DO YOU HAVE SENSORY ISSUES? ME TOO! let's talk about them

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Related: autism, autism diagnosis, Paige layle, paigelayle, paigelayle tiktok, tiktok videos, autistic, autistiktok, autistok, autism spectrum disorder, Aspergers, Aspergers syndrome, autism in girls, dsm, autistic kid, autism mom, autism family, autism speaks, autism awareness, autism acceptance, ABA, ABA Therapy, studying, studying tips, studying tips for neurodivergents, ADHD, plane, airport, first time airport, airport help

[@beccasalts6294]

I’ve always had sensory issues especially regarding hearing, but the worst time was last year when I hadn’t gone outside in like 6 months so me and my sisters went to a very crowded mall and all the talking and music and people was to much for me, and I had a panic attack, which helped me realize a lot of my past panic attacks at school were from sensory overload.

[@saszy5198]

Ooo this is interesting. This could explain my panic attacks in school.

[@spencersb.s.]

The same thing happened to me the first day of school this year. We have a very small cafeteria and *_EVERYONE_* was in it. It was the loudest place I had been since quarantine started, and I had a panic attack from sensory overload.

[@anonymouslystupid5857]

I went to a mall today in a different town so there were more people then I'm use to in my hometown mall (its going out of business.) I started getting really agitated, and irritable, and I picked off my whole bottom lip. I ended up yelling at my brother and felt bad. I realized and tried to calm my anger at least but was still anxious

[@Ameliamaemay1990]

Oh I'm so sorry!!

[@sazzle312]

Before the pandemic I went to the aquarium with some friends (who are also on the spectrum), and for once we decided to shamelessly go full autismo mode; comfy, heavy work boots, noise cancelling headphones, jewelry we like to use for stimming, and sunglasses despite it being an overcast day. We got a few looks but that didn't detract the slightest bit from how CHILL the trip was. No one got cranky or snappy, no one got a headache, no one zoned out and got lost, you get the point lol. I know not everyone is lucky enough to have the majority of their inner circle on the spectrum, or be in a safe enough area to 'look autistic', but if you can, please don't be ashamed to put your own comfort first! I also once had a classmate who picked headphones that were fashionable and just omitted the entire discussion by telling the class he had a punctured eardrum.

[@samwell7178]

Fun fact from someone who studies neuroscience: you likely have different sensory responses to touch versus pain because those signals are conveyed through entirely different sensory receptors! Pain and temperature are conveyed through one type of sensory neuron and then different pressure and texture sensations are carried through other sensory neurons :)

[@HemiBrat]

Somatosensory cortex is & its primary function is to detect sensory info from the body regarding temperature, proprioception, touch, texture, and pain.

[@mathildetobin4314]

oh my god ive never heard of alice in wonderland syndrome but as soon as you said that phrase i knew exactly what you meant - when im in bed trying to go to sleep, i'll either feel like im really tiny in a giant bed, or really giant in a tiny bed. it doesnt bother me most nights, but sometimes it can be so extreme that i have to open my eyes to remind myself of my normal size. i never knew that was like a describable thing that other ppl experience!!

[@acetronaut]

I don't think it counts as alice in wonderland syndrome if it's only when you're trying to sleep (I think it happens to everyone) but if it happens at any time that's Alice in Wonderland syndrome

[@leeleeb7413]

I haven’t watched the video yet, but I do that too sometimes when I’m trying to sleep! I thought it was just me. How do you even google something like that?? Nice to know I’m not alone!

[@Max-ww6uj]

omg exactly! I find that mine is linked to vestibular hyposensitivity and I need to get more of that twirling action :)

[@bramble820]

@@acetronaut I have never experienced this, trying to sleep included. Can't wrap my brain around it. But I wonder for those who do if a weighted blanket would help them feel their body enough?? to know how big they are.

[@acetronaut]

@@bramble820 I sleep with a heavy quilt and it doesn't help, I need to see myself

[@jellybean_18]

I work at a grocery store as a teenager and it's terrible for me. SO MANY NOISES ALL AT ONCE and I feel so exhausted and i want to cry when I come home. I live with my family, so when I get home and people start talking, I immediately need to put my headphones on and go in the other room with youtube or music. I also babysit I feel like that is a better job for me because I get paid more and it's less people, less noises (Yes kids can be quieter than grocery stores) and people I feel comfortable enough not to mask as much around. I'm still trying to figure out if I'm autistic or just sensitive to noise and smells and light and there's more socially but I'm still unsure and I think I need to create a binder for myself to get it all organized in my brain.

[@laurakurkowski4413]

“It smells BIG” I so feel that!

[@BliffleSplick]

Part of the smell sensitivity that people don't talk about is being able to smell things that "don't have a smell" Like heat. I can smell if something is hot / someone left the stove on / the oven is on / the furnace was just on because it smells like burning dust. I can also hear/smell water to an absurd degree. All the supersenses, none of the superpowers

[@VindicatorMike]

I was disappointed misophonia wasn't mentioned. It's gotten unbearable for me in recent years. Kids screaming, dogs barking, loud music in cars driving by, pots and pans banging together, loud TV's. It causes a lot of anxiety and even upsets me. I can't handle noise anymore.

[@scissorskier3006]

I literally had no idea there was “too little” only “too much” when it came to sensory issues…everything makes a lot more sense now holy crap Also the stage! Gosh!! I thought no one could see over those lights and then recently someone said everyone does just fine and I was so confused

[@whoknows.201]

wait people can actually normally see the crowd? on the very small stage I've performed on I can see maybe three people in the front row right in front of me :/

[@jessicarose8930]

i have this weird thhing with my ears,when i go to enter some shops,i hear this high pitch kinda tone,i have to cover my ears or it will drive me nuts lol. but once im in it goes away ive asked a few friends if they can hear it also but they say no they cant,i have no clue what this is.any ideas

[@JeffAdams0]

@@jessicarose8930 probably an electrical noise; AC electricity in most countries is on a 50 or 60 hz oscillation which can cause certain types of electrical things to make a high pitched buzz or whine at that frequency. It was really common with old CRT style computer monitors and televisions, sometimes also fluourescent lights do it. A lot of people don't notice it but I am also very sensitive to it. The good news is it is getting less and less common with newer technologies like flat panel screens and LED lights.

[@teallineart8805]

That’s interesting. I don’t have autism, but I have a brain injury and one of the effects of that is that it can make it hard to tolerate bright lights. However, I did theatre and choir in high school and those lights didn’t really bug me oddly enough.

[@AryaFairywren]

@@jessicarose8930 in shops specifically? google "ultrasonic tracking advertisement stores", it's used to serve us ads. might be that.t..t

[@sammyyyroses4249]

PSA FOR THOSE WITH SENSORY ISSUES THINKING ABOUT BECOMING PREGNANT: pregnancy was the worst experience of my life as someone with sensory issues. It was a sensory nightmare. Beware.

[@JRVan-ez4yi]

But as a plus things that get a response of "your being over sensitive" etc in day to day life becomes OK for a pregnant person to complain about and people are more willing to do things to help reduce sensory overload.

[@magiaistnieje]

Oh my God, I've never thaught of that. I have sensory issues and was dreaming of like 3 kids with my husband.. And now I'm scared shitless. My regular day life is sensory overload... Oh man

[@AfroditeBell]

I’d say the resulting child has been more of a sensory nightmare for me than the pregnancy. Everything is sticky.

[@Restingmadface]

Hello 👋 hypersensitive feeler here. Pregnancy was an interesting experience. Uncomfortable at times. I could always tell exactly which part of my baby was touching what part of my body at any given time. But I loved the experience overall. So it could go both ways. It just depends on your perception of the interactions.

[@LadyCatherineDeBurgh]

@@AfroditeBell "Everything is sticky" this is exactly the thing that I'm not looking forward about having kids. Word for word.

[@TehTeh911]

I'm also scent sensitive and have chronic migraines triggered by scents and especially perfume. Perfume literally is hell to be around for me, even passing someone with a ‘reasonable’ amount I end up tasting it, coughing, and hoping to not get a migraine.

[@strawberrysky4890]

me too! i will never EVER work in a department store again lol

[@tinkagriff]

Perfume and sweet chemical smells (like certain candy or sweet drinks) drive me nuts. I get head ace, throat ace, feel like I need to puke or a general bad shaky feeling. I can only think about this smell and how badly I want it gone. I never understood the books where someone refers to their mothers perfume as something positive. I would alway moan and complain if my mother wore any and usually get into a fight. I wonder if it is some kind of allergy to a ingredient frequently used in perfumes, as I can stand smells in other products like shampoo.

[@threefreaksonaleash6619]

Meee too

[@peanutbuttersandwich5735]

I have this exact issue!! usually i just avoid floral perfumes, scented hand sanitizer, & candles, and only buy perfumes that don't contain alcohol (alcohol makes it worse for some reason). also all my lotions and soaps are unscented lol

[@alicia1636]

Yesss same My migraines also get truggered by too much Noise,stress(sensory overload for eg)

[@queencelestyna]

The hyposensitive to pain thing resonates with me. I broke my arm in high school, and the doctor at the ER couldn't believe I wasn't crying after taking the x-ray. The only reason I'd even gone in is that my mom saw how swollen my arm was and asked what happened (I'd fallen on some stairs). When I told her, she couldn't believe I hadn't said something sooner.

[@YautjaSpacePirate]

Me too. I heard it's common for autistic people to be pain tolerant.

[@MiotaLee]

I had a double ear infection as a kid and the only reason they noticed was because my little sister had an infection in one ear and was crying her eyes out. The doc only checked me because , y'know, kids and cross-contamination.

[@sazzle312]

Yeah the hyposensitivity to pain (and temperature too!) seems to be common on the spectrum. A simple touch hurts but I walked around on a broken foot for months because I didn't want to bother the doctor during a pandemic, especially since it "didn't hurt that bad" despite turning almost black with bruising. I've walked around in -10 (celcius) in nothing but a tanktop. I have another friend with aspergers who is just impervious to pain to an unnerving degree. I have seen her almost tear half her scalp off when her hair got stuck in a power drill, slice her hand open to the tendons, get bitten by several animals and have a brazillian wax all without the slightest flinch, just a puzzled look. Same goes for my parents. I've seen my mom walk in heels on two broken ankles, ("well I don't want to be carried out to the doctor and it's raining outside.") And my dad fall down those steel stairs that slice you to ribbons , and just walk it off, and all but laugh when half his ear got sliced off (for the second time, weird that it happened twice :/) Sensory disorders are crazy

[@greatmarloes]

Ive experience exactly the same thing. My parents also didn't believe me when I said I heard something break so I just dropped it till my parents noticed I was still holding my wrist straight with my other hand days later .

[@Nakia11798]

Yeah, I got some confused looks from doctors when I said my pain was a 4/10 when I had appendicitis. On the other side, I also cry like a baby if I get a scratch. I think it's just because I can see skin injuries.

[@camrynsingsandreads8614]

I've never been diagnosed with anything but holy crap I feel seen. Velvet is an absolutely evil texture. I also have almost no hunger/fullness cues. I have also had bladder issues where as a high schooler I sometimes wet myself because I didn't get the cues until it was too late. One very loud sound is fine, but multiple noises are painful. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.

[@nateo200]

Same except for the Velvet I really like it lol. It has always beeen sooooo hard for me to gain weight but easy to lose it...I blame this partly or mostly on POTS though which is very cmmon in neurodivergent folks. It causes gut issues, dizziness on standing, heat intolerance, and issues with the neurotransmitters causing them to fire excessively which can suppress appetite.

[@Pxrcelain117]

Velvet is like cats or snakes. I can only pet it one way 😭 Either it feels REALLY good and I'll pet velvet to stim, or it's REALLY bad and I want to explode

[@bleepbloop9123]

Oh god velvet

[@bleepbloop9123]

I can only wear 100% cotton or silk

[@Jynxedlove]

17:27 I often joke with my friends "AHH I AM SO ANGRY I NEED TO PEE" over things that make me mildly upset and trigger my brain to realize that the bladder is part of the anger issue.

[@antares5561]

Hence being "pissed off"

[@Jynxedlove]

@@antares5561 If this was reddit I would give that an award.

[@NovaLeeNation1687]

Omg! I FEEL this in my soul!!! Embarrassing to admit but several times I’ve lost my temper and literally pissed my pants…

[@Aroacerat]

Same, but for me its anxiety

[@HeyItsNovalee]

“I had a fear that someone would exploit me by forcing me to eat olives” …new fear unlocked!! 😃

[@nateo200]

Lmfao

[@cssruth]

I'm a preschool teacher, I often have students who have no diagnosis but clearly have something going on. This video was very helpful. I've always thought that the kids I have that are sound sensitive must be sensitive to loud sounds but it might just be complex sounds.

[@toni5543]

I dislike repetitive noises like tapping or alarms. I dislike loud noises, they startle me and distract me. I hate the cold, it makes me feel like my skin is being stabbed with needles all over. I don't like crowded places because I can't control who is around me or what they will do. I don't like super bright lights because they overstimulate me. I dislike when my socks slip out of position In my shoes. I love soft fabrics. I like soft and slow touches. I like to play with my hair. I'm 25 and I'm only just consiously learning about how these things affect me. Thank you for your video!

[@julk1]

Q: Paige, do you sometimes feel 'childish' for having needs different than other people's needs? Because I as a diagnosed autistic sometimes feel so childish for having special needs or accommodations as if I was a child that everyone has to adjust to. I wonder if that's just me. I feel oftentimes so stupid for having different mind and perceveing things differently than other people do.

[@thepanda9782]

That is literally an inner monologue created by other people...that's not feeling 'childish' it's the feeling of shame. There is nothing inherently wrong with you for having different needs. Consider the framing; would we say a person with vision difficulties is 'childish' for needing to sit at the front of class? No, they can't help not seeing as well as others. Sure, they could choose to sit further back and 'make it work', but they're gonna have to make up for it in another way and work harder just to understand what is being taught. By calling them 'childish' for asking to sit at the front, we are ignoring their difference in needs and trying to shame them because it's inconvenient for us to treat them as an individual. Anybody saying that is at best really uneducated about disabilities, and at worst is being ableist. I know I'm not the person you wanted to answer, but I get how it feels to be ostracized like that. I have ADHD + Autistic traits and I have always felt very isolated from my peers because people conflated my needs/behaviours with bad personality traits or just 'weird'. I know that it still doesn't change that feeling right away, but know you're not alone - a lot of neurodivergent people have been made to feel this way because accomodating our needs is inconvenient (so instead of accepting us, they try to shut us down by telling us we're stupid/childish/rude/etc). Work on reframing it in your mind (this will probably take time), and keep on trying to vocalize and meet your needs. The people around you might not like that you are neurodivergent and falsely believe they can shame you out of having different needs, so you might meet a lot of opposition. The false idea we are fed as neurodivergent people is that if we just stay quiet and pretend (mask) that we will somehow be ok; we might even be praised for it, but I garauntee you that it will only make you feel even more isolated, shameful, and exhausted. Keep being a burden! Eventually you'll get to a place where you stop internalizing what others say. I would also highly encourage you to look up research behind why you have certain needs. If you can explain to the people who say these things why it's different for you, they might be more likely to rethink their words/actions. For example, lets say you don't like big crowds because it makes you have panic attacks due to sensory overload, but your family wants to go shopping at the mall for Christmas...and so they call you childish for needing to bring your headphones and limiting time at the mall. Look up articles or research on sensory integration disorders in autistic people and show this to your family, you could then explain to them (SCRIPT) "If I don't use these strategies to meet my needs, I can't do the thing you want me to do. I'm not, and I'm never going to be 'normal'. Asking me to do things 100% your way isn't feasible just like I can't ask for you to do things 100% my way. I'm compromising by going into a situation that is really difficult for me because you want me to, and have even gone so far as to tell you what strategies will help me get through this. Asking me to leave my headphones behind and stay longer than I can cope with isn't a realistic strategy and will result in an outcome that is less desirable for both of us." That's obviously a really specific example but I hope you get what I'm saying! I wish someone else had taught me this when I was younger and struggling really badly with my mental health. Now I'm just starting to get treatment, and honestly it's significantly reduced my negative feelings. I honestly hope this helps, bc neurodivergent people like us also deserve to be treated fairly. You aren't childish and you are worth getting your needs met.

[@MiChelle-sc9pb]

Hi, also autistic/ADD here . these comment sections are so supportive it's so comforting to read. Thanks for sharing . I have some experience with being labeled like this, and I've come to realise, it's almost a defensive reaction, that comes from, in my opinion, subconscious bitterness at the way they were raised, as well as a "this is the way things are" mentality. The way I see it, it's sad that, they are so used to giving up their own needs that they try to make others do the same, or don't hope for anything better. Generations of programming. Even knowing there's another way, that you can accommodate people and be considerate of their needs, and receive that in return, it's like an alien concept. It's not you. It's the environment. Keep going and keep advocating for yourself. You're not childish.

[@julk1]

@@thepanda9782 Thank you SO SO SO much for this comment!!! I'm literally in tears because of it, it's so comforting. Thank you so much for taking time and writing this comment because it means so much to me 💕 You're right - it's shame. Maybe also because most of my life I thought I was 'normal' and I would shame myself for having different needs and would just say "no, it's stupid, stop being dramatic" or something along those lines. Also, other people see me as 'normal' which can be really harmful (though I don't blame them) as they'd forget that I do need accommodations. Being with them (I've got great people at uni) makes me feel as if I was 'normal' so it's even harder to admit to myself that I do in fact need help with things they don't need help with. Thank you so much for all your advice and encouraging words and just thank you for being a wonderful human being 💕💕

[@julk1]

@@MiChelle-sc9pb Thank you so much for this comment! I agree with you that maybe they're just so used to giving up their needs that it's a foreign concept to accommodate someone around them. I'm also used to giving up my needs and blending in so I get why it's hard for them to change. But it's a toxic mindset and the results are so harmful... Thank you for comforting me, it's so nice and considerate of you to take time out of your day and write this comment, thank you for being a wonderful human being 💕

[@queenseby]

Hey Julia I just wanted to wish you well. :) I think I ended up ranting and talking of other things? sorry. There's no need for you to read all this Julia if you don't feel like it. It seems like i wrote a lot. I have also been lead by others (my parents) to feel/believe untruthful yet horrible things about myself. Our struggles are very real they are part of our own personal life experiences but they are not of easy perception by others, that's why people can dismiss or be skeptical about our struggles, both because they can't understand our struggles (not if they don't listen to us) and also due to the the general lack of awareness that there is. I think I can see a parallelism of sorts with being LGBTQ+ when it comes to the lack of awareness, it can have so many negative effects. Awareness would have saved me so much pain on my life, that and my life would be in a better place now too. Being lgbtq I dealt with a lot of internalized homophobia and transphobia, having ADHD (I'm undiagnosed but I am 1000000% certain about it) and maaaaybe being autistic (I really don't know. Hmmm, it's a FACT that socialising is not my strength), I struggle a lot with sounds they overload my senses easily, and I have a really hard time doing basic chores. Even though I was to a degree aware of my own struggles I ended up convinced by my parents that I was just lazy.. and other harsher things I won't mention. Spreading awareness is so important and I say this both as a queer and a (quite possibly) neurodivergent person. It's not only helpful to make people more accepting of, well, us. But also specifically, it helps so that people that are lgbtq and/or neurodivergent both understands and accept themselves as well as being aware of their struggles so that they work on ways to make their lives better, to ease their struggles, to be themselves, to seek help if they need it, and to show them that they are not alone, and other people out there have similar life experiences and understands them. Going back to feeling 'childish' I've definitely felt very childish for different reasons that I think could be related.

[@sezzadore]

Your body not telling you what it needs is frustrating 😅 I have an app on my phone that schedules and and alerts me to drink water every 45 minutes. Because I was only having a few gulps of water every day because my body never told me it was thirsty, it barely tells me it’s hungry. But the apps been great! This entire video was too relatable 😂

[@m.a.s.o.n_the-icon_4210]

What's it called

[@sezzadore]

@@m.a.s.o.n_the-icon_4210 Drink Water Reminder N Tracker

[@m.a.s.o.n_the-icon_4210]

@@sezzadore thanks😊

[@Anonymous-df8it]

@@sezzadore You couldn't just set a timer on your phone?

[@sezzadore]

@@Anonymous-df8it I tried doing that but it wouldn’t work the way I wanted it to. I don’t mind having the app, it’s nice

[@bloodfaythe13]

I have been searching for AGES for an explanation for the "too big, too small" feeling I used to get when I lay down and close my eyes (as well as someone else who can't stand the texture of fat) THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing and educating, I feel so much better now

[@joycebrewer4150]

While I can't relate to "alice in wonderland " feelings, I so CAN relate to fat aversion in my food. I used to beg mom not to put butter in my sandwiches, I cut seams of visible fat off my meat even tiny ones before eating. If I am served a soup with fat floating on top I scoop icecubes out of my beverage into soup to cause the fat to become solid enough to spoon out of the bowl before eating the rest. In highschool, I forced myself to eat dill pickles which I loathed, until I could tolerate them. They were a frequent item on the menu, and sometimes the only vegetable offered at lunch.

[@launacasey6513]

It's so wild how different we all are! I wish I could trade out some of my sensitivities. Smells set me off, my skin is sensitive, I don't react well to fabrics/tags or certain metals, I am hyper sensitive to pain, I'm either too hot or too cold, I hear everything and have irritability or anger to some sound triggers, my sight has always been amazing - like I can see tiny raindrops in the distance, I can taste impurities in food (but I'm more put off by textures), I forget to eat sometimes, but luckily I know where my body is most of the time (this gets worse prior to my menstrual cycle).

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Q: Hi Paige! I realized I was Autistic 4 months ago with your help. I am really grateful to you for that. You and I are super similar despite assumed gender differences; that said, I consider myself non-binary. I know you’ve talked about gender before, but I’d like you to talk about it again, if you want! Like a lot of girls and women, or anyone who mostly internalizes instead of externalizing, I escaped detection despite it supposedly being easier to see in males (not me!). My therapist is grateful to you for showing me tho! She’d been saying so for years… I love you!! Thanks for rockin. I’m old, but I still relate to you more than I do 99.9% of humans.

[@YautjaSpacePirate]

I was diagnosed with autism at age 13. To be honest I'm still confused with both ADHD and autism because of the similarities. It also makes me wonder how much is politicized too. After all, it was the school system that diagnosed me with autism, not MHMR. I tried to get MHMR to retest me later, but they turned me away. Unfortunately I had a long history of dysfunctional family and being abused by MHMR who overdosed me as a kid. I hate the system for it!

[@sooyoungfanclub]

my brother was just dx at 26!! he only sought out a dx because of me and my sister, and I’m pretty sure without us getting a dx he could go his entire life without getting “spotted”. autistic people are very different, even when one thinks there are “gendered” differences. personally i think a bunch of male autistics just go undiagnosed, it’s the more obvious ones with the stereotypical “male” traits get spotted more easily

[@comettripper]

I know of cis dudes that had the "female" presenting traits. I think that's why ppl are dropping the term now, maybe we just found them in girls first, but they can happen to anyone. There are also a lot of cis girls who have the "male" characteristics. Also, the autistic community has more people who are gender non conforming or non-binary, so it becomes even more pointless. But I'm glad that she helped you learn more about yourself and find out about autism ♡

[@JesseDylanMusic]

@@comettripper I totally agree with what you say here!!! I wish people would think about it more. I feel a little whiny saying it, but as an NB, it hurts me to feel pushed into a gender, and alienating to feel like I don't fit with either gender (or even feel safe half the time).

[@sumgirl720]

@@JesseDylanMusic Hello fellow NB! I feel in very similar ways that you described here. I see you, and I am delighted to be grouped with you. I can only hope that visibility, awareness and expression continue to rise so that we may always have people we feel we fit with.

[@kennedydrazilov9061]

I’ve never been diagnosed with autism! However it felt really good to relate to someone who has the same sensory problems as me! I love making weird food combos and eating interesting things. I also have hearing issues usually overlapping sounds or loud sounds. With touch, I absolutely despise chalkboards and chalk and touching gravel or sitting on roads it makes me wanna gag :( anyways I just wanted to share what I go through and I hope you have an awesome weekend!!

[@livvielov]

Food combo recommendation: pickles and one of those soft less cakey chocolate brownies. I think it's the bomb but if I explain it to NTs they think I'm weird

[@thecolorjune]

I can’t stand chalk!

[@Nakia11798]

Sensory issues exist outside of autism too, so don't feel like relating is weird for a person without autism.

[@HeatherMantica]

If you don’t have any other issues that are common with autism I would suggest looking into sensory processing disorder.

[@faeriesmak]

@@thecolorjune chalk and fresh laundry. Fresh laundry 🧺 is blllleeergh!

[@memery2781]

As a woman with newly discovered autism I find sensory issues in women so fascinating right now. I can relate with most of what you said -- hyposensitive to sound and taste, perfect vision with light sensitivity. But for me, temperature sensitivity is DRAMATIC. My husband is starting to get used to me, but 40% of the time I am shivering under multiples blankets in front of a heater with a hot beverage clutched to my chest, and 40% I'm stripping off all my clothes to stand in front of the ac with an ice pack and some ice water. Sometimes both in the same day. The other 20% I'm blissfully unaware of the temperature until I reach an extreme again. 🤷‍♀️ Appreciate your honesty about your experiences, very helpful. :)

[@ellorahborealis]

Question: have you ever have accessibility guilt? For example, when you would have an aid in school or given the opportunity to have work made more accessible to you? I usually have a terrible time accepting help from others and got very defiant about having help at the end of public school because it felt like it was "cheating". How do you cope with those feelings and frustrations? (P.S. if you could keep my full name out of the video that'd be lovely. Thank you so much for making these videos!)

[@neo.bastos]

Hey! That probably is conected to some internalized ableism. I deal with it too!

[@paintedshoebox3619]

I do, all the time! It feels like I'm getting something "extra" than others, especially when it is something I could force myself to do. I have to remind myself that Not spending extra energy regulating myself is something that most people do. Just because something isn't impossible for me doesn't mean it is healthy for me. Like, I could function without my glasses, but they make life so that I can function like a 20/20 person. I have issues accepting help from people, but I try my best to remind myself that they are my "people glasses", and that the aid is there so that I can spend my energy on completing work instead of fighting myself.

[@rev.rachel]

Yeesh yes I have this problem so much. Between that and not really knowing what my body needs and what to ask for half the time, it’s just a disaster when I need accommodations and it a) doesn’t occur to me that I can have them, b) doesn’t feel like I know what to ask for, and c) feels like a weird unfair advantage or an accommodation someone else needed more when I do get it. Sigh. The narratives we internalize from society.

[@sandpiper_]

i do for sure, i was given three extra days to turn things in last school year and it felt really really bad and like it wasn't fair for the other students.

[@joycebrewer4150]

I grew up before such things were available to all but the most obviously severe autism cases. Which I have never been. The only time I felt I was given the benefit was during my first major depression. For an entire quarter of a school year, I handed in zero homework. I still was given D- grades instead of F grades. When not depressed I was a B average student. Well, not the quarter following the D- s, but at least C's as I started to recover under council.

[@AfroditeBell]

17:27 I’m 30 years old don’t have autism but I struggle with sensory and in all my years of life I have thought I was crazy until you said this. I don’t feel hunger…not until I hear my stomach, my blood sugar drops, or I get gassy from not eating for so long (usually takes not eating for a day). I don’t eat until I’m about to pass out due to lack of food. Only time I’ve actually felt what hunger feels like is when consuming THC…Thank you so much for validating this. Now I have somewhere to start!

[@graveraider1029]

This could be an ADHD symptom and also something to do with thyroid/endocrine system.

[@ellablom8425]

What advice would you give to me, an autistic person who is constantly stressed at home because my family doesn’t respect my sensory difficulties? How can I make them understand that it’s not something I’m able to endure just because they ignore it? The main problems is with sounds like them watching really loud tv, music or my siblings running around shouting.

[@saxenart]

If they don't wanna respect your autism then I guess you'll just have to figure out a way how to deal with these things yourself unfortunately. My family also doesn't care, so I have to take care of myself. When I'm cooking for myself i put on my headphone.

[@treesapgrl]

I just want you to know how much I relate to this and that a perfect stranger is pulling for you.

[@rpvitiello]

For sound look into noise canceling headphones/ ear buds. Even if everyone else is being loud, you can tone it down.

[@kenmatree.3167]

There are small earplugs called flare audio that are supposed to be very good for hearing sensitivity problems. 🍀

[@rae8961]

I hear you on this. I've told my mother multiple times that I am sensitive to hearing and when she starts yelling it makes my ears and head ring and buzz, yet she still wonders why I cover my ears when she yells. The only advice I can give is to just retreat to your room and try to endure it. Loop earplugs kind of help? Personally when I used them, they just deafened the sound a tiny bit. I found that just having headphones with music playing helps a lot more than earplugs.

[@ratstanduser]

Hey Paige!! I just want to say you have been Really helping me a lot about learning autism, im currently getting tested for autism and before I was getting tested I had no idea what autism was so thank you

[@avalon3821]

How do you get tested ?

[@ratstanduser]

@@avalon3821 what do you mean exactly??

[@avalon3821]

@@ratstanduser for autism !! I have sensory issues, and my whole family says I’m autistic* and not socially aware, and I’m sick of it I want to know if I’m autistic or just an idiot haha

[@purpleisafruit7179]

Paige, I want to thank you! A few months months ago I made the transition from a hands-on job to office work because money, and have been astounded at how much my brain is struggling with what everyone else seems to consider 'easy' sedentary job. Have spent several lunch breaks curled up in toilet cubicles with my eyes shut and headphones on because for some reason 'focus on screen + don't stim + tune out background noise' = 'overload'. Spent today researching, and came across your videos. While I'm not sure I'm autistic like you, I do identify with several of the things you talk about. Your positive attitude, understanding and acceptance of your sensory issues have been a huge inspiration and comfort. Thank you.

[@jessekitsune]

I find it funny that for taste youre hyposensitive, when for me it is the complete opposite and im hypersensitive to taste! My family has always known my palate was very delicate and "lovingly" called me a beigeatarian, as most of the foods I eat tend to be on a scale of brown to yellow AKA beige. It always bothered me and I can't help being such a picky eater. It has always been a point of sensitivity and contention when it comes to something that occurs in daily life, it becomes a constant stressor. For times I will eat the same "safe foods" without break such as coco pebble cereal or potatoes, even with ice cream being a trigger food for my disordered eating. I always LOVED the sensation of ice cream and milkshakes and the like (not popsicles) and just thought I was a glutton. After figuring out my autism, it feels like so much of my life makes sense and it is really disheartening to see it so plainly in myself when my family doubts me since they have always seen me this way. Anyways, I just thought it was funny that we are completely opposite on the food spectrum, haha.

[@itsanniedee]

"It smells big" The number of times I use that adjective because I don't have another word for it is too damn high.

[@unnamedtoaster]

Being hypersensitive to sounds bad the benefit that I’m really good at hearing things and will almost always notice when someone is calling out to me. I also can get so much more enjoyment out of music because every time I listen to a song, I notice new things about it and fall in love with it again (well, if it’s a song with lots of complex parts). Problem is that I’m also startled extremely easily. Unfortunately some people think this is funny and will intentionally try to startle me (jokes on them, I can hear their footsteps so they usually don’t). But it’s so embarrassing being at a party and falling down when a balloon pops. It’s hard to hold conversations at parties because I’m constantly anxious some dumbass is going to pop a balloon (usually by accident).

[@moonchild1351]

My mind was just blown...you just taught me that I have had Alice in Wonderland syndrome sensory issues since I was a child. I am nearly 40 years old and I just assumed that everyone felt like that when they were falling asleep. My son was diagnosed with ASD a year ago and I watch your videos to understand ASD better although the more I watch the more I realize that I have many of these symptoms as well.

[@jessicarose8930]

i have this weird thhing with my ears,when i go to enter some shops,i hear this high pitch kinda tone,i have to cover my ears or it will drive me nuts lol. but once im in it goes away ive asked a few friends if they can hear it also but they say no they cant,i have no clue what this is.any ideas

[@agnetebutk]

For the Q&A: I think I might be autistic but everytime I think about trying to get a diagnosis (which would be super hard in my country because no ones really equipt for the type of autism we have) I shut myself down that I wouldn't get it because "I don't have it as bad as other autistics", it doesn't affect me too too much. How do I deal with these feelings? Of course it does affect me a lot but I feel like because I'm """high functioning""""" they can overlook the things I'm struggling with. It's not like I have to suffer all my life to be "autistic enough" but my mind is telling me that i'm a fraud for thinking that i might be autistic when i can go to supermarket with little problem (stimming is enough to get me through it) meanwhile others have a hard time getting dressed, yk?

[@mathildetoft3684]

Honestly, from the experience of being the sibling with “less” needs, the fact that other people have it bad does not make your own troubles lesser. Having needs that aren’t being met, no matter how small they might feel, just means that you’re not getting what you need to feel well and not have to suffer under stress, loneliness, social pressures, or alienation. Noticing a pebble in your shoe can be really bothersome, and feels huge, no matter how small the actual size. Your needs are real and deserve to be recognised, and the lack of acknowledgment of this fact can be really damaging psychologically and to your life, whether that lack comes from yourself or others. Feeling like a fraud isn’t strange, if you’re comparing yourself to others, but it doesn’t do anything but make you feel alone and afraid, when it’s really not a battle of “who’s got it worse”, but a question of what needs you have that aren’t being met, and how you can meet them and what help you can get. With the label “high functioning”, I don’t think I quite understood the extent to how much these “little problems” still affected my life until the effects were mitigated. I never had clean clothes to wear, and I couldn’t wash my hair without wanting to chop my hands off, and so going outside was always a huge task. In comparison to now, where I don’t even think about it that much, it was like going into a battle. But at the time it felt like such a small thing to get stuck on, that I just felt like I was being lazy and making excuses, and yet it was a very real problem for me, even if both the problem and the solution were all these small, little things (hand cream is a great barrier against textures). Not seeing your own needs as essential means that you are living a worse life than you need to, and acknowledging that I had very real problems that needed to be seen to, even if they are as small as a pebble, was really where I started learning to love my life, by actually getting the tools needed to live a good one.

[@jmuse55]

I found your channel a couple months ago while searching sensory issues. Several channels have taught me a lot. I am 35 and I am now getting evaluated for ASD. I brought it up with my therapist who told me that it explained a lot about my traits. From sensory issues to feeling like an alien born on the wrong planet. Just want to say thanks for sharing you. It has helped.

[@wintergray1221]

I'm 35, too, and this is so me. Unfortunately I doubt I could afford a therapist to evaluate me :(

[@riley22105]

I am hyposensitive to smells and hypersensitive to sound! I can rarely smell anything at all, and when I do it's usually not very strong. However, I have misophonia and am very easily overwhelmed by specific sounds like chewing or certain water sounds, as well as anything too loud or complicated. I also have some texture issues and stuff like seams, folds, bunching, and certain fabrics bother me so much I can't think about anything else and can be very upsetting. My interoception changes. I've never been good at bathroom signals either, and usually only notice I need to go if I have a lot of stomach pain or notice that my stomach is severely bloated. Hunger signals are a tough one since I've had eating disorders for a long time, but I don't think my body has ever been very good at communicating hunger/fullness. I'm also really bad at understanding how much space I take up and often dodge things really far away or bump into them.

[@nicolebennett5970]

This was brilliant thank you for sharing. My son laughed as he greatly related to many of these sensory issues. Especially his constant bumping into things- he says I swear items just come out at me. It's great to hear so clearly what these experiences are like.

[@zachperry5844]

I wonder if anyone experiences sensory issues like, "it's the difference between being bothered by something and finding something intolerable (to a certain extent)". Thanks for any responses!

[@richardrosenthal9552]

Paige you have a great way of explaining things. You make it easy to understand what you are talking about. You give more information tan many so called experts do. Be proud of your ability to explain. Not everyone does that well.

[@snehameyyappan137]

All of these experiences match with me, and the sunglasses were very pretty

[@TorisTerrorTime]

When I finally realized I was autistic so much more made sense. So many things had an explanation and how I function became less of a mystery. [Don’t feel required to read the rest of this comment btw] Sight: Even though I have really dark eyes I’m very sensitive to light which is kinda ironic because I’m in an almost constantly sunny part of Arizona. Bright light is just so overstimulating meanwhile darkness is so calming and peaceful. I probably also prefer darkness because I also have ADHD and there is less going on to distract me and offers a peaceful contrast to my million thoughts per minute mind. Hearing: This is what I have the least issues with. I switch between hearing EVERYTHING or nothing. As mentioned before i have ADHD so im usually hyper focused on something which tunes things out. Smell: I will get headaches if something is to strong but at the same time I also crave strong scent. Basically some things trigger me while others don’t and what category the smell falls into is ,as far as I know, randomly determined. Yea I’m very picky about what i like scent wise. Taste: I’m very hypersensitive to it. I have lots of sensory issues related to texture ,which I’ll talk about next topic thingy idk lol, Touch: This is gonna be long. I have lots of issues with it. I have to wear socks because I can’t handle the feeling of basically anything on my feet. I also love long pants. I don’t like long sleeved shirts but I do like sweaters because I know that if I feel uncomfortable with something on my arm k can simply remove it and put it back anytime I want. Things on my head or around my neck are massive triggers and my hand being sweaty is another one. I hate the texture of grass, paper, steel, rocks, fur, feathers, pavement, and a lot of other things. Touch is uncomfortable and awkward. Interception: I don’t feel hungry and when I do I have no idea what I want so it’s basically a traumatic experience everytime I feel hungry. I literally won’t eat if we don’t have something I want or don’t know what I want. One loop in my system I’ve found is when I’m hungry but can’t figure out what to eat I’ll drink water to trick my brain into telling my stomach I’m not hungry so at least I’m not suffering and panicking.

[@thatsacutecat]

I was just a few days ago diagnosed with autism, so this video really help me understand more of what i am Hyper and Hypo about. Thank you! And it was super relateble

[@natalieedelstein]

Question for the next video: Have you heard of the term monotropic as it relates to autism? It's basically like a term for the biological importance of 'hyperfocus' and 'special' interests. I personally like it because it is depathologizing of autistic people. What are your thoughts?

[@turtleanton6539]

I fully believe it😊

[@monoyoukai]

I had a big sensory issues last week in math class, I was crying in bathroom, calling my friends to calm myself And still my mom would say, I am faking- we love supportive parents

[@madamemelone4947]

For myself those all variate due to my condition from day to day. When I’m overstimulated I’m hypersensitive to everything. When understimulated I am hyposensitive to specific things. But what always is the same - hypersensitivity to noises. I bought myself ANC headphones a year ago - best invest ever - because I wear them everyday. Nearly the whole day. For a year now. It cut down the number of meltdowns and shutdowns so drastically. And I am so happy about it!

[@MattSaysHello]

Question for your Q&A: My wife has recently had her autism diagnosis. Your videos are really helping both of us to understand autism so thank you. My question is what do you think is the most important thing I can do to support my wife as she learns more about herself?

[@toni5543]

Adapt with her as she learns more about her likes dislikes and triggers :)

[@MattSaysHello]

@@toni5543 thanks Toni!

[@yoyoyoyo-lq4jb]

Ask her questions rather than assuming things... maybe sounds vague and I suppose it's true between neurotypicals as well but... just listen to her experiences I guess is what I'm trying to say!

[@MattSaysHello]

@@yoyoyoyo-lq4jb thank you. Appreciate your thoughts. Have a good day.

[@yoyoyoyo-lq4jb]

@@MattSaysHello of course, you too. I hope you and your wife are well :)

[@YautjaSpacePirate]

I used to hide when a thunderstorm hits, but now as an adult I find them fascinating as well as a little scary knowing the threats. Especially when it comes to tornadoes. Another common trait among autistic individuals is the ability to pay attention to details vs neurotypicals who are numb to what's around them.

[@Atlas_Quin]

My most favorite parts of storms are seeing lighting, the raindrops fall in puddles and how the water goes up then falls, and when the world is almost completely blocked out by rain

[@sahelhappenstance8992]

God the 'alice in wonderland' thing when falling asleep is SO relatable - something ive always experienced but never articulated. The only difference for me is I always found it strangely comforting, not scary. It was almost like a form of semi-lucid dreaming, it would always occur halfway between being awake and asleep, and I couldn't control it but it was like I would always visualize in my mind that I was different objects or animals. Specifically I would morph between a big boot and a butterfly. So weird and cool to see someone else talk about this experience for the first time!

[@mikasinclair6321]

You to dog: "outch stop" Dog: "sorry" *leaning in to nibble again immediately*

[@daisy-qs6wh]

hi paige! i have so many questions!! firstly, did you get a tattoo? it looks so cool! can you show it? secondly, what are your special interests right now, anything new? thirdly, how tall are you? it bugs me so much, sometimes you look really tall and sometimes super small! and lastly, how are you doing? how’s your new house? what is your job currently? i really hope you’re doing well, i saw that you are struggling on tiktok. remember this pain is only temporary, it will pass. thank you so much for your channel, without you i don’t think i would’ve questioned if i was autistic. now im going to get a diagnosis early next year :)

[@thegenevaconvention5623]

Instead of doing homework, I am eating chips and binge-watching your videos. I regret nothing

[@qiae]

Its really interesting hearing specifics of someone elses sensory issues, like, i have tried explaining mine to people a lot but most of the people in my life dont have any and just get confused. Thank you for the work you do sharing your experiences with life. I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

[@Dynax85]

I've just recently (3 days ago, I'm 35!) Got an autism diagnosis. This was an interesting video for me because I was thinking "yes! I get that too!". We share a lot of sensory issues it seems. My question to you is whether you have any issues describing how you feel? Alexithymia is apparently a common thing for autistics (literal translation: no words for emotions) where you know how you feel, but can't put it to words.

[@kelseymanchester8798]

hey i just wanted to say congratulations on your diagnosis!:) and i wish u a very happy journey of self discovery:) - an autistic

[@Dynax85]

@@kelseymanchester8798 thankyou!

[@Dynax85]

@Ívan's Music I'm not afraid of the things, they cause genuine discomfort, and sometimes even pain. Exposure therapy in this case would be akin to "here, I'll stab you with a knife until you stop dying from it"

[@applejack8602]

I related so hard to this, especially now. I’m a performer and right now, we’re preparing for our end of year concert. As a Senior student, I’m required to assist with the younger dancers which means I need to be ready to follow important directions correctly. We’ve been working in a space that is very echoey and people often talk over each other, which is one of my biggest triggers. Fortunately, I have people that recognise my struggles and are supportive. 😊

[@j-s-m-rasmr5292]

This is so well explained - I started listening to understand my youngest daughter more - and I am finding out some things that resonate huge with me

[@kitacald]

Me too! Started listening to understand my middle child and ended up yelling "omg, yaaas!! Me too!" A lot.

[@flutterbye781]

You’re so strong I can see your eyes struggling with the light box, thanks for dealing with discomfort to help educate the people of the world!

[@zrienkersh1475]

Fascinating. I had the same exact relationship with olives and so I made a New Years resolution to start enjoying olives and it took about a year but now I genuinely like them.

[@joycebrewer4150]

I love black olives, can't stand green olives my sister prefers.

[@MsBri65]

So many of my family members popped into my head while I was listening to you. As well as myself, of course. Thank you. This was enlightening.

[@urmom-ml7sz]

Hi Paige! Firstly i’d like to say thanks for making this content and giving us the opportunity to ask questions. Do you have any tips on reducing or coping with burn out? I’m a minor and undiagnosed but i’ve been researching autism for over a year now and definitely think i’m autistic. Now that i’ve gotten to this point i have no idea where to go next. Only the two people who helped me figure out i’m autistic know so far, I feel very stuck and i was wondering if you had suggestions on what the next step should be? Thanks for any answers you were able to give me, i know not only myself but other people will benefit from them ❤️

[@pandaroo_cam]

hi! I know I'm not Paige Layle but I was in your exact position a couple of years ago and am now on the waiting list to be evaluated and have two therapists unofficially diagnose me. I know what its like not knowing what to do or who to tell but if you have any specific questions I can answer them for you!

[@martaj7614]

Hi, I'm 19 and in the process of getting evaluated. I am also currently recovering from a big burnout that started about 6 months ago. I have some tips, but you have to adjust them to your own life and what you can manage: * Try to minimize any more damage. This means getting enough sleep and exercise and nutrients (these 3 can be really hard if you are already in it), but also avoiding things that drain energy. For me that means avoiding things that cause sensory issues. * Actively schedule things that give you energy. Watching a Netflix show is good use of your time if it makes you happy and energises you. If you are struggling with feeling unproductive then consider making something with your hands where you can see your progress plainly. This could be painting, sewing, chopping wood, reorganizing bookshelves or many other things. * Accept that you are burnt out and that means that you can't do as much stuff as before or as other people. You are sick for now and you need to give yourself time to recover. If you go back to work too fast, then the burnout will just get worse. Be kind to yourself. You would not run on a broken leg so why should you require similar things from an exhausted mind?

[@reallivebird520]

Shout out to my school for making our assemblies sensory hell! Thousands of people in each room, so much noise, and they actually made our last one GLOW IN THE DARK. I had the worst headache by the end.

[@jazmineetchison3561]

For me it is having to much screaming, crying, or conversations going on at once. Also have a hard time because people will call my name or have conversations with me and not know they're trying to talk to me. This is hard because of also my auditory processing disorder. I also don't do well in crowded places as well. I can't eat tomatoes because of taste and texture. No eggs unless hard boiled because of taste and texture, and the bacon because of texture. My body and brain also have I hard time telling me I am hungry, so I won't know I am hungry. I also like you run into thing or not relies how much space my body takes up. With touch I hate the feel of wool, scabs on skin, and sticky things stuck to stuff. With my eyes I can't stand water touch my eyeballs or being on my eyelids almost so to a fear of it.

[@n.n.5239]

Thanks for sharing this. I've just recently been diagnosed with autism (aspergers), (I'm 31) and I'm still trying to understand that I'm not "just a little bit weird", or that other people don't experience the world the same way as I do. I could relate to so much of what you mentioned in this video. I'm hyposensitive to food too! And it's such a relief to hear that other autistic people are so too, as I've always heard that they usually are hypersensitive and I couldn't relate. I've questioned my diagnosis a lot, because I just didn't understand autism well enough. (Ironically, as I've been autistic my whole life.) I ate a lot of weird food combinations even as a child. I was so embarrased when my mom scolded me for eating Danish ryebread with liver-sausage (sardel) and shrimps on top of it. She thought I was being silly, but I just didn't understand that people usually don't eat that ... or chocolate buns with shrimps. (I love shrimps.) And the most important thing - hot sauce is LOVE! And spices.. Aaaand I have a hidden stash of wasabi tubes in my kitchen cabinet. ;p Thanks for making these highly informative videos. I am so grateful. It made me feel less alone and weird.

[@honeybeerose4108]

Question for Q&A: I was in theater and it greatly improved my proprioception, I'm now hyper aware of where any and every part of my body is, sometimes it's nauseating and I zone out because it's like having 2 bodies, the one I'm hyper aware of and the one I'm just chilling in, if that makes any sense, so anyways, my question is; Did theater do anything for your proprioception? P.S your videos make me feel more valid in my autism, since I was always considered "gifted" and "smart" because of my autistic traits my struggles were often downplayed and I've been getting more symptoms as I get older I'm 15 now and I guess that brings another question, did yours get "worse" as you aged as well?

[@jessicarose8930]

i have this weird thhing with my ears,when i go to enter some shops,i hear this high pitch kinda tone,i have to cover my ears or it will drive me nuts lol. but once im in it goes away ive asked a few friends if they can hear it also but they say no they cant,i have no clue what this is.any ideas

[@franceshanna3724]

Two childhood traumas: the repulsive sensation of velvet and the kidney infection from refusing to go to the bathroom which that landed me in hospital for two weeks at the age of 7! I recall the doctor telling my mother that I could have died! For me it was definitely a PDA thing, I knew I had to go but simply didn't want to go. Right now, I am refusing to go to bed even though it is 1.10am in the morning. Another sensory "issue" I have is synesthesia, I associate most letters of the alphabet with a distinct colour which never changes, I actually thought everybody did this, but as I matured it became apparent that it clearly was not the case. Oh, and I eat the same lunch every single day (bircher with yoghurt, honey and fruit).

[@Dogwithoutaname]

I wad diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and Adhd. I also might be autistic. For me, I can't have people touch me lightly like a poke/tap/brush against me. It makes me feel horrible and uncomfortable. I have sensory issues with every sense. Hear,smell,see,taste,feel. I wear a hat,sunglasses and earplugs or headphones. I can only wear light weight soft and comfy clothes like t-shirt or sweatpants without a tag. Volume upsets me if it's super quiet I feel like it's not really there and I'm imagining it. But if it's turned super loud it's overwhelming and I can't feel comfortable. If there's too many different sounds like tv and music with people talking I have to mute/pause the things to talk. I love oral stim,sucking or chewing a shew necklace is nice. I don't like alot of different food textures like mushrooms or beans. I'm more picky with texture of food than flavor. If it's too spicy or has too strong of flavor it's intense and I can't eat more than a bite.

[@Dogwithoutaname]

Because I'm afab and have had periods and severe cramps for years I have a strong pain tolerance, I also have many tattoos. And I will get bruises left and right and not know how I got them like a week later lol

[@Dogwithoutaname]

I also have to plan my bathroom trips as well and will not realise it to the point I've peed my pants as an adult.

[@ANTIFAGlobal]

The Alice in Wonderland syndrome bit spoke so much to me. Sometimes I feel like I'm a giant in a tiny world all of a sudden, or like everything is really big around me all of a sudden. Maybe it goes with the autism

[@celeste5401]

Hi Paige, I hope you are in no way offended by this question, but I’m interested to know if you feel like ASD has in any way impacted your relationships, platonic or romantic. Thanks! I love your content. You really have broadened my knowledge of ASD☺️

[@wesbeuning1733]

Thanks especially for this one. I have been dealing with forgetting about food and bathroom 50 years now, on top of a lot more stuff described, including sleeping in a bal

[@theghcu]

TL;DR A lot. I am light sensitive. it causes physical pain, and I can get instant headaches too if there is a sudden change in brightness. It got me assaulted by a cop once because he thought I was on drugs. Can't wear sunglasses because of all the light that comes in behind them, I wind up always distracted by the reflection of my eyeballs moving and it makes everything I'm trying to look at too dark, but my eyes are adjusted for the light behind the sunglasses. I also have unusually wide peripheral vision. I can't wear certain contacts because I can see the whole edge of them, like someone drew a circle around the whole world. Can't stand the smell most cleaning supplies and many perfumes and such. The smells are so strong I can actually taste many of them. If they are too strong they can cause pain as well. I don't know if I have a strong sense of taste, but I hate bitter. I have always tell if there is an artificial sweetener, and can usually identify them by taste instantly. The first time I had splenda, I could tell that they used chlorine to modify the sugar. I thought there was no way I should be able to tell that and googled it. It creeps me out. I can't stand scratchy clothing at all. Hate tags. I feel every needle and insect bite. sunlight feels like static electricity is on fire to my skin. Oddly enough though, I've been told my whole life that I have a high pain tolerance. I do not like most light touch, and will often swat or swing at it before I realize it. There are some sound issues and other things too. Been told my whole life "you'll get used to it," "it bothers everyone," "it's all in your head." That's Texas for you. I was diagnosed at 23 with ADHD but was never tested as a child. Currently getting evaluated for ASD because there are too many similarities of perception and and experience with autistics on youtube to ignore that I don't share with friends that have ADHD to ignore. Also never tested as a child. I think I have both. Thank you for your content!

[@toridexter2896]

Q&A: How do you get yourself to stick to your routine every day? Any tips?

[@tiffanyroberson9773]

I’m curious about this, too. The only thing that has worked for me is having a job that has a constant routine within it (I work at a preschool and we have a routine we follow pretty well every single day)

[@katb6112]

I’ve had a TBI for most of my life and I relate to so many of these videos, definitely not saying TBI’s are similar but the advice/tips help with some of my daily issues so thank you My favorite/top tip is ear plugs and headphones for hyperacusis, I can’t live without them anymore

[@azlizzie]

We switched to putting essential oils on wool dryer balls with un scented fabric softener. You might like to put some peppermint in your laundry.

[@monstergirlinc8707]

I really relate to the auditory issues the most. One of my coworkers was actually convinced i was deaf because i wouldnt notice when he tried to get my attention. I decided to ride with it because at least he left me alone but like not in a mean way, so i could focus without being bothered.

[@jasleensihra9754]

Question: hey Paige, could you give more tips for neurodivergent people studying, specifically for university? I am undiagnosed but I'm pretty sure I'm autistic/ADHD and I am REALLY struggling with keeping on top of my work (especially boring work) and just generally looking after myself at the same time. I'm terrible with this kind of stuff and I was hoping you could share more of your thoughts on this? Thanks very much :)

[@graveraider1029]

Just quit college while you still can 😹

[@EngineeringChampion]

ADHD folks often struggle with motivation. ADHD is different from Autism.

[@treysongz14lover]

I love watching your autism videos. My daughter is 4 years old and watching you makes me feel that I can understand her more. Thank you for your content 💕

[@rhyanonstuddert7384]

I am hyper sensitive to strong smells as well as light and noise. I hate perfume. I hate wearing it, and I hate being near other people who are wearing it. It's just so unpleasant and overwhelming and I have near found one that I can tolerate. I also hate lavender with everything I am, it gives me a headache and I just can't understand how people can think it's nice. It's sickening. It hurts my eyes to be outside without sunglasses on and it makes me irritable. I have strong sensitivity to certain textures such as raw meat, especially chicken, cannot eat ripe Bananas, they have to be still a bit green, but I love fur like textures and soft squishy textures like soft toys and stress balls. But the worst is noise. I have started taking my ear buds with me wherever I go, as like mentioned I'm this vid, I am overwhelmed by multiple conversations at once and people talking over each other. I can't focus and gives me bad anxiety. I often carry something with me that I can fidget with to help me cope. Currently, it is a squishy Turtle keychain I have on my keys that pops its head out of its shell when you squeeze it. It gives me both tactile and audible stim which I find very comforting. Sorry about the essay, I do tend to ramble 😆

[@jasperjarwood2854]

there were so many parts of this video that resonated so heavily with me. i had quite a few epiphanies watching this. the part where paige was talking about how the hunger 'goes away' when you get offered something that you don't want to eat was so relatable but i'd never quite been aware of it. also the part about alice in wonderland syndrome. cause sometimes i'll feel all of a sudden taller than i was two minutes ago and sometimes i feel much much smaller. it also happens like paige said about going to sleep sometimes i feel like im stretching or shrinking. sometimes sitting in a certain chair that i've sat in thousands of times i suddenly feel like i occupy more space that i normally do. it was very helpful to finally have words to describe sensations i've has my whole life.

[@dhhd5357]

man i know she cant help it but its a lil creepy when she sort of freaks out at 9:37 like she malfunction like a robot or somethin.

[@leahthawley6555]

My question is what advice would you give to anyone going through the diagnosis process later on in life. I am going through it now and having a really hard time. Great video as well, it was so relatable. Your channel was the first place I went to, to learn more about autism as a lost and confused 16 year old girl so thank you. 💕💕

[@bigdiehlenergy]

Hey there! I didn't get diagnosed until I was 31! You're already ahead of the game. My advice is seek out autistic women to follow, our experience varies from how men experience autism. Also, just be patient with yourself, be honest with the professionals working with you, and be open about what you need. Good luck

[@Gandellion]

Tbh it’s actually so nice to hear you talk about having trouble with processing issues, i have an acquired brain injury (and idk if I’m also neurodivergent in some way) and the major effect it’s had on me is the speed at which I process information being way slower than average. And I have literal tests from doctors to prove it but still everyone acts like it’s kinda fake. So it’s really nice 😅

[@Gandellion]

Like I’m sorry I’m just so smart it doesn’t seem real to you people but it does exist. Gotta be smug or I’d be down about it

[@moaahlgren5193]

Thank you for putting words on many things I know my daughter is deals with. She is not diagnosed but we always listen and try to give her the tools and space to grow on her terms. I have been fighting a war against teachers for years. Today she had her 15th birthday!

[@jumokeogunsola9549]

Q: hi paige!! i've been suspecting myself of having asd or adhd for a while now, and ive been urged to get screened by teachers etc. for some time now to no avail bc my family sucks, but you've been a huge help in helping me understand myself and the things i do! I'm curious about one thing: if you had to describe it, what's your relationship to gender? for me personally, it feels so out of my grasps i don't really know how to best describe it in relation to myself (and that's why i identity as nonbinary. it's like a catch-all for me if that makes sense!) i feel like have a general disconnect from my body and expression that makes it hard to gender, similar to what you described. do you experience anything similar? i know you've talked about your pansexuality, and it seems similar to my reason for being nonbinary, but i don't want to put words in your mouth lol! lmk

[@hafsa3025]

I feel the exact same way about gender. I've haven't found words to describe it but its exactly how you said it omg

[@Lindsaylu161]

Hello! I have an autistic son and he has very limited language so there is a lot he cannot tell me in terms of his senses. Do you have any suggestions for how someone can best accommodate someones sensory needs who is non-vocal or limited vocally? Thanks for the videos you put out. They truly help when trying to better understand my son and how I can best support him.

[@robbie-the-bee]

When someone is experiencing sensory overload (from someone who experiences it) you can usually tell, even if their non-vocal. For me, I don't even have to say anything, my mood just immediately changes. I get very irritable and upset, and I start stimming to calm myself down. If your son starts doing any of these, I would try to notice what sensory things are bothering him. Maybe its lights, a sound, a smell, etc. Hope that helped!

[@aquabluerose7734]

@@robbie-the-bee as a baby/toddler, whenever a smell that bothered me was present I would flee the area of the stink to go somewhere not stinky. An example would be opening a container of food with certain seasonings, and the minute it opened I would race out of the kitchen. How my mom confirmed it was smells was by opening a container of mayonnaise while keeping the container hidden, and I still ran out of the room because I could smell it. You could probably figure out if a sound bothers him this way as well. I hope this helps you and your kid to have a more pleasant time! Edit: I forgot to mention I have Asperger's and an extremely good sense of smell and some things I can smell and be bothered by can't even be smelled at all by other people

[@mattdobbs1266]

my sensory issues have always been off the charts and caused so much anxiety as a kid. Never knew it wasnt a normal thing til burnout hit like a truck :D That being said, being able to see really small things and hear tings really far in the distance is also fun :)

[@helenhoward5346]

The main one for me is disruptive noise that I can't control. Nothing distracts and aggravates me more than bass thudding underneath me. But now as a mom of 3... Ugh yeah. I feel awful bc they're just kids, they're allowed to make appropriate noise, but when I'm in the downward spiral to meltdown land (this year has been very difficult, I got separated from a narcissistically abusive husband of 13 years, I was under an illusion for the longest time and it's just really f'ing hard to know how to make progress when it's a constant fire storm. I need a break, badly. But if I do, I risk losing my kids or significantly lose out on time with them later on. I learnt that I have autism this year despite coming from a DD service/professional/personally affected family. I've been exposed to varied neurodivergence my entire life. But now it clicks, why I struggled academically, why I have difficulty maintaining or making friends, why I can't accurately describe my thoughts or feelings bc it's just too "complicated" bc of multi factors and the layers therein. I'm hyper aware of being agreeable, it's part of my masking after being exposed and shaped by narcissistic caregivers as a child. I am always apologizing for burdening others when I shouldn't. I just wish I could fix myself. That's why I self medicate, it looks like drug addiction but it's not just addiction, I would LOVE to feel ok in my own skin without relying on anyone or anything but I never could. I only felt right with myself the first time I took a Percocet. I need ADHD stimulants but it's impossible and conventional medicine doesn't see the HFing autism (female) and self medicating connection and how some of us need it. Especially during and after meltdowns.... I warm up and inhale new car and black ice (supernova plus BI is awesome too,) little trees (wrapped in tissue, placed in front of heater for a minute or two). I'll huff it bc it gives a satisfying burn plus the sentimental scent. Can you top that weirdness? Y'all seriously who else does this bc Google comes up empty. I prefer tighter fitting clothes too... Didn't realize it could be a sensory thing. I used to wear different materials, but since motherhood it's athletic leggings everyday. Woot for fashion.

[@ZoeLeigh01]

touch is my biggest sensory issue. i'm very hypersensitive to things touching me. i'm actually the opposite of you in terms of clothing though, at least for shirts, i prefer baggy t shirts and i can't stand it when things are tight. except, i love leggings and they are the only kind of long pants i will wear. i also can't not wear a bra (though it's usually more of bralette) because i hate my skin touching my skin, ya know (which is why the bralette, no support really, just some cloth to separate stuff lol) i love touching everything, but then it backfires when i touch something Bad.

[@Lthevamp]

I feel like I'm hypersensitive to most senses, besides touch sometimes. I can bump my arm into something and not realize until I have a bruise, but I also deal with hypersensetivity to fabrics, tags, etc. My body HATES the feeling on something on my waist and legs, so I love croptops or baggy clothes. Loud sounds and harsh temperatures are the senses that hurt the most for me. Light hurts, but I'd rather be blind over listening to a siren or being super hot. It's weird how the body works!

[@tweedybird21]

I struggle with a lot of sensory issues like I don’t like a lot of textures to name a few certain fabrics latex tape that you get after you get a tattoo, slime some rubber when it comes to smell I’m hypo sensitive to smell has to be really strong for me to smell it when it comes to site. I don’t do well when it’s super bright outside or when it’s windy my eyes water so I have transitions on my glasses. I don’t like loud noises like amusement parks parades a bunch of swimming kids a place where there’s a bunch of separate conversations and I’m not one of them I don’t do well with music. That’s not my choice of music. I don’t do well with trying new food. I stick to my pretty basic seafood. The only time I will ever try new food pretty much is if there’s absolutely nothing else for me to eat and I don’t wanna go hungry, but that’s very rare that I have to do that. I do not like the texture of gum and sometimes I might even puke seeing someone’s chewed gum or should I say more like gag then puke this is just to a handful that I struggle with also I don’t do well in extreme heat like basically anything above 30 I don’t do that well in and then cold. I do better with cold temperatures like super super cold but not great but a whole lot better than I do with extreme heat.

[@CuriousApe2024]

This is so relatable for me that i found it really comforting. I don't actually know anyone else with autism so i feel like an alien at times but watching you express yourself and then reading the comments below was so helpful so thanks so much!!

[@joycebrewer4150]

Growing up, before I knew anything about autism, especially that I am autistic, I KNEW I was very different than other children my age. I became a fan of Star Trek, because I felt I had a better chance of fitting in with that society than my own. I actually used to go outside, and beg to be beamed up!

[@carrotnoises6981]

relate to the touch one big time lol. touching latex/felt/velvet makes me want to melt out of my skin and i can always feel all my clothes on my body to such a extreme degree it's annoying!! anything like sports bras or tight shirts being near my armpits/throat makes me wanna literally rip it off Violently

[@rebeccalamb3855]

Question for Q&A: I have recently been diagnosed at the age of 30 and due to it being so late in my life and that I had to request the assessment myself, I'm kind of having a hard time with a form of imposter syndrome, e.g the doctors got it wrong and I'm not really autistic I'm just a little bit broken for lack of a better term. Any advice on excepting and embracing your diagnosis?

[@sierraandthestorm]

the ‘alice in wonderland’ thing when your eyes are closed happens to me too; i learned years ago that it can happen/be a symptom of depersonalization/derealization (dissociating)! since trying to unmask, i feel like i dissociate less due to actually feeling what i feel, but when i have been dissociated i definitely get that feeling when my eyes are closed and i’m still. i wondered what that was and found out it correlated to dissociating was so interesting and affirming.

[@yvifee]

pillows covered with velvet, handmade especially for us kids, for the backseats of the car - will remember in 80 years how I still felt nervous about putting my head on it even though I put a little jacket or scarf over it… without touching that stuff with my hands 🙌😱of course 😑😆😉

[@UniqueMuffinnn]

Thank you, this was very informational! Two questions: 1. Do you edit your own videos? 2. I often have a hard time sensing when I am tired and am caught off guard when someone says I look tired because I did not realize it. Do you ever feel that way?

[@Atlas_Quin]

The tired thing happens all the time to me. It isn’t until I’m ready to pass out with exhaustion sometimes that I realize I’m tired.

[@Westly.3]

Question for Q&A: Would you prefer to have a child who is neuro typical or neuro divergent? I have two kids, one I am sure is just like me Autistic we seem to understand each other. While the other child seems neuro typical and I find it hard to relate with them. Cheers if you do answer this hypothetical question. Btw I am hypersensitive to smells, light, taste and textures. I don't notice temperatures hot or cold. I have a high pain threshold. An interesting one is I am not tickerlish at all. When I was younger I used to like smelling lavender to comfort me. Apples tick, vanilla hell no hehe many others.

[@BjorkBrex]

Thanks to you, I got diagnosed with ASD and ADHD last week, and I really can't thank you enough Paige. You've saved my life. Can you make a video on what it's like being diagnosed with both ASD and ADHD, and how they both affect you? ❤❤❤

[@gremlingrandparent]

questions for q and a: what are some of your favorite sensory tools (fidgets, weighted blankets, ear plugs, etc) that you use the most? do you struggle with touch when in a relationship with someone? if so, how do you express that to them? i know i have a lot of hypersensitivity to touch even from people i love and trust, and it's really hard to express that without making them feel like they're doing something wrong. what's something you wish you could change about the way allistics perceive us autistics? i wish more of them understood that stimming is so so so important for us, and trying to stop that behavior can cause more harm than good if we're not given a replacement stim that's all for now! thanks so much in advance 💕

[@dontbedroppingdimesat967]

Your eyes are like diamonds. How are you not an eye model

[@aardbeimilkshake]

I love your channel so much! As for the Q&A: have you ever considered getting a service dog to help you in certain situations? I recently found out dogs can perform tasks to help us out so I've been training my own pet dog to alert me and stay with me when I'm having a meltdown

[@shotgun-43]

Yes finally it makes sense. Struggle with all of the above not all in the exact way yet more or less. Touch of clothing and especially the tag. Thanks for sharing helps me to know these symptoms are just not me being paranoid.

[@Metaphoria_Music]

Im having my very first minutes of "Oh shait, Im all of a sudden 99,9% certain Im autistic.." 🤯 got diagnosed with ADHD like 8 months ago at 32.. A insane amount of lightbulbs are lighting up rn.. The Alice in wonderland thing you mentioned as well, when I was a kiddo I remember it felt like I could "shrink" myself down to the size of an ant a little while before I fell asleep. I see so much of my own "goofyness" in you, please take that as a compliment as I absolutely love that energy 😄 And thanks for this(/ these) enlightening videos🙏❤

[@lisacrum7767]

i have dark brown eyes, i'm also super sensitive to light. also on the pain topic, I also have a very high pain threshold but I'm convinced velvet is demonic.