. Celebrities are not a special interest. They are more like a collection of unimportant fa ts in my head.

[@illustrationmaking]

Love all of this. I always think, despite diagnosis, I’m a fraud. Then you give me a list of ten and I’m every one of them. In my work as an illustrator I work in my head in a movie/vr. Then just pause it and draw it. As a visual thinker I work as a graphic recorder in meetings and the visuals I create help neuro typical. Again, wonderful vid! 9oh… and which rpgs do you play?)

[@mariuszwisla3230]

Did you know, that, when you visualise an activity many times, and confirm it in reality, you can do all the steps required even when blindfolded later? E.g. in the dark, or if lose your glasses, while being shortsighted. Just close your eyes, and visualise all the steps again. that trick with london underground map, and knowing where you are always I call it 'my autopilot always knows which way is home', you never get lost, even if it is your first time in this city, or even country. Try sleeping when you tired instead of following cicadan rhytm. some days are longer, some shorter, the same with sleep. Though I'm rested best when I did 2 uniterupted cycles of sleep 3.5h-4h long each

[@homesteadgamer1257]

The closure thing is a huge struggle. It feels insanely strong in the moment, and unfinished conversations and such leave a huge gaping hole. It's hard enough to switch tasks I'm involved in, but end a conversation or pull someone in for a completely new conversation and just abandon the first conversation and it is almost like a stun gun was used. I can just about feel cogs in my brain sparking as they struggle to keep going. I've never associated colors with numbers, but I associate people with colors. People just feel like certain colors to me.

[@Sparkl1ngM1lk]

that closure thing omg I've struggled with it sooo much and i just thought ppl just didn't care enough to finish the thing they started with me

[@Yipper64]

10:45 one thing that's interesting to me is I can vividly recall the first moment I did this. I was talking to a school therapist and I think she was trying to figure out if I had empathy, so she was asking me if I could imagine a scenario, and I was like "oh man, yeah I can. Wow that's a cool thing I can do" And well my playground days where just a little less lonely, since I could imagine myself in scenarios. Really interesting that I didnt realize I could until prompted.

[@Autistamatic]

You see the image come up then realise that there's no point timing anything 'cos it's RIGHT THERE! Those little exercises you include from time to time are well picked & serve their purpose. Anyone would think you planned things in advance🤔

[@TheRealTMar]

My car is named Cyberman (Glistening grey 2014 Suzuki Alto) and I talk to him fairly often, the carwash is his spa, etc. And I imagine he's a transformer keeping our street safe with all the other transformed cars. My previous car was a red 2004 Suzuki alto named Red Dwarf. I imagine he transformed into a red metal dwarf from Middle Earth at night, putting baddies to his axe. I also need 'puzzles solved' or I just can't shake it or only after loads and loads of rumination. And I must do things right when I think about them. Often they can be done later, but I'm sure to forget.

[@wilhelmschmidt7240]

It's interesting how we all have our own unique expression of autism, but also so many shared experiences.

[@Possumgrin]

HOLY SHIT!!! the mind map thing!?! So validating! I have never understood how they can be so simplistic. I was a fourth year university student having the head of department trying to explain how to mind map to me and I couldn’t understand it at all because you’re forced to place things into boxes that don’t make sense and then somehow that’s going to make writing essays etc easier!?

[@suolainenomena7631]

So many things are the same with me and I wasn't really surprised that these are autistic traits. For some reason they make sense as traits

[@OrafuDa]

7:25 Darn! It’s faces *out of context!* That’s why! Now a few things from my past make so much more sense! Thanks, Mike, for mentioning this! 😊

[@stevenricks1703]

I was once participating in a clinical trial for a new medicine, and the nurse that I met with regularly saw me at the grocery store one day and said, "Oh, hey, how are you doing?" I said, "pretty well, thanks!" and walked away wondering "Who tf was that?" Took me a few hours to remember where I had seen them before.

[@writerious]

The shape -- I knew WHERE to find it straight off. It did take me a while to actually sort it out and hold the image. And object personification -- that, depression, and probable ADD and rejection-sensitive dysphoria were why I couldn't keep my room tidy when I was a kid. I hated to throw ANYTHING out. I felt sorry for it. Weird sleep patterns -- yes! I always took a long time to fall asleep when I was a kid and a young adult. A small dose (1 mg) of melatonin about an hour or so before bedtime is a huge help. And synesthesia! Yes! My earliest memory of synesthesia was coloring in shapes on a worksheet in kindergarten and getting upset that other kids were coloring theirs the "wrong" colors. That's also when I learned that no one wants to hear about it.

[@peterdentice5725]

7:25 Energy follows attention, and we are our attention. Remembering faces is quite difficult when you don't look at them or "when you do", it's either looking (in their direction) through them or at them which could sometimes appear as if you are.

[@KarenDUlrich]

This is a SPECTACULAR video. Might I suggest you do a follow up because much of what you described about empathy for inanimate objects, seeing colors and numbers, making pictures in our heads, etc. the mental health field identifies as schizophrenia. It is like the entire mental health world were absent from class for autism awareness. Or, autism is simply something they disregard since schizophrenia is so much more profitable. The problem with a schizophrenia diagnosis is the drugs are so harmful and cause so many side effects that they cause terrifying, out of control symptoms. Our brains are different. I wish the mental health field was flooded with neurodivergent who see, understand, and connect patterns and thoughts much more deeply, with more integrity and honesty than the world of neurotypicals.

[@AnnSan95]

For me numbers are colors. I love maths! It is like painting pictures. Never considered this to be an autism thing. Then again my friend first suggested the possibility of being autistic to me after I explained how I do math. I also often personify objects, especially things like my car, coffee machine or computer… I never even noticed until you brought it up. I have my first appointment for an assessment in November. We’ll see how that goes. Thanks for an other wonderful video ❤

[@GoodBeets4ME]

The first task I did in under 15 seconds. Ticked the boxes of all the rest. It nice to have 10 more things to stop giving myself crap for. Can I go to MIT? More importantly, your shirt. Utter perfection. my synesthesia is bright flashes with associated with noises and touch. And looking at some things make me shiver hard. Music is very glittery but as a physical sensation.Thank you.

[@IlIlIlIlIllIllII]

I have always been an extremely visual thinker. People having no mind’s eye is incomprehensible to me since I can visualize really complex things in my head, and usually get them onto paper easily. People are always shocked at how well I can draw too. But then again I can see how if you are someone who thinks in words it’s probably helpful in social situations!

[@luisoncpp]

the "empathy for objects" is not only an autistic thing, there is an episode in Mind Field, when they analized the responses of volunteers watching people destroying cell phones they pretty much experienced an emphatic response.

[@personax4603]

1:07 I' ve found it in 5 seconds...

[@drezhb]

ikr I confused myself thinking there must be more than one cause it's so obvious

[@jules9669]

Same, took between 5 and 10 seconds for me

[@diamondphoenix6547]

When you said close your eyes and imagine your last vacation, I realized I couldn't remember my last vacation... lol

[@ICLHStudio]

I used to think that I had really strong visualization (which is somewhat true, although I've definitely met people with way stronger), and I definitely have a hard time thinking in language in comparison (which is more noticeable since I have some family members who are extremely verbal thinkers); but what I discovered is that really I think in 1st person kinesthetic experience. I can picture an object pretty strongly, and often rotate or move it in my mind's eye decently well, but I can picture holding it and moving it in my hands much, much clearer; and when doing so I can feel the weight and the form and the texture stronger than I can see the color or the shape. Like, I can imagine being on a roller coaster to the point where I can practically tangibly feel the drop in my stomach or the g-forces pushing me back; and I know it's not just a trick of imagining the visuals really well or anything, because I can imagine riding the roller coaster with my eyes shut, get no visuals at all, and still get those same sensations just as strongly. The place where this has become most useful to me is in art stuff (in particular, I write/draw comics and do some animation). I've learned that I have a moderately hard time coming up with camera angles and compositions for shots and stuff, but if there are complicated motions and movements, I know intuitively exactly what the physical positions and momentum of any character or object are (even in the midst of a jumping, spinning, upside-down, kung-fu kick with matrix-style orbiting camera, it's not actually much harder for me than a regular kick from a static side-view); it's not just that I can see it in my head, I can *feel* it in my head. It's been particularly effective in writing/drawing action scenes, but it's been surprisingly good for planning out character work through body language as well (which is a little odd considering how bad I am usually at reading or emoting through body language). (Also, during that 'object-in-the-image' thing; my first thought was to hone in on how it specifically said "Object" not "Shape", so I was assuming that we were supposed to just think of it as a rectangular prism, and see that big square in the middle or one of the many rectangles as just looking at it straight on from one side or something; but once I realized that's not what it meant, it took me a long time to go back and re-adjust how I was seeing it to be able to find it properly).

[@malcolmkinnon8436]

I have this thing where I have always had specific colours associated with days of the week

[@ElskaTheAnimator]

There was a super awkward time where a person came to me while I was sitting in the snow and said « Hi!!! Do you need help? » and I just thought she was a nice random person so I said « Oh, no I’m fine thanks! » and thought it was over but then… « It’s been a while! » « What do you mean…? » « You don’t… remember me from your class of last year…? » « …No… What’s your name…? » « ______________ » « Oh y-yeahhh I do… remember you hahaha…. » I literally did not remember her that much at all though 😭😭😭

[@AJansenNL]

I'm not too sure about the finger ratio thingy. The research itself seems inconclusive, and it seems to be related to the 'extreme male brain theory', which is highly problematic.

[@SKM-y8m]

My synesthesia is with numbers. Its almost like i can speak to the frequency of numbers & understand it like deeply. Almost everything resonates lol the first test I thought it was a trick question because I was like it’s right there straight away & my ring fingers are longer than my index fingers. A Late diagnosed female lol I was 30 at the time.

[@kristirehm5888]

I used to think chairs had personalities and feelings when I was a kid. If I walked into a room I could see some chairs as grumpy or lonely. I had strong feelings sometimes or little emotional 'shocks' that would show up as colors and shapes that moved in my head. The closest I can describe them is as a screensaver - you know the ones that made designs, and shifted in color as they moved. It wasn't often but strong emotions usually triggered those. Also had an imaginary string that followed me so if I entered a room I had to exit it a certain way so as not to get 'tangled' up before I reached the threshold of the door.

[@metadaat5791]

hi! I was very curious about the first example so I asked a (not autistic, female) friend to also solve the first example. We both got it in about 10 seconds, and we both feel the times listed in your video are kind of long ... So I decided to look up your reference for this, it is the first citation under "Attention to Detail", right? Except I can't find the picture in that paper, is it the right citation? ... can you maybe tell a bit more about your references for this example?

[@Autistic_AF]

@@metadaat5791 Apologies! I will correct my citations very soon.

[@alejandro-314]

I always wait until the song ends before getting out of the car. I have playlists that last the exact amount of time that takes me to get to the office.

[@Irisarc1]

I found the box in figure 1 in about 10 seconds, but was because it took me a moment to figure out what was required. My ring finger is labout 0.5 cent longer than my index finger. Closure. I laughed out loud when looking up endings of movies or TV shows on IMDb. I definitely do that. Sometimes with books I don't want to finish. I am often late, even though I make a special effort to be on time. I will start getting ready early, then find myself with only minutes left, if that, before I need to leave. I know it can annoy some people, but I do try really hard, but I just can't do it sometimes. Many of my things have personalities, especially my car. I have an EV, but she's older, so when we make good time going somewhere and end up making it home with energy to spare, I always thank her, and tell her she's a good girl. I also praise her when we are going somewhere by stroking the steering wheel and saying she's a good car. Definite sleep problems. If I have to get up early, I am even more likely to have trouble sleeping. I have synesthesia, which I always thought was a weird, unique thing about me that I didn't tell anyone about. I was so shocked to find that others have my form, too. Letters and numbers, as well as days of the week, months, and a few other normally common things have gender, age and particular personality traits. Visual thinker here. Verbal or written instructions can be difficult for me to follow without picturing the process. I really enjoyed this video. It kind of made me feel closer to the autistic community in a way.

[@PaulaRoederer]

I definitely struggle with face blindness and personification.

[@StenyGaming]

Thing about not recognizing faces... I am a chef so late nights come with the job. A lot of those late nights end up at the bar. One night in large city I end up at the bar and who's this next to me but my brother's wife's brother have met him many times. His name is Jon. He turned to me and explained, "Erik"! I did not recognize who he was he had explained himself to me "Hey, it's me,Jon!" I didn't even recognize my own in-law. Just out of place out of mind but it all adds up.

[@nautblue4284]

Not diagnosed, but pursuing. I visualize thoughts sometimes while driving... I also feel the thought... It's dangerous. I've caught myself on the center line and corrected in time to avoid collision during these thoughts. Usually emotionally charged thoughts.

[@mouselander]

It took ppl time to find the object? I can see it right away if yu rotate it there are 4 - or I didnt understand the puzzle? 😀

[@lastlight4252]

Visual thinking. When I was 7 or 8, I read a book about a magical kngdom. It had pictures of knights on horseback, women in grand dresses, fields, forests, the stone tower, and so much more. I saved that book. I had read it in one weekend. I treasured it. Twenty years later I decided to look at the pictures again. I opened thee book. There was not a single picture in it. Juse one on the cover page. I was, and still am, astonished!!!

[@flaauws]

Took me about 2 seconds to find the shape. Yes, ring finger is longer than index finger. Yes, overwhelming need for closure. Yes, I need clear purpose or I will get distracted (I've assumed this is ADHD which I also (probably) have). Ok with time (mostly) and good with faces (mostly). Yes, I have connections with objects: I got so sad when my cousin nicked some computer games and sold them and when my neighbour buried my Wicket figure...still feel things like this to an extent. Always had sleep problems as a kid and young adult: since burnout, not so much. Have some very mild synesthesia: there are names, colours, or days of the week that feel a certain way or are related to certain things. Yes, I struggle with instructions that I can't visualise in some way and as a kid I always had to copy or follow classmates: not that I found work difficult (I was pretty strong academically); I just couldn't follow the instructions.

[@helenedwardscomedy]

I found the shape in under 10 seconds... in dim lighting... If you EVER leave me hanging in a conversation, I will never let you forget it! I blanked someone (unintentionally) who worked at the local comedy club in lockdown when I saw them in the street wearing different clothes (I had gigged there 5 times and been to see lots of shows). I currently have to play white-noise all night with a podcast over the top, on nights where I have to be up for work the next day because of my noisy, inconsiderate neighbours. I have struggled with sleep my entire life, though. I thought Monday was red for everyone. One of the reasons hammer dulcimer (musical instrument) makes sense to me is I visualise a shape for every tune. I can't remember verbal instructions unless I ask the person to repeat themselves and/or sloooooooow dooooooooown and I write everything down as well. Anyway, I can't get diagnosed because I write really well and I have empathy (eyeroll).

[@1976Copper]

I enjoy your presentations and am glad to be "represented" by you. I am glad to point others to your content when they need more understanding.

[@hannahmitchell87]

Synesthesia: I have letter groups. I mix up similar letters because they have the same colour. So if I'm trying to think of someone's name for example, I'll get a feeling of the colour along with the first letter. I'm not really seeing a colour per se but more feeling, in the back of my mind & the letters in each group intermingle & share characteristics that I struggle to describe. Eg the letters B,J,L,N,R are all quite interchangeable. That's the strongest group & like a dusty blue. It always made sense if I accidentally called someone Jenny & they turned out to be a Rachel. Same letter group! But people didn't get it. A, H & K are reddish, D & G are green. I wonder if I just rehearsed them so much I've learned them rather than actually having Synesthesia sometimes. My Mum thought it was so weird, she wrote them down when I was a kid & used to check, so I've got a bit of imposter syndrome & self doubt. Same with Autism. Not diagnosed. Who am I? 😅

[@TashaJaeger]

3 seconds, equal length, meetings are the worst, faces are difficult (it's even in my genetic testing I've had done!), and I feel bad for objects all the time. I feel bad for the scraps of veggies I throw away when making dinner!! Sleep is... rough to say the least. Numbers have personalities for sure (6 is my favorite because it's kind). Pictures for sure.

[@emharper8431]

The visual thinking one is interesting to me, because I never really considered what type of thinker I am, but I have always thought in images rather than words, and it doesn't make sense to me to think in words! Like how can you truly experience and understand what you are thinking about unless you are visualising it. I also feel strong connections to certain inanimate objects but never thought of that as weird. It feels like it is a natural expression of having deep empathy maybe? And being so acutely connected to everything around you that you recognise it as being part of you/your consciouness, dunno if that makes sense to anyone else.

[@carbon1479]

1:06 - Like the psychic super-spies they are KZbin dropped an advertisement right at 1:06.

[@stephenie44]

I didn’t know prosopagnosia included not recognizing faces out of context. Huh. I guess that’s me then. When someone says hi out of their usual context, my brain starts rapidly flipping through life contexts to try and find a match (work? School? The gym? Camp? Church? A neighbor? Dr? Therapy? Etc etc)

[@ryanmahaffie329]

10:30 vacation? What is this strange thing you speak of?

[@ConservativeSatanist666]

10:51 oh wow.. "visual thinking". I don't think I would have loved books like Goosebumps and others did I read as a kid nor do I think I would have the comprehension I have for physics now if it wasn't for being able to visualize what I'm reading. And to be completely honest until I was in 8th grade I thought everybody did it. That is until I asked Mom whether or not she does it when she reads. She's always been a big book nerd and loves reading and she said she's never seen pictures in her head. I was baffled!!