3 ms·

> It’s also profoundly debilitating when it is diminished by disorders such as schizophrenia or autism. First of all, autism is better characterized as inabili

> It’s also profoundly debilitating when it is diminished by disorders such as schizophrenia or autism. First of all, autism is better characterized as inability to cope with one's own emotions, which results in a state similar to permanent tension or stress (without being aware of it or knowing any better), which autistic people are trying to compensate with acquired/learned behavioral patterns that keeps them less tense (avoiding eye contact is the obvious example). This is why performance in some tests is lower - we have real difficulties with self-control, with concentration on the task. Working memory is OK, when we in the rare state of so-called flow we perform well. Usually above average. Solitude and some meditation techniques (habitual return to state of being 100% idle) helps a lot.

fromthestart 8y ago
>when we in the rare state of so-called flow we perform well. Usually above average. I would say this is part of the so called "superpower" that autism provides. Once a subject becomes interesting enough to allow for flow, the associated hyperfocus facilitates hours of intense, deep work. The downside is that most subjects are not remotely engaging. I liken autism to a very narrow, but large Q factor (resonance). Most subjects are uninteresting, but when something does resonate, the interest is engrossing and intense. So life can easily become a monotony punctuated by moments of passion. I also may be describing ADHD to some extent.