camera magpie
is this #ActuallyAutistic ?
@autism101 query: does it sometimes require you to say a thing out loud, or explain a thing to someone else before you can understand it yourself? ex: i have been having symptoms for a week, i described it to my partner yesterday, and TODAY i finally "heard" myself and was able to take the appropriate action to solve the (physical) issue. this seems to be both for physical symptoms/pain or emotions.
May 19, 2023 at 11:56amWeb
Show threadeishiyaMay 19, 2023

@manzanares This isn't just an autism thing, I think. In the programming fields, the practice of explaining something to someone so that you yourself can understand it better is called "rubberducking", and it's long been known to help. It works with non-programming topics too.

I think the reason it works is that explaining things to others makes us think about them in a different way with different connections between the ideas, rather than staying stuck in the same messy loop of thoughts.

Show threadcamera magpieMay 19, 2023
@eishiya yes! good! i've experienced this too and it's the reason i was asking. this thing feels a bit different, though. it's like an alert siren is going off in my body but i can't even trace what system it's coming from. i almost have to talk about myself like i'm describing a not-me object to figure it out. is that also an everyone thing?
Show threadeishiyaMay 19, 2023

@manzanares I don't know, since I don't know how "everyone" thinks xP

But, I think I've heard of this sort of distancing when thinking through one's problems in the context of psychotherapy, though perhaps it allows one to engage with the feelings (physical or psychological) on a more rational level than one can when thinking about oneself experiencing them.

Show threadVincarsiMay 19, 2023
@manzanares @eishiya speaking for myself, when that happens it's usually because I've dissociated and am struggling to return. As a highly camouflaged autistic I've spent unreasonably long stretches of time dissociated (it's the only way I can push through my sensory sensitivities), to the point where trying to learn to live in my body after burnout has been a physically painful/intensive process
Show threadcamera magpieMay 19, 2023
@Vincarsi @eishiya this tracks for me too. Thank you for your openness in sharing.
Show threadIrinaMay 19, 2023
@manzanares @autism101 Yes!
Show threadBill Taroli May 19, 2023
@manzanares Oh my yes! I’ve totally done this. It confuses the fuck out of nearby #allistics when I do it too. LOL They translate it as “you’re not afraid to be wrong,” when really I’m just processing through my own understanding as I’m talking and/or asking about it. It has also been interpreted as mansplaining, and I get that. But it’s not entirely that. I’m selfsplaining, and a cis man, and you just happened to be there. 🤣 #ActuallyAutistic @autism101 @actuallyautistic
Show threadcamera magpieMay 19, 2023
@btaroli @autism101 @actuallyautistic I think maybe I should work on allowing myself to do this without need of another person. It could be a faster path to solving my pain.
Show threadBill Taroli May 19, 2023
@manzanares Sometimes other people help, as long as they don’t get confused by the style of discussion. I’ve learned I do this with myself even when I’m hearing my voice in my own head. I do also do it out loud by myself sonetimes. I read that way too. Just the various ways I process the stream of thought. It’s only lorevrevtly that I’ve learned how unusual it seems for others, and that it might be part of my #Autism. 🤷🏻‍♂️ #ActuallyAutistic @autism101 @actuallyautistic
Show threadKatta May 19, 2023
@manzanares @autism101
I am autistic and I very much relate. It sucks when you are on your own and have a lot to process but can be amazing when you have someone to talk to, who accepts you like you are.