A psychiatrist has revealed five secret signs that suggest you might have autism.
Dr. Sohom Das is aOrense psychiatrist, Londonwho also runs a YouTube channel called A psychologist for sore mindswhere he shares content about crime, mental health conditions and other topics.
Describing in the video how he has encountered people with autism throughout his particular career, Dr Das said: “I am an expert witness; I have assessed thousands of court cases throughout my career.” I testify in court. I evaluate people in prison, usually criminals.
“I wouldn’t say that autism is a very common diagnosis among the people I see, and in fact the vast majority of people with autism obviously don’t commit violence, but every once in a while I come across someone in my career who already has tendencies.” , such as antisocial personality disorder. Having autism may exacerbate those traits, so it does not cause them, but it somewhat exacerbates the underlying propensity toward violence.
In the video titled 5 SECRET signs that you could have AUTISM – PSYCHIATRIST explainswas the first to define the condition, describing it as a disorder related to brain development. He added: ‘What I’m saying is that it’s there from birth. It’s not something you can catch.’
In his video, Dr Sohom Das (pictured) revealed five subtle signs that you may have autism, and some may seem unexpected.
According to Dr. Das, the symptoms of autism can be “broadly classified into three areas, which are social interactions and communication, inflexible or repetitive thoughts or patterns or behavior, and hypersensitivity to sensory stimulation.”
In describing how this theory can be applied in practice, he gave examples from each of the three categories. He said: ‘Category one for autism in adults is social interactions and communications. So that might be difficult to start a conversation with. It could be difficulty maintaining close friendships or discomfort making eye contact during conversations.
“There could be difficulties understanding sarcasm or idioms, and there may be problems understanding facial expressions and body language.” And on top of all that, there can be some problems when it comes to reading other people’s emotions. “Understandably, all of this can cause social anxiety.”
Moving on to the second category (inflexible or repetitive thoughts, patterns or behaviors), he said: “These individuals may have repetitive movements, or they could be routines or interests, or they may say the same thing over and over again for no discernible reason.”
‘But specifically, they might have trouble dealing with changes and might need to organize things in a specific order. They may have a limited and restricted range of interests, such that they only engage in a few activities with intensity and have a preference for solitary activities.’
The third category of autism in adults, sensory processing, could manifest, for example, as “a hypersensitivity to sensory stimulation, such as sounds or smells that do not seem to bother other people, or bright lights.”
Dr. Das also noted that: Autistic people can excel in certain areas, certain subjects, usually things like math, art, science or music. And they can be very good auditory or visual learners, and they could learn and remember things in great detail and retain information for a very long period of time.’
He then moved on to five secret signs that you may have autism.
Dr Sohom Das (pictured) is a forensic psychiatrist and content creator, with a YouTube channel called A Psych for Sore Minds, based in London.
1. ‘The smell of a croissant is intoxicating’
Explaining this point, Dr Das said: ‘Obviously, I am talking about sensory sensitivities. Therefore, people with autism often have heightened and occasionally diminished senses, which can lead to sensory overload and avoidance.
‘So this can manifest insensitivities, not only towards sounds, but also towards textures and smells. Basically, it’s almost like you’re a human mood ring.
‘So here’s an example. You and your friend go to a cafe, you both have a double mocha cappuccino and you both have a croissant each, and you both enjoy it. But your friend is taking big bites like a bum.
‘She’s talking with her mouth full. Bits of crumbs fly everywhere, and she just keeps talking (…) She’s spitting crumbs all over the table, and it’s sacrilege, and it’s ruining your vibe, because in your experience, the smell, the textures that, That flakiness in your mouth (…) seems incredible to you and you want to taste it.’
He went on to explain that the reason you might feel this way is because of “your heightened sensitivity to sounds and, in this case, textures, tastes, smells.”
2. ‘You get really angry when you have to take a new route to work’
According to the expert, this deep feeling of discomfort could be due to the “interruption in your deep and beloved routine.”
He explained: ‘So you have a strict schedule for everything. Everything has a time and a place. From your morning routine to your snacking habits.’
Dr Das added that any deviation from this could be worrying.
“While most people are used to their routine, and might even enjoy it,” he said, “autistic individuals thrive on predictability and routine.” So changes to your daily schedule are not just a little annoying, they can be overwhelming and quite distressing.’
3. ‘Only a couple of your friends understand your jokes’
According to Dr. Das, what he means by this is that “your jokes are so inside that only a couple of your friends get them.”
He added: “But it’s okay, because you find them funny.” You may not even care what other people think (…) Autistic individuals may have a unique sense of humor, or may have difficulty understanding other people’s humor, especially if it is based on social cues or implicit meanings.
4. ‘You have a deep connection with animals’
Speaking in the video, Dr Das said: “The number four, hidden and subtle sign that you may actually have autism, is that… you have a deep connection with animals.”
‘Your understanding of empathy is different from other people’s. So you believe that animals understand you on a level that humans will never understand. They are not just your pet. They are your silent confidants and your best furry friends.
He added: “So while autistic individuals can definitely experience empathy, they may experience it in a different way and may have a hard time understanding other people’s emotions.” ‘
Do you feel uncomfortable with large crowds, loud noises, and people rubbing against each other? It could be a secret sign that you are autistic, according to expert (file image)
5. ‘You secretly hope you don’t get into the club’
“Secret sign number five that you may have autism is that you’re actually secretly hoping you don’t get into the club,” Dr. Das said.
‘So you were having a great time in that old man’s pub (…) around the corner. The jukebox was broken. It was half empty. It was perfect for you. The bathrooms were a bit smelly, but there was plenty of space and plenty of free seats.’
He continued: ‘Basically what I’m saying is that you’re a fan of the quiet life. Loud noises, crowds around you, people brushing against you, spilling your drinks: that’s your kryptonite.
‘You prefer the peace and quiet of your own company, or perhaps just one or two friends. Autistic individuals may prefer solitude or small social groups, due to this sensory sensitivity, and separately, also due to difficulties with social interactions.’
