Unasked Questions: How Does Autism Feel in an Unfamiliar World?
Imagine walking into a crowded room where the lights are too bright, voices blend into an overwhelming buzz, and every unfamiliar face seems to demand an unspoken social rule you haven’t learned yet. This is what daily life can feel like for many autistic individuals—like being dropped into an alien world without a guidebook.
Sensory Overload: A World Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast
Autistic individuals often experience heightened sensitivity to sensory input. A flickering light can be more than a mild annoyance—it can feel like an unbearable strobe. Background noise, often ignored by neurotypical people, can become disorienting chaos that makes focusing nearly impossible.
Social Interactions: A Puzzle with Missing Pieces
For many autistic people, social norms can feel like an unwritten script everyone else seems to know by heart. Eye contact might feel intrusive, small talk can be confusing, and group conversations often move too fast to keep up. This can lead to withdrawal, not because they don’t want to connect, but because the connection rules are unclear.
Routine: The Comfort of Predictability
In a world that constantly shifts and surprises, routine provides a necessary anchor. Sudden changes—like a different route to work or an unexpected visitor—can cause significant distress. Predictability offers a sense of control in an environment that often feels chaotic.
The Emotional Toll: Misunderstood and Isolated
Autistic individuals frequently face misunderstandings. They may be labeled as “too shy,” “too blunt,” or “too distant” when, in reality, they are simply processing the world in their way. The struggle to fit into societal expectations can lead to anxiety, burnout, and emotional exhaustion.
Creating an Inclusive World
Understanding autism means recognizing that autistic individuals don’t need to be “fixed” or “changed” to fit into society. Instead, society must make space for different ways of thinking, feeling, and communicating. Simple accommodations, such as quiet spaces, clear communication, and respecting routines, can make a world of difference.
The next time you meet someone who seems withdrawn, overwhelmed, or “different,” consider this: they might be navigating an unfamiliar world, doing their best to find their place in it.
