Neurodiversity: the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and Autism
The isolation and extra time brought about by our nation’s Circuit Breaker and Phase 1 has given me the opportunity to rest, read and reflect. It is in such times of darkness and loneliness when new insights can be made, the a-ha moment of the lightbulb going off, or more like the struggle to light a match in pitch-black darkness with fumbling hands—No, make that learning how to make a fire for the first time using sticks and rocks in total darkness. That’s what this pandemic has been, an unprecedented global crisis that has left many of us grappling with this unfamiliar state, the new normal. Many people look to their therapists for answers and see them as enlightened beings on pedestals who have found the way. I very much prefer to retain my humanity and humility. No, I do not have all the answers, but hopefully I have the tools, the training, and the right frame of heart and mind to walk with my clients on their journey of self-discovery, to guide them in figuring out their own answers.
A DIFFERENT WAY OF VIEWING AUTISM
I have been reading the book Neuro Tribes: The Legacy of Autism and How To Think Smarter About People Who Think Differently, by Steve Silberman. It was recommended by Dr Dawn-joy Leong, an Autistic artist and advocate, as part of her art installation, Clement Space, at The National Gallery. It is a captivating and eye-opening book about Autism, and really changed the way I viewed Autism.
'He pointed out that the distinct characteristics of this natural entity were already familiar in stock characters from pop culture like the "absent-minded professor" and Count Bobby, a fictitious aristocrat who was the butt of many Austrian jokes. Crucially, Asperger also described 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘮𝘶𝘴 as remaining "unmistakable and constant throughout the whole life-span," and said that it encompassed an astonishingly broad cross section of people, from the most gifted to the most disabled. There seemed to be nearly as many varieties of 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘮𝘶𝘴 as there were autistic people.
"The range [of this type] encompasses all levels of ability from the highly original genius, through the weird eccentric who lives in a world of his own and achieves very little, down to the most severe, contact-disturbed, automaton-like mentally retarded individual... Autistic individuals are distinguished from each other not only by the degree of contact disturbance and the degree of intellectual ability, but also by their personality and special interests, which are often outstandingly varied and original."
- Hans Asperger
The word 'Autism' comes from the Greek word for self, autos—because they are said to be happiest in isolation. Autism these days is recognised as a spectrum, hence the name Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). It is part of the neurodiversity spectrum, where the majority of people are called ‘neurotypicals’ and people on the Autism spectrum are recognised as ‘neurodivergent’. While I do not want to take away the importance and experience of those being diagnosed with Autism as a disorder, the perspective that it is more of a spectrum on which individuals may find themselves, is gaining popularity. Indeed, many Autistic people or those with Asperger’s, are recognised for their talents. Such people are gifted with capabilities and contribute in many if not all areas of life, hence to view it as a ‘disorder’ would be truly limiting and doing them a disservice. There are Autistic doctors, nurses, actors, craftsmen, artists, scientists, activists, engineers, researchers, and IT specialists, to name just a few fields in which Autists work.
There is a saying that ‘if you’ve seen one Autist, you’ve seen one’, as Autism presents differently in each person and every Autist is unique. However some common characteristics of Autistic people may include:
Higher or lower sensitivity to certain sensory stimuli
Being highly fixated on specific interests
Finding difficulty understanding social cues and fitting into social groups
Stimming behaviours such as flapping, or repetitive fidgeting as a way to self-soothe
Being inclined to a routine (such as in the form of daily activities, or often choosing to wear similar clothes or eating the same food)
Rich inner imagination
Good at learning new things or preference for working/being on your own
Like arranging or categorising things
Because of their capabilities, Autists have been able to achieve breakthroughs in fields such as Sciences and Arts, among others. Silicon Valley for instance, has a noticeably higher percentage of people with Asperger’s. They have also been known to be idealistic, highly socially conscious and inclined to social activism, with Greta Thunberg and Julian Assange being some of the more illustrious examples. Other renowned Autists include Anthony Hopkins, Hans Christian Andersen, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Temple Grandin, Tim Burton, Jerry Seinfeld, Michelangelo and Nikola Tesla.
AUTISM IN GIRLS AND WOMEN
It is also important to note that the usual textbook characteristics of Autism apply mostly to men. This has led to many women Autists going undiagnosed or under-diagnosed, as they experience Autism differently. Autistic females can have a broad range of interests and tend to be more verbal and social than males. Many have learned ‘masking’ and copying others’ social behaviour as a way to fit in. However as the social rules in female friendships tend to be more subtle and nuanced, many Autistic women still find it hard to fit into groups. The stereotype that Autistic people also have issues with empathy is also increasingly being debunked as studies have shown that Autistic people can be highly empathetic, just that they express themselves differently, which led to the misconception that Autistics lack empathy. (Read: Research on Facial Expressions Changes the Way We Think About Autism, A Shift in Perspective: Empathy and Autism). Having gotten to know personally friends who identify as Autistic, and also other women like Dr Dawn-joy Leong and learning from social media pages like Reframing Autism and The Awake Project has broadened my views on Autism.
HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSONS
The Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is a term coined by Dr Elaine Aron, to describe a neutral trait present in about 20% of the population of humans as well as non-humans.
HSPs are also neurodivergent, their brains being wired differently. HSPs are highly sensitive to their environment and react with heightened emotional and behavioural responses. In fact, studies examining the brain waves of HSPs have shown that they hear sounds faster and louder than others (Read: Neuroscience of Giftedness: Greater Sensory Sensitivity). Hence it is not merely a matter of perception, but HSPs brains indeed process things in greater depth.
Some questions to ask yourself to find out if you’re a HSP (taken from Dr Aron’s website):
Are you easily overwhelmed by such things as bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens nearby?
Do you get rattled when you have a lot to do in a short amount of time?
Do you make a point of avoiding violent movies and TV shows?
Do you need to withdraw during busy days, into bed or a darkened room or some other place where you can have privacy and relief from the situation?
Do you make it a high priority to arrange your life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations?
Do you notice or enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, or works of art?
Do you have a rich and complex inner life?
When you were a child, did your parents or teachers see you as sensitive or shy?
And there are also free tests you could take to find out if you are indeed a HSP.
High sensitivity, like Autism, may seem like a weakness to neurotypicals. However, there are also many strengths to being a HSP, such as being highly empathetic and attuned with other people, and having artistic, musical or intellectual capabilities. It could also be an evolutionary strength for 1 out of 5 people to be HSP, as HSPs are more attuned to sensory stimuli and can pick up threats that others might miss, not unlike a canary in a coal mine.
Being a HSP can be especially challenging for men, as they are often expected to be outwardly stoic and dominant. Some HSP men have found ways to redefine the masculine stereotype in healthy ways that allow them to use their sensitivity as a strength (Read: The Double Whammy of Being a Highly Sensitive Man, The Highly Sensitive Man, What It’s Like to be a Highly Sensitive Person When You’re a Man)
Personally I do identify as a HSP. I am sensitive to loud noises, lights, and stressful situations which can manifest as health issues if not managed. I value depth and authenticity in relationships and this sometimes leads to disappointment when it is not similarly reciprocated. Although I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself a genius, I have done fairly well academically, enjoy making art and music, and am into social justice and uplifting the vulnerable. HSPs may also face challenges in social situations like big groups of people. Having read thus far, do these characteristics sound familiar to anything mentioned earlier?
Yes, there seem to be overlaps in being a HSP with level 1 Autism, or Asperger’s.
Although Dr Elaine Aron has explicitly said that HSP is not the same as Autism or Asperger’s, this could just be a matter of labels and categorisation in the research as outdated definitions of Autism were used. Also, in light of the negative stereotype that most people have of Autism being a disorder, it is no wonder that many HSPs would not want to be associated with Autism. It might not be too far a stretch to say that there may be some overlaps in Autism and HSP traits. (Read: Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and Female Autism Are the Same in Some Cases).
Whether it is Autism or HSP, discovering that you may belong to any of these neurodiverse groups can be highly liberating. Such a revelation could explain why you might feel like the class weirdo, ‘like an alien on earth’, find it hard to fit in, or feel constantly misunderstood. This knowledge could open doors to our own journey of self-discovery, help us understand our past and better manage our life in the present and future.
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