this post was submitted on 18 May 2024
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Autism

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How do you experience eye contact? (lemmy.world)
submitted 5 months ago by BackOnMyBS@lemmy.world to c/autism@lemmy.world
26 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I'm still on my journey of understanding the differences between autism and other. My focus today is eye contact, so let's have a discussion!

Guiding questions:

  • What do you think is the underlying difference that causes autistic people to use less eye contact than others?

  • What does it feel like for you?

  • How do you interpret other people's eye contact?

  • Do you avoid it, use short glances, or maintain NT-levels of eye contact?

  • Does it vary by situation?

  • Anything else you would like to discuss regarding eye contact?

Question is open to anyone. If not identified, then the assumption is the user is autistic. Otherwise, if you're NT or other ND, please state so ๐Ÿ™‚

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[โ€“] finkrat@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Self-diagnosed with way too many symptoms of Autism and ADHD.

I'm moderately near sighted so my dependence on my vision as an important sense is lower than normal - I don't focus on visuals very well to begin with, and then Autism on top of it.

If I look at someone, which itself isn't frequent, I look at their face, I don't look right at their eyes. Even when I feel like I'm looking toward the eyes I'm kind of "not focusing" on them per se.

People ask me what someone's eyes look like or their expression was or even eye color, I couldn't tell you. Brain straight up doesn't register it unless I go out of my way to monitor it and then I'm weird for doing so.

Eye contact is a bit "intimate" IMO. You don't need it for day-to-day conversation.

I have eye contacted my wife, but I trust her. Not a regular occurrence. And even then it's a bit odd, but it's her, doesn't bother me as much.