Infodumping about my OC Vano and his autism...
...or autism coded behaviour for the site he's on xD I haven't infodumped about my OCs in a way too long time, so you have to deal with it. Also upon writing this I realised how many of the things I gave him apply to myself lmao
Ways his autism shows: • Difficulties in communication with neurotypical people - he relies on scripts and protocols to converse and experiences distress over unexpected topics occurring in a conversation. This is on a lower percentage with people he feels comfortable with. • Hard time understanding jokes and sarcasm or when he's being teased (he's getting better with it thanks to the people in his life who use those things a lot). • Pattern recognition in certain aspects like reading body language and situations (the intuition his community hinted to is basically just pattern recognition). • A very high need for routines and his specific order to things; he has developed his routines in a way that they're flexible enough to fit spontaneity into them. • Deep rooted need to understand how the world and people work and an alienation of himself from humans. Also doesn't like when rules don't make sense, but is also a rule follower to a certain aspect. • Hard time figuring out his own feelings and naming them; same can be said about his needs. Basic things like eating, bathroom routines and rest had to be established in routines so he actually does them. • Sensory sensitivities. • Masking, so much masking. It kept him from developing a sense of self, which comes with an intense identity crisis in his adolescence years. • Not good at showing affection and care (He literally did research on how to comfort someone and that sort of things). • Ways he does show affection include: Gift giving especially of things he knows the other person loves; learning things about topics of interest of other people; "I like you, so I'm sharing facts I find interesting with you"; permission for physical contact; permission to touch his belongings; parallel play/existing in the same space each doing their own thing; etc… • Low empathy, but high compassion. • Finds it incredibly difficult to form true connections with other people, despite having a burning desire for it. • Struggles with change. … and more Ways he's stimming! • categorizing/lining up things • making lists • repeating musical sheets in his mind • piano playing (on the actual piano, but also subtly on his thighs hidden under the table) • biting/picking skin and nails (tries to avoid doing that tho) • sensory seeking via spicy food • watching the starry night sky • watching streaming rivers or trees in the wind • browsing books to feel the paper texture • pacing (mainly in stress situations) • humming • playing with his necklace (and later earrings) • (he'd be a tiptoe walker as well, but Lubov knocked that out of him) • …and more
Sensory hell: • Rough fabric on his skin • wet clothes • tight collars/ties (especially when already overstimulated) • strong smells (perfumes especially) • having the same spot on his skin being touched/stroked for a prolonged time • slimy food • the temperature change from getting out of the bath tub • screaming children/high pitched screaming, singing, whatever • wet hair touching his neck • cutlery on porcelain, it makes him nauseaus • too many noises happening at the same time makes him dizzy • styrofoam • specific voices Sensory heaven: • any sort of paper, but especially older, heavy book pages • his favourite purple and black silk shirts • his soft jacket • spicy food • having his hair played with (close people only though!) • grass under his hands • pouring fine sand from one hand into the other • piano music • lavender scent • cold and smooth surfaces • starry sky • specific voices • coffee scent • Regent's fur • warm wax • the surface of his pendulum signs for a shutdown: • increased need for isolation • speech decreases and/or sounds choppier and in worst case, verbal shutdown • can't make decisions • heavy dizziness and hot flashes • very blank expression • instant energy drop • decreased and/or slow movement • unemotional or hyperemotional • may escape the setting • higher sensitivity to sensory input • instant skill regression what to do: • physical space unless stated otherwise beforehand • simple Yes/No questions • a quiet place, preferably his own room • staying in the room with him may be okay as long as no demands are made • getting out of uncomfortable pieces of clothing • a secluded spot in nature can also help • heavy/soft blankets help signs for a meltdown (vano rarely experiences meltdowns, he's more prone to shutdowns) • thought looping/hyperfocusing on the same thing over and over agin • pacing • picking/biting nails/skin • higher sensitivity to sensory input • frantically loosening buttons/ties to get more air • inability to focus on what's being said • becoming irritable; potential anger outburts and/or shouting • hot and cold flashes • hyperventilating • meltdowns often seamlessly go into a shutdown what to do: • don't touch lightly; tight hugs may help but only if you're a person of trust. • Do NOT touch at all if you're a stranger • staying calm and understanding works much better than judgement (vano judges himself enough for three people) • walk him out of the situation if you can • something that instantly calms him down is biting something spicy but how often does he have that around? • ask him to list his favourite books, piano pieces, educational subjects…etc, it's a good distraction
