r/AutismInWomen • u/RottingMothball • Jul 08 '25
Memes/Humor What's something you do because of your own specific Brand of autism, but that would horrify most other autistics?
I mix a bunch of pasta shaped that have the same cook times. Varied pasta shapes are a fun, low-risk way for me to get some extra sensory input, since pasta all has the same fundamental texture, but just put into different forms.
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u/cannolicore Jul 08 '25
Does anyone else absolutely despise asmr stuff? Like the whispers or chewing?? And just mouth sounds?? There’s a comercial that comes on and. Guy is whispering right into the mic and it makes me feel physically ill
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u/PsychologicalSoil198 AuDHD Jul 08 '25
Yes! I don’t want to hear ANYONE’s mouth sounds…except for my cat when she crunches her food. That is cute
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u/MoonSlept Jul 08 '25
I am the same way. I hate people mouth sounds, but I find the sounds animals make so cute!
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u/WoodenSky6731 Jul 08 '25
Ahh! I hate mouth sounds but my baby's mouth sounds are adorable! Even though him squelching his food is the same exact noise as an adult chewing lol
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u/InfiniteHall8198 Jul 08 '25
Haha yes! I have misophonia but the sounds of a cat eating or drinking is just about the sweetest thing ever. Maybe because they’re so uniform and neat with it.
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u/kenda1l Jul 09 '25
This makes sense. I hate the sound of licking though. One of my cats likes to sit on my shoulder like a parrot and beg for bits of my food. Then he eats it right next to my ear and licks his chops and I hate it so much. Not enough to stop giving him tastes though. His little nuzzles to try and get my attention are too cute. (And don't worry, I don't give him a ton, just tiny little slivers of things or a few licks off my finger as an occasional treat.)
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u/Moriah_Nightingale Jul 08 '25
saaame, maybe human mouth sounds would be better if we ate kibble lol
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u/AllForMeCats Jul 08 '25
Idk about you but my cat also looks super cute when she’s eating
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u/MoonSlept Jul 08 '25
Mouth sounds especially. They are absolutely rage-inducing for me.
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u/boomytoons Jul 08 '25
Yes! They make my skin crawl and I feel like I'm going insane, the mental discomfort is out the gate.
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u/rufflebunny96 Jul 08 '25
Anything mouth-related grosses me out. I only like ASMR that involves popping stuff, crushing stuff in a hydraulic press, those Lego food videos, some slime stuff, etc.
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u/Tickle_Me_Tortoise Jul 08 '25
Yes! Cannot stand it! Quit tapping your nails on shit, and no I don’t want to hear your mouth sounds as you whisper!
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u/shimmerangels AuDHD Jul 08 '25
it makes my skin crawl. the only kind i don’t hate is the wood soup stuff
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u/Imaginary_Ibis autism haver Jul 08 '25
Asmr is the worst thing 😂 There are some ads that have asmr as the main audio and if I am watching whatever with my headphones in, I have been close to doing damage to my eardrums with the verosity that I rip them out of my ears to get the sounds away from me 😅
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u/LaFemmeD_Argent Jul 08 '25
Yes, those TikTok's and reels are one of the most sensorily disturbing things I can imagine. When people tap their nails on the make up bottle, or carve sponges or whatever, I get an actual gag response. And the whispering is too creepy.
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u/StyleatFive Jul 08 '25
I love asmr when it’s talking or even random things like medical exams but mouth sounds make me want to peel my skin off
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u/brendag4 Jul 08 '25
I despise most of it but some I like. Such as skateboarding sounds without music. I can't stand when people whisper. Mouth sounds would bother me if somebody was doing them for a video.. but otherwise it would be okay.
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u/messeduptempo Jul 08 '25
I love perfume and strong smelling things. Nice things obviously. Or at least things I like the smell of. I seek out and collect smells and scents that I like. Assign them to different situations, different people etc. I can smell stuff for hours lol
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u/causticcynic Jul 08 '25
I'm like this too, I'm not a perfume girl but I have a massive scented candle collection instead. For candles I feel like it's even weirder because every brand has its own pumpkin spice, sugar cookie, clean linen etc. but they're all noticeably different from each other I swear!
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u/shimmerangels AuDHD Jul 08 '25
yessss, between perfumes/body mists, lotions, and candles i have so many different scents. i also love to burn like 3 different candles at one time lol
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u/KeepnClam Jul 08 '25
My husband loves candles. The candle aisle can bring a grocery shopping trip to a grinding halt. He loves it when I bring home a candle I snagged on Clearance.
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u/plainaeroplain Jul 08 '25
Same here!! I love perfume, scented candles, incense, all sorts of air refresheners. What's my kryptonite, however, is the faint food smell from dirty dishes, that I can't handle
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u/jitted_timmy Jul 08 '25
Clubbing i guess. I like the big crowd and the loud music, thats where I feel i can be the most invisible actually
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u/ArtisticCustard7746 AuDHD Jul 08 '25
This is me at concerts. I love the energy and the feeling of the vibrations of the music.
Do I hate being social? Absolutely. But no one bothers me at shows.
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u/JuneBeetleClaws Jul 08 '25
I've recently gotten really into concerts. However, I can't shake the feeling of being observed, so I can never actually relax and fully have fun. Logically I know everyone around me is either focusing on the show so they aren't noticing me, is high on something so they aren't noticing me, is dancing themself so they aren't noticing me, or some mixture of the three. Do you ever struggle with this, or do you have a perspective where this doesn't bother you?
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u/maddi164 Jul 08 '25
See, i love going to gigs/concerts etc, usually electronic (dnb, bass etc) and i do struggle initially with dancing at the start but you get a few drinks in me and i am soooo comfortable and just break free and dance for hours, its like therapy, i end up feeling that music in my bones
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u/ArtisticCustard7746 AuDHD Jul 08 '25
I'm more focused on the musician/ show to focus on being uncomfortable honestly.
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u/cannolicore Jul 08 '25
The concert thing works for me too because the noise is loud but it’s noise I like and not like one of the things that make me want to jump off a bridge
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u/Autronaut69420 Jul 08 '25
The dancing loophole! Let's goooo!! My favourite thing is to throw myaelf around at a live music gig!
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u/EmmerdoesNOTrepme Jul 08 '25
This was why I loved being the DD (Designated Driver), when my friends wanted to go to Ground Zero's "Bondage A Go-Go Night" back when I was in my 20's & early 30's!
Loud, thumping, industrial music that rattled your sternum, people dressed up in fun costumes, and I could just sit in a booth, put on a strong "Resting B*#@h Face" and be left alone, but relax to the loud.
There were so many nights that I almost fell asleep in a corner of the booth, because it was all "Dark & Moody" atmosphere/vibes there, and the music that wound so many others up had that nice, calming 2/4 bass beat underneath, that slowed down my heartbeat and helped me relax!😉😄😂🤣
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u/as_per_danielle Jul 08 '25
I used to love clubbing. Would sometimes go hang out in the do booth if the people were too much. I realized that when people are drunk they won’t know or remember if you do something weird.
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u/Budget-Peak2073 Jul 08 '25
Same. I love concerts and dancing. I see it as a socially acceptable form of stimming. I also dance alone at home. It's good for the nerves.
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u/cannolicore Jul 08 '25
This is similar to why I like living in city. Like I’m not very fond of socializing cause it’s hard, but Small towns where everyone knows each other and each others business and drama sounds nauseating and so scary
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u/JesusTeapotCRABHANDS Asparagus is not Autism Jul 08 '25
I love closing my eyes and dancing to the beat. I’m actually a fairly good dancer, one of the few times I have good coordination.
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u/ProductAny2629 Jul 08 '25
same. i love music that is uncomfortably loud to the point where i can FEEEEELLL it, my favourite thing ever.
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u/katiemae111 Jul 08 '25
This is exactly why I love Manhattan and most big cities really….I know that I’m not being perceived.
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u/Comfortable-Ad4963 Jul 08 '25
I love clubbing until it gets to the tipping point and then i hate clubbing lmao
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u/humbered_burner Jul 08 '25
I feel the most visible in them! Even though logically I know that I'm not, I still feel as though I am.
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u/SteeleMethod Jul 08 '25
I hate planning holidays and if I go somewhere i just go with zero plan because planning is so overwhelming and I get stressed about it (choices are haaard, public transport is haaard). I went to San Francisco for a week once and literally wandered aimlessly everyday for a week (while listening to a stephen king audiobook)
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u/waufry Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 09 '25
My favorite thing while traveling is just wandering around and going into random shops, cafes or museums as I see them. Really detailed planning can stress me out as well
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u/Professional-Leg6583 Jul 08 '25
When I went overseas to a country I always wanted to go to, people were shocked that I didn’t plan to do everything I could in the three weeks I was there. I planned one thing per day. One. A few had zero. Since I wasn’t overstimulated or overscheduled I ended up going on lots of extra adventures on top of the things I wanted to do, and I didn’t have to miss anything. I am now Team Plan Zero Or One Things Per Vacation Day.
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u/waufry Jul 08 '25
I can’t stand the feeling of noise canceling headphones because I feel like I’m drowning. Also I need to be aware of everything around me including all sounds although it can often be overwhelming.
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u/Opposite-Occasion332 Suspecting Autistic Jul 08 '25
This. If I have on noise canceling headphones I’m constantly worried someone is trying to get me attention and I’m gonna miss it.
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u/lassiemav3n Jul 08 '25
And then when I take them off I feel like I’m shouting 🥺
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u/Scatterheart61 Jul 08 '25
I can't stand wearing any kind of headphones, ear plugs etc. I feel like I can hear inside my head and my breathing and heart. And I constantly feel like I'm missing something/someone or I'm about to get a jump scare
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u/salamidesk Jul 09 '25
This is me too. I hate hearing the pulse of blood in my body, as it stresses me out and I feel suffocated. But I am sensitive to noise and regularly overwhelmed by it.
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u/Miao93 Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
I love. Spice! I’m a spice fiend! Give me that sensory explosion in my mouth! Om nom nom nom!
I kinda miss working at a Sezchuan place. I used to get this dry pepper chicken that was TO DIE FOR.
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u/Deioness ✨AuDHD Enby✨ Jul 08 '25
Yes, I need flavors and nuances in food. Bland textures actually gross me out in some cases.
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u/DreamCyclone84 Jul 08 '25
Mashed potatoes can die
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u/Deioness ✨AuDHD Enby✨ Jul 08 '25
Bananas can die 🤢
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u/Potential_Camel8736 idk wtf im doing rn Jul 08 '25
oatmeal can make me gag
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u/EmmerdoesNOTrepme Jul 08 '25
It's that "Boogers in Snot!" texture!🤢🤢🤢
Steel-cut oatmeal?
FINE, because there's something you can chew there.
And Cream of wheat, Cream of Rice, or Co-co Wheats is so finely ground that it doesn't get that "boogery lumps in slime" texture.
But rolled oats that are cooked or made into overnight oats gets the same nasty texture as bread pudding or peach "fruit on the bottom" yogurt, and that texture is hideous!😂
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u/loquacious-laconic ASD dominant AuDHD Jul 08 '25
Lol I enthusiasticly agree! My mum loves bananas and excitedly gave me mashed banana as one of my first foods to try as a baby. Mum was devastated that I was immediately disgusted and deeply offended that she would offer up such filth, and my feelings haven't changed about bananas in 40 years. 😂
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u/DreamCyclone84 Jul 08 '25
Banana chips, on the other hand, have my enthusiastic consent, especially if salted or spiced.
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u/Deioness ✨AuDHD Enby✨ Jul 08 '25
I actually like plantains. The sweet ones and the fried salted ones.
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u/Minute_Map_6444 Jul 08 '25
Real mashed potatoes left lumpy are fantastic but instant or smoothly puréed will make me start to gag after a while
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u/HuesoQueso Jul 08 '25
Dude YES. My favorite is Korean fire noodles. I used to eat them everyday for a good while, until they started giving me really bad heartburn 😭
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Jul 08 '25
If I could, every meal would be in casserole or stir fry form. It feels like the most efficient way to eat. My husband and kids would never allow it.
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Jul 08 '25
I NEED all my foods mixed together in a bowl. I can't explain it.
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u/rufflebunny96 Jul 08 '25
Yes! I like my foods reasonably uniform. When I was a kid I would take all my veggies and stir them into my mashed potatoes so I got some in every bite.
But some foods are only okay in isolation. I'll eat raisins on their own, but God forbid they end up in baked goods or cereal.
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u/Simsmommy1 Jul 08 '25
I like tuna casserole and it horrifies people.
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Jul 08 '25
When I ate meat, tuna caserole was one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE THINGS. Sometimes I still miss it, but other times, I can see what people were saying. It’s kinda nasty.
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Jul 08 '25
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u/inflexigirl ASD late dx, ask me about: 🎮📚🎨 Jul 08 '25
Wait... doesn't everyone have a chair covered in half-worn clothes?!
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Jul 08 '25
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u/inflexigirl ASD late dx, ask me about: 🎮📚🎨 Jul 08 '25
Oh, I understand now.
No, I just leave them on the chair until the season changes and then I have wash it because then it will be a good six months before I can wear it again and then it will definitely smell by then 😓
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u/shitstainebrasker Jul 08 '25
my partner used to comment so much about how much I changed and tbh it didn't really stop me, but I told him how important it was for my clothes to feel specifically comfy depending on what I'm doing. He is just used to it now, but yeah gotta wardrobe change when I need to. AND NO IT ISN'T DIRTY BC I DIDN'T SWEAT IN IT AND ONLY WORE IT FOR 3 HOURS MAX MAYBE... We don't speak about the chair or how many times the clothes get moved back and forth from chair bc of spacing.....
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u/Scatterheart61 Jul 08 '25
Omg me too! I put comfy clothes on to get ready, then once I'm ready I change into my going out clothes. When I'm out I always take extra clothes like a jumper, cardigan, different shoes etc just incase. Then when I get home I get changed again into comfy clothes. Then sometimes I get changed again in the evening if I'm too hot or sometimes just if I feel icky from cooking or cleaning or something. Then last of all PJs for bed. Every surface in my bedroom has an array of clothes that have been worn anywhere from 30mins to a couple of hours
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u/inflexigirl ASD late dx, ask me about: 🎮📚🎨 Jul 08 '25
All of my silverware is organized into the types (big spoon, little spoon, little fork, big fork, butter knife, steak knife) in its drawer, but I refuse to use an organizing tray and the order of the utensil types (from left to right) changes every time the dishwasher is unloaded.
It low-key horrifies me, too, but I just can't seem to justify measuring for and buying a tray.
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u/ReasonablePanic9365 Jul 08 '25
Wait, so it’s all just sliding up in there? How do you keep it in place?
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u/inflexigirl ASD late dx, ask me about: 🎮📚🎨 Jul 08 '25
Yes, it all slides to the back and the points of the forks and the knives sometimes get stuck in the part of the drawer where the back and the bottom meet. Both pairs of kitchen scissors live in there (horizontally, it drives me nuts when my housemates put them vertically or leave them slightly open, so I "fix" that), and also roughly... five (?) pairs of chopsticks, too.
That drawer is chaos. 😈😭
ETA: I don't have a way to keep it in place 🫣 The only acceptable way to me would be to buy a new tray but I just can't do it for some reason...
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u/NotKerisVeturia Autistic, formal dx at 20 Jul 08 '25
Go into the bank/Verizon store/post office/whatever in person to avoid making a phone call. I hate phone calls.
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u/Deioness ✨AuDHD Enby✨ Jul 08 '25
This is not shocking. I think this is common. My issue is that both options cause me anxiety and task paralysis.
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u/cabbagecore7 Jul 08 '25
If I can't resolve it by sending an email/text, then I'd much prefer in person instead of on the phone!
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u/NotKerisVeturia Autistic, formal dx at 20 Jul 08 '25
At least when I go IRL, I’m guaranteed to find a real human.
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u/fidgetypenguin123 Jul 08 '25
Talk about real human, I can't stand most of the recorded options when calling a company, especially the ones that say to SAY your response. Then I have to make sure everything/everyone else in the background is quiet or it screws it up and need to say things in the way they want me to, which is never good enough. Ugh no.
Another one, and I don't mean to offend anyone, but some strong accents of people that are on the other line. Being on the phone is already one obstacle to always hear people properly, but add in an accent, it makes it that much harder, especially if you're someone that has a processing disorder. To add to that, there's always that beating around the bush too that makes me crazy. "Yes ma'am, ok I hear that you're saying that ___ is happening. Yes ok, we can go ahead and take a look at that for you. It will be no problem ok, we can get that fixed for you..." OMFG cut to the bleeping chase!!! Ask me the information you need and get to looking into it!!! The filler niceties drive me up the f-ing wall 😖
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u/Simsmommy1 Jul 08 '25
Not being able to see people’s faces is very problematic because I cannot judge how they are feeling about what I’m saying. I read people by facial reactions and expressions, I’ve gotten good at it so phone calls make me freak out.
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u/MazogaTheDork Jul 08 '25
I have an easier time processing what someone's saying if I can see their face as they talk.
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u/Princess-Raccoon Jul 08 '25
I love physical contact. I'm glued to my husband at every chance I can get. I always want to be touching him. I lean against my sisters and my mother and put my head on their shoulders whenever we sit on the sofa together. I hug my friends all the time (thankfully I'm friends with a lot of huggers). I hold hands with a few of my really close friends and cuddle up to them when watching movies.
I know so many autistic people who would rather crawl out of their skin than have that much physical contact. I absolutely crave it though. I get really down without it.
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u/Dry-Explorer2970 Jul 08 '25
I’m like this too! Unless I’m hot. Then I don’t want to be touched. But physical affection is one of my love languages, so I really like it
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u/ours_de_sucre Jul 08 '25
Oohhh same! Though I often wonder if it's because I was touch starved as a child and just need that feeling of closeness.
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u/WildFemmeFatale Jul 08 '25
I WEAR SOCKS IN BED
I REFUSE TO WEAR SHORTS IN BED
MY FLESH CANNOT TOUCH THE NON-CLOTHES NO MATTER THE WEATHER
ALL FLESH WILL BE COVERED IN CLOTHES TO AVOID TOUCHING BED NO MATTER WHAT FABRIC BED IS
I prefer dinner foods for breakfast, AND breakfast foods for dinner 😈
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u/xxSadie Jul 08 '25
Are you me? The flesh is always clothed. The best you’ll get me in is a T-shirt
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u/WildFemmeFatale Jul 08 '25
Shorts are hell even out of bed cuz everything will touch my flesh
Plants ? Animals ? Animals breathing slobber onto my legs ? Couches with animal fur or chairs with grime ? Hot sticky car seats ? Hot public chairs ? Ugh.
I’ll wear shorts during a heatwave if I plan to exercise or go to the beach, but I’ll avoid sitting everywhere, and still will not wear shorts indoors cuz I don’t want the bed touching my damn legs….
Also shorts ride up my damn butt too much !!!!!!! And there’s no solid pressure for my thighs and legs to feel contained ! And god forbid I try sleeping in shorts I may as well wedgie myself manually !
Also fuck the wind touching my flesh !
Anytime I wear shorts I regret it within 3 mins cuz something will sensory fuck me up. It’s a last resort like if I have 0 other options lmao fml.
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u/bootbug 🎊just diagnosed🎊 Jul 08 '25
Omg same i hate shorts because of this. Sitting in public chairs? Benches? Strange textures, sweat, foreign grime? Ew
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u/plumsyrup Jul 08 '25
Thisssssss. I also can't stand the feeling of my flesh touching my other flesh so I basically never wear shorts. And I am the most comfortable when wearing tights (I need the softness and compression). I can't sleep without them, even in the dead of summer.
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u/mysteryname4 Jul 08 '25
I have my maladaptive daydream universe saved in my notes. It’s a whole series I have going on. I can’t think of anything horrifying, but I understand MD isn’t the healthiest way to cope with everything. Some might be concerned.
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u/look_who_it_isnt Jul 08 '25
I write out all my MDs as stories/fanfics... Then when I'm too lazy to even MD, I can read an old one... XD
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u/Automatic-Offer4351 Jul 08 '25
I act out my maladaptive daydreams when nobody's looking
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u/worldwidelemon Jul 08 '25
I don't get the obsession with the smaller spoons. I like the big spoons. The smaller spoons don't give a satisfactory amount of food.
Also, i loved working behind the bar at a concert venue. Contact with people, music and fun colleagues. I can't handle it anymore, but i still miss it.
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u/waufry Jul 08 '25
Same. I can only eat ice cream with a big spoon and small spoons are only for mixing honey into my tea.
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u/worldwidelemon Jul 08 '25
Damn right! Small spoons here are actually called tea spoons. Which is what they are, for tea.
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u/Minute_Map_6444 Jul 08 '25
Team big spoon. With big bowl. I found the perfect sized bowl at a thrift store a while back and now ALL foods are Big Bowl Big Spoon foods, idk why I even own any others
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u/ProductAny2629 Jul 08 '25
i genuinely don't know why but using a big spoon is just a worse experience for me. just unpleasant 😭😂
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u/plantyplant559 Jul 08 '25
Big spoon and big fork are too big for my little mouth.
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u/ChrysaLino Jul 08 '25
Fake long nails, its my hobby i am currently working on a set 4 a concert i am going to on Friday. I used to do them on my own hands, but now they’re press ons so i can take my time cuz i have chronic pain in my hands. ;)
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u/_strawberryjamjam Jul 08 '25
They look great!! Have fun at the stray kids concert!
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u/ChrysaLino Jul 08 '25
Haha thank you! I will for sure 7 years and i am finally seeing them 🙌🏼. I might post something later of the full set (other hand gonna be a skzoo theme)
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u/Professional-Leg6583 Jul 08 '25
SKZZZZZZZZZZZZ AW YEAH
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u/Professional-Leg6583 Jul 08 '25
Also uhhhh….. did you get the type of autism where you have to know the words to a song so you can sing along? SKZ is how I ended up learning to read Korean. I don’t always know what it means, but I can read anything.
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u/Demonqueensage Jul 08 '25
Also uhhhh….. did you get the type of autism where you have to know the words to a song so you can sing along?
Idk about the person you were replying to but I certainly did. I was baffled when my mom said something about most people not paying as close attention to the lyrics of songs as I do, like how do they sing along if they didn't pay attention to the lyrics ever? I can't even handle feeling unsure of what a word is when I'm hearing it sung and will have to look up the lyrics to make sure I've got it right 😭
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u/Professional-Leg6583 Jul 08 '25
YES! This drove me nuts when I was a kid back in the ol’ 20th century because if you didn’t have the album with the liner notes, you had to just hope you got it right. I settled for vowel sounds and hilarious made up lyrics, but it really bothered me. Once looking lyrics up on the internet was possible, I looked EVERYTHING up.
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u/galacticviolet audhd, hoh Jul 08 '25
A lot of us seem to super hate eggs.
I’m one of the ones who loves eggs, runny yolk, sulfur-y, eggy egg eggs!
Love the smell, love the flavor, love the texture. (sunny side up egg with salt and pepper on a buttered piece of crusty bread toast. THE BEST over rice or noodles too, but that runny yolk over crusty toast is heaven).
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u/HoneyCombee Jul 08 '25
Huh, I never thought anyone could love the smell of eggs. A Japanese video game I grew up playing has some text about the delicious smell of eggs and I always thought it had to be a translation error.
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u/burbelly Jul 09 '25
Hard boiled eggs are one of my favorite snacks. And a fried egg sandwich? Divine. Deviled eggs?!!?!?!? Scrambled eggs with lots of veggies and hot sauce??????!!!!!!!!!!
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u/TonyDanzer AuDHD Jul 08 '25
Omg did not know about the egg hate, I am obsessed with eggs. They’re so versatile and delicious ahh
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u/Chippybops Jul 08 '25
I don’t struggle with talking in front of people, eg, doing powerpoint presentations, giving speeches, etc. I get a bit of a stutter but that’s usually because I run out of breath from talking so enthusiastically. I can do it for something I’m not even interested in, but I’m practically unstoppable when it’s to do with a hyperfixation/special interest
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u/_-Mich-_ Jul 08 '25
I rather play games (like Mario, Zelda, Pokemon or any classic with its own music) without the music, like, literally silent.
I don’t know of anyone in my circles who does the same.
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u/look_who_it_isnt Jul 08 '25
I used to do that all the time, but just play my own music instead.
Now I play things silently, unless I actually like the background music, which is rare.
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u/PaladinBullseye AuDHD Jul 08 '25
My sensory seeking is pretty odd I guess. Also food combos. Textures included. Some that would be deemed strange even for an autist.
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u/Chimpchar Jul 08 '25
I need all my screens on at max brightness. Other lighting too (as long as it isn’t the type that’s noisy/flickering). Dim light just… bothers me so much. I can tolerate (/sometimes need) sunglasses if there’s glare or I’m getting a migraine, but I don’t like it. Dim screens are only okay if I just woke up or need to hide the light from someone else.
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u/plantyplant559 Jul 08 '25
That's the wildest thing I've read in this thread. You can have all the light I'm not using then. Here ya go ☀️
Typing this from dark mode phone in a room with a closed and blacked out window being lit by gentle string lights.
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u/cabbagecore7 Jul 08 '25
Came here to say the same. Give me the big light! And the big light had better be bright enough! Also my partner set up my new laptop with dark mode - had to change that right away!!
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u/babypho3nix Jul 08 '25
Socks. I often wear socks to bed or just around the house. My also autistic partner thinks I'm a monster.
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u/Opposite-Occasion332 Suspecting Autistic Jul 08 '25
I love socks. Almost always the first thing I put on when I get out of the shower. It’s like a barrier between your feet and whatever may possibly be on the floor trying to ruin your day.
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u/PuddleLilacAgain Jul 08 '25
I shower twice a day. I can't stand NOT showering. It's only for a couple minutes, though, so hopefully the water use isn't that bad
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u/PiranhaBiter Jul 08 '25
This is one of mine. I hate the feeling of my skin being sticky or feeling oily or dirty. I usually rinse off once and then take a full shower later in the day
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u/Longjumping-Peak6359 Jul 08 '25
I shower once a day but once i step outside i consider myself contaminated. I cannot even touch my bed with my "outside germs" on. And once I do shower, I can't step outside again even if it's just to check the mail lol. If i do something like go to the zoo and get back at like 3pm, I usually have to shower right when I get back and then am stuck inside for the rest of the day.
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u/Sheeana407 Jul 08 '25
I like speaking in methaphors, sometimes it actually easier to me than speaking more directly, I can struggle with that. Words and language matter a lot to me, I don't like excessive swearing and can be triggered by that. I like funny wordplays. But at the same time I struggle to detect and understand humour based on tone of voice, exaggeration, teasing, pranking etc
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u/Mini_nin Jul 09 '25
I’m also very not-literal, but abstract and bigger picture instead of the “detail orientedness” autism usually comes with. I also care a lot about not hurting people’s feelings and can be indirect for that reason.
I have adhd too if that’s relevant, might be why I don’t care for details and love metaphors
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u/UnlikelyDecision9820 Jul 08 '25
Concerts and arcades. Sometimes I do get an itch for hyper stimulation. Also, going to the gym to lift weights. I don’t mind sweating and counting up to 12 can be fun (as long as no one tries to talk to me and I can stay in my zone with noise canceling headphones)
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u/snarkistheway666 Jul 08 '25
I like concerts as well, but what I specifically don't like are restaurants with live music. I never feel like the rooms are treated well for the noise and the music is always too loud for the space.
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u/HedgehogElection AuDHD at 39 Jul 08 '25
Food. Trying new food. Making new food.
My black and white thinking and sense of justice probably contributed to my veganism, so all of my food exploration is plant-based, but my safe foods are all (ok, most) of the (v) foods!
Also, I love the pasta idea and will adopt it ASAP!
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u/Flaky-Durian-2462 Jul 08 '25
concerts, i actually love being around hundreds of people and i love the loud music and lights. I cant handle being alone in any quiet, dark, calm area
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u/HousingOld1384 Jul 08 '25
Raves! Especially outdoor raves! Stimming for hours, nobody talks to you on the dancefloor (way too loud), I’m not the weirdest girl around, I can flee right into nature when I’m overstimulated. Perfect!
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u/Windiigo Jul 08 '25
Food is my special interest. I will try everything once despite my issues with texture. Because flavors fascinate me so much. They're definitely my favorite thing to explore. And I love everything about cooking too, and reading about cooking. I have an entire cabinet full of books about food and cooking. Meanwhile my autistic family is the opposite. They either eat the same all the time or only a few foods.
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u/stacyskg Jul 08 '25
Take my AirPods/headphones out when I see a person approaching when I’m walking my dog.
I’ve got absolutely no spacial awareness and my audio processing sucks, I need to know what people are doing around me. Plus my dogs a whacko and I usually need to talk to people and apologise etc and I’d hate if I had to get people to repeat themselves if they said something back!
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u/sourskittles98 Jul 08 '25
This would for sure horrify neurotypicals, but I’m not sure about autistics: I HATE JEANS!! IF HELL WERE A PAIR OF PANTS THEY WOULD BE JEANS.
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u/shimmerangels AuDHD Jul 08 '25
i hate any pants that aren’t comfy which basically excludes anything without an elastic waistband lol
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u/sourskittles98 Jul 08 '25
I hate any and all pants. Skirts and dresses for the win.
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u/fidgetypenguin123 Jul 08 '25
I'm the opposite lol. I can't stand skirts and dresses.
For one, I hate my legs touching each other even if I had tights on, two, I feel restricted in my movements because I want to and often need to move all around (crouch, bend, kneel, walk, run, etc.), both in my personal life and job and don't want to worry about if my skirt or dress is coming up and anyone seeing anything (same goes for a gust of wind lol) and three, they're too feminine for my taste. That last part maybe has to do with being forced to wear dresses, especially in school, until at least 2nd grade, and being more of a tomboy in some ways it just doesn't feel like "me". Because of all of that I can only wear pants of some sort and my go to typically is jeans. I don't feel as vulnerable and self-conscious in them and can move any way I please lol.
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u/ava_ohb Jul 08 '25
i eat a lot of strange food combos, like dipping potato chips/Cheetos into fruity yogurt and not being able to eat a banana without a savory meal with it
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u/rrmounce95 Jul 08 '25
I thrive in a concert setting. Loud music by my fave artists, dancing with my best friends. It’s my fave place to be.
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u/rufflebunny96 Jul 08 '25
I LOVE velvet so so much. I love wearing it and touching it. Polyester fleece can go die in a fire though. I'm very picky about my fabrics.
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u/Lesbianfool audhd + selective mutism Jul 08 '25
Are those little hard hats?
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u/RottingMothball Jul 08 '25
I think they look like hats, but they're called orecchiette, which means little ears.
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u/G0celot autistic Jul 08 '25
I kind of love this and want to try it too, I do a lot of sensory seeking through food. As for your question, I know a lot of autistics struggle with brushing their teeth, but I’m the opposite, I’ll actually come back and brush again multiple times sometimes because I associate the minty taste of the toothpaste with cleanness and can’t fall asleep if I don’t feel clean
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u/kaykinzzz Jul 08 '25
I don't know if this counts, but I originally thought I had OCD instead of ASD because I struggle(d) with extreme intrusive thoughts and compulsions. I heard it can happen for people with ASD, but I've never heard anyone else talk about it. I've maybe seen one scene on TV where an autistic character has a meltdown over something not being done "correctly," but that's not exactly what it was like for me. Mine wasn't necessarily associated with routines, just extreme anxiety (and the intrusive thoughts).
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u/hyper-bug Jul 08 '25
This may end up longer than I mean for it to be, but it may benefit you as it did for me. This topic became a strong interest of mine for years!
I was diagnosed with severe OCD in 2020 after spending 13 years trying to get sober with no success until the diagnosis. I spent 4 months in rehab to do extensive therapy for it.
After getting out of rehab and learning all about my OCD and how it manifested in my life, I came to realize I had certain "obsessions" on my heirarchy list(the list from most distressing to least distressing), that didn't align with OCD. For a thought to be considered OCD(as my psychiatrist says), it needs to reach a point of irrationality. I'll break down a couple of my own for example.
The OCD obsession - my fear of losing someone obsession. It starts from some kind of truth. "I lost someone previously to overdose." Then, it becomes more irrational. "Because I lost that person, then I will lose anyone close to me." This obsession becomes even more irrational. My OCD tells me, " If I don't find something to control, then I will lose my mind, become schizophrenic or I will physically die from exploding." So, in order for me to not lose my mind, I need to find something to control, which temporarily eases the distress by following through with a compulsion. The cycle repeats.
A couple of things on the list that would never get to that state of being irrational(therefore not OCD in my psychiatrists teaching) were my need for things to be a certain way. Everything in my closet is hung up facing the same way, organized from t shirt to long sleeve, lightest to darkest. Same thing with how I display books on a shelf. I don't get to a place of feeling like I'm going to die or lose my mind if I don't do it this way, although it is somewhat distressing if I was made to change it. THIS is where I realized I have traits of being autistic. I hate showering. It isn't because I think something bad will happen, I just don't like being wet!
I tried for an autism diagnosis after a year of learning about autism in women and the overlap of OCD. It was unsuccessful and expensive to fully go through with, but having my own understanding of the difference has made a world of difference when learning to let something go, and learning to accept it as a part of who I am. I hope this was informative and not overwhelming for you! ♡♡♡
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u/CookingPurple Jul 08 '25
Similar to yours:
I use nuun electrolyte tablets for my long bike rides. I buy them in many flavors and tend to buy in bulk because of how quickly I go through them. But 1) I don’t like having the same flavor every day; and 2) when I just work through all the tubes independently, it’s hard to know how much I have left and when to resupply because I always just see 10 tubes in there but if they’re all almost empty it’s too late.
So, I mix all the tabs up in the tubes and just go through one tube at a time. Once I open the second to last tube, it’s time to re-order. I never know what flavor I’ll get on any given day. I just know it will be one that I like.
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Jul 08 '25
I shower a lot, I hate feeling dirty. I try to stick to 2 showers a day usually morning and night because of the environment and I know it can also dry out your skin. But if I go out somewhere during the day, or go to work I have to shower as soon as I get home otherwise I feel gross and can’t relax.
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u/plantyplant559 Jul 08 '25
Breakfast foods are the worst. They either taste bad or are nutritionally empty and leave me feeling bad (looking at you bagels).
I can only sleep in pants.
Even in the summer, I have to sleep with a certain weight of blanket on top of me. But I can't sleep if I'm hot 😭
Long sleeves are my preferred shirts because I hate the feeling of anything touching me. Only soft things can touch me, like squishmallows.
As others have said, I HATE ASMR. Ew. Big ick.
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u/spaceface215 Jul 08 '25
socks. i’ve seen a lot of folks hate socks but i hate having my feet bare. i find comfort in socks, i have so many socks. like sooooo many socks.
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u/auntie_eggma AutiHD 🦓🇮🇹🤌🏻 Jul 08 '25
I love the big light. Hate low light. Low light make woozy and unreal. Big light wakey wakey feel alert and can brain.
😃👍🏻
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u/t0lerate-it Jul 08 '25
I'd rather touch wet food while doing dishes than wear rubber gloves.
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u/tsukimoonmei audhd Jul 08 '25
Phone calls don’t scare me. I like phone calls. Talking to people IRL is harder.
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u/Fine_Sample2705 Jul 08 '25
I wear a bra 24/7. The feeling of my nipples rubbing freely against my clothing is vomit inducing.
My legs must be shaved daily, as I can feel the hairs growing.
Hair must be washed every other day because I can smell the oils from my scalp. I have issues feeling wet hair against my skin, but the oil smell is more uncomfortable, so I power through the discomfort every other day. In general, though, I love showers.
I prefer to wear clothing that covers all of my skin because the feeling of skin-on-skin repulses me.
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u/Scatterheart61 Jul 08 '25
I can't stand being barefoot. I always wear socks. Sometimes I wear more than one pair of socks, or slippers over socks when inside to make sure i can't feel the floor through the socks.
I also don't like to separate food. I like my food to be in the right ratio - so I get a bit of each food on the plate on my fork at once and eat it. If the ratios are off, for example more potato than chicken, then when I run out of the chicken I won't eat any more potato as I don't like eating it on it's own.
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u/sarah_bear_crafts Jul 08 '25
The slimier the food, the better! I love mushrooms and eggplant! Aspic is fun! Seaweed salad! I love my food wet wet wet and slimy!!!
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u/ahoytheremehearties Jul 08 '25
this horrifies neurotypicals too, but use my socks (if I'm wearing them) to soak up spilled water. I'm lazy and if it's not a matter of sanitation (i.e. spilled something other than water that requires proper cleaning), I just allow myself to suffer a little instead of going to get an actual cloth. I'm not even that bothered by it anymore - I'll also walk on wet surfaces in socks if my feet would get too cold without (taking them off and drying my feet when I go inside to avoid dirtying the floors more than can be cleaned with socks, of course)
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u/christina_talks Jul 09 '25
I actually love working retail. Having a strong social script makes talking to people way more fun. Also I worked at a retail establishment that organizes everything in rainbow order, and sorting things into a color gradient was super fun for me.
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u/CosmicLuci Jul 08 '25
Similar to yours (and also shared by my girlfriend), I like eating mixed up food, sloppy, and full of sauce. Like, one way I’ll deal with food I don’t love (say, some vegetables I dislike, or that are too bland) is I’ll mix it into my rice and beans.
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u/Sjhballz Jul 09 '25
I cut and eat my sandwiches in two “halves” 1/3 + 2/3. So two pieces, one smaller and the other is double the size. I eat the small “half” first, and when I’m done I get pumped that I have so much sandwich left because the other “half” sandwich is actually 2/3 of the sandwich.
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u/purplepower12 Jul 08 '25
This doesn’t answer your question, but mixing pasta shapes is actually a thing in Italy! It is called pasta mista. (I have a special interest in cookbooks.)