Trying to figure which of my quirks are ASD or something else

[Copeland]

I am professionally diagnosed Asperger's (social cue/body language unawareness stuff) and HF autism (the extent of my sensory issues I'm still sorting out, speaking of which...)

I have an issue with scents of hand lotion and perfume mostly. I don't smell whatever smell it's supposed to be, nor does it smell like something else, it just smells hazardously painful. It can hurt me in two ways:

One is the light pain where it just hurts in the sinus, up between the eyebrows and bit, and a little into the cheeks. It persists for less than 30 seconds, it sucks, but then I'm fine again.

The other is a severe pain that hurts going into my face and head. It truly feels like some hazardous chemical has been spilled nearby and there should be an evacuation of the area, but no, it's someone's hand lotion. Every second I am exposed to it takes 10 minutes to fully recover from, and I switch to mouth-breathing automatically so fast, but it still gets in.

I work in a large call center, and although we have a low-scent policy, a low-scent lotion can have this effect on me (well, I mean, I can't tell what the intended smell was, or how strong it would be).

I am here wondering if this is an autism issue. All my other smelling is okay. I sniff the air like a dog detecting all the little scents in the air, but otherwise normal. I need to get a doctor's write-off so I can take time to recover from encountering the bad smell, because it totally wrecks my face and I "literally can't even".

I am also wondering if people have autism specialists they see. I have lupus so I have a rheumatologist, I have bi-polar so I have a psychiatrist, but I don't have a "autism-ist". Google only ever produces information about children with autism, so that's useless.

Hi. Help. Thank you.

 

[Clueless in Canada]

I am currently self diagnosed and waiting for my first appointment in what will hopefully be the route to a diagnosis. Where I live autism is diagnosed by psychiatrists, pediatricians and psychologists but people who have knowledge in the area of adult autism are difficult to find. I have found information online about the traits typical in adult females on the spectrum and a few on adults in general just by doing a search with the key words autism and adult. While sensory processing issues are mentioned and that includes issues with scent, there will be a range of responses across the population of autistic people. I am bothered by some scents which make me feel nauseated or give me a headache but not by all scents. It's difficult to find personal products/toiletries that are scent free and often the natural scent of something affects me just as much as a pleasant fragrance that is added.

So, in a nutshell, yes. Your sensitivity to some smells could be part of your autism package.

 

[Crossbreed]

Hello & welcome.

I have an issue with scents of hand lotion and perfume mostly. I don't smell whatever smell it's supposed to be, nor does it smell like something else, it just smells hazardously painful.

I am here wondering if this is an autism issue.

Hypersensitivity (alternating with hypo-sensitivity) is a common autistic trait. My sinuses burn whenever my wife uses certain cleaning agents or room deodorizers.

I am also wondering if people have autism specialists they see.

For therapy, autism-competent psychologists are the most common. Good ones will help you to understand your autism better and how to better interact with the NT world.

 

[Progster]

I'm quite sensitive to smell and some intense smells can hurt the area around the sinus and eyes, but I don't know if that's autism, or a reaction to chemicals evaporating off the substance. I mean, things like chlorine - based detergents. Exposure to smells for a long time can definitely cause a headache.

Edit: Some smells can make me feel nauseous or a bit dizzy. Especially things like cheap perfume, cologne or aftershave. They try to imitate natural smells but don't smell natural. Nasty.

 

[Nitro]

Hi Copeland

 

[Fino]

The smell of avocado gives me an existential crisis.

 

[Copeland]

I wear a half mask respirator and gloves when using any cleaning product other than soap.

Guess I'll just ask my psychiatrist, since he signed the papers to allow me to wear sunglasses under the cruel overhead fluorescent lighting.