What is autism? For many autistic people, everyday experiences involve social stress, sensory overwhelm, and a need for predictability. These experiences can be especially noticeable with strangers or in unstructured situations, like a cocktail party.
Social awkwardness and social stress
Autism often involves differences in social communication and interaction. An autistic person may feel awkward or stressed when meeting unfamiliar people or navigating a situation without clear expectations.
A cocktail party is a good example: conversations shift, people move between groups, and the rules are often unspoken. Knowing what to say, when to join in, or what will happen next can take considerable effort.
Sensory overwhelm
Another common experience is sensory overwhelm from environmental stimuli like sounds, smells, textures, tastes, and touch. A setting that feels manageable to one person may feel overwhelming to someone else.
Not every autistic person has the same sensory experiences. Some are sensitive to particular sensations, while others seek out sensory input or notice it less.
Stimming, anxiety, and self-soothing
Anxiety is also common. An autistic person may manage stress or sensory experiences through self-soothing stimming behaviors, such as rocking or pacing. Stimming can serve several purposes; it is not always a response to anxiety.
Some people also experience skin picking or hair pulling. These behaviors are not specific to autism and may need their own assessment and support.
Why routines and predictability matter
Another way an autistic person may manage anxiety is by knowing what is going to happen. This can look like following familiar routines or needing information about an event when they are not planning it or in control of it.
Knowing the schedule, who will be there, and what to expect can make a situation easier to navigate. Changes or uncertainty may require additional time and support.
How these experiences relate to diagnosis
There are less visible traits, too. For diagnosis, clinicians consider social communication and interaction together with restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. These patterns can include repetitive movements, a need for sameness or routines, focused interests, and sensory differences.
Anxiety can accompany autism, but it is not a required diagnostic criterion. A comprehensive evaluation considers developmental history, the combination of traits, and their effect on everyday life.
What about social pragmatic communication disorder?
If someone has social communication difficulties but does not have the restricted or repetitive patterns required for autism, clinicians may consider social pragmatic communication disorder. The distinction requires a careful evaluation, including past as well as current experiences.
Understanding these patterns can help people make sense of their experiences and identify the support that fits their needs.
Sources: CDC: Autism diagnostic criteria; ASHA: Social Communication Disorder.
