I am 43, autistic, and feel completely invisible to society, yet I know I have talents. I am thinking of writing a book called “Invisible Me”. 😂

It's always good to see folks help remove the stigma associated with autism!

This is spot on!!! Sensory distress and sensory joy! Nailed it!

Trains are absolute hell for me. People talking loudly on the phone; people walking past who are wearing strong perfumes and aftershave; the lights in the carriages dimming and brightening according to the light outside; people brushing past me when I try to leave the train; and, of course, my favourite: every single carriage smelling of the on-train toilet. The joys of daily commute.

Being on my own Autism journey and only being diagnosed at 40, i completely understand where Chris is coming from when he finds everything overwhelming when it comes to public spaces. I am also a nature seeker, I am more at home among the trees and sounds of nature than I am anywhere else. To finally see someone explain this in an easy to understand way is simply a breath of fresh air. Suddenly I don't feel so alone. Thank you

Seriously felt when he said about the market being an overstimulation. Somehow harder when you know it's coming. I wanted to walk away and I'm not even there.

The sensory joy and comfort are wonderful. I marvel at things like dew drops on moss, the wind in trees, the patterns of waves, and my neurotypical friends and families just don't see it, but autistic friends do. For the bad stuff - I limit exposure, use ear plugs, sunglasses etc. It helps. I wouldn't change how I am, but I would change some social space design. I think it would benefit us all to have more sensory-friendly spaces and that there are things that impact non-autistic people too, it's just less obvious.

I truly wish this full program was available outside of the UK. I’ve watched every clip multiple times already and would love to see the entire documentary.

This is pretty accurate. We are aware of everything all the time.

I used to get headaches as a child when my mother walked us through perfume departments even briefly. I go to a small grocery store co-op, instead of a big store. I shop at a tiny hardware store, instead of big box stores. I get sensory joy from playing music, or hearing music in machinery, or listening to wildlife, but humans I tire of very quickly.

yes!! thats why i hate noise, but also i love the sound of the wind and rain and birds and all of nature and why i write poems about it. this is my experience in everyway. I freak out in supermarkets and towns and cities and artificial places. The sounds of nature are balenced. My worst sound is leaf blowers and chain saws. It makes me feel so overwhelmed its untrue. I need low sensory at home and around me.

I’m an illustrator who’s autistic; I hate sudden noises and certain textures in food and change in routine. I’m only 20 and an afab trans person and accepted I was autistic at 18 years old. My way of managing “everyday life” is by wearing headphones with my favourite music on, wearing my favourite clothes and having a to do list. I sometimes want to draw what everything feels like. And like Chris, going to a market creates mass sensory overload; the noise of lots of people shopping and the occasional yell of someone promoting their goods and the intense gathering of colour and the crowded area. It’s overwhelming but I love going to markets that have a stall with my special interests on; I love music especially collecting CDs so if I know a market has a music stall I will try and go to it :)

I got diagnosed Autistic @ 37, , growing up NT ( Neurotypical ) I had to learn to be okay with certain situations like a busy world and I remember my parents getting me my first Walkman that was it , I used / still use loud music to calm me in busy, loud situations. Everything is better and easier, when I am plugged into sound / music in my ears.. I hate shopping or traveling without being plugged in.. I also don’t like being in situations that are too quiet because sudden noises seem so loud , so even at home I use headphones to drown out noise.

Gee I can totally relate to this ... Supermarkets are a nightmare for me I can hear everyone and everything in any size room ... My sense of smell is mind blowing too ! I've had to move to the countryside because road noise where I lived was giving me migraines... woodlands are havens because the sounds are beautifully calming !.

Understanding and supporting individuals on the spectrum is a step towards creating a more inclusive and empathetic world. Keep up the great work!

I hope this explanation will help people understand autistic children having meltdowns in supermarkets. As a parent of 2 autistic children. I remember the shame I felt as people tutted and commented while my youngest particularly, screamed and shouted in the shops. That was before we had a diagnosis of course.

Can confirm. I once didn't leave the house for about a month. Not because I wanted, but because I had to due to the sensory input outside. The modern world isn't very friendly to the autistic experience, although I would argue, that it isn't very friendly to neurotypical people either.

Chris Packham is doing for Autism what Steven Fry has done for Depression and Bipolar disorder what an incredible person!

Its also worth noting that there's a certain smuggling-in of "defaultness" or "correctness" when it comes to what 'neurotypicals' experience or how they operate. What they call "blocking out" or "focus" some might call "situationally unaware" or even "lazy/oblivious." It isn't uncommon that this "blocking-out" actually works against people such as with public thefts or saftey issues. Basically, I'm sceptical that this 'oversensitivity' is even a flaw or fault given that if places and people weren't quite so horrible in the first place, would it even come-up?

Such an Amazing show... It's a pity I can only find snippets on KZfaq...

I'm autistic

thanks to the BBC for encouraging acceptance and educating the masses on autism. i was late diagnosed 5 years ago, when i was 32. i'm 37 now and have had to essentially relearn who i am. or rather, accept who i am. i've been self-employed 11 years and i'm a successful creative writer. i've also run 29 marathons. but somehow i couldn't walk down a busy high street without wanting to cry. the sounds, smells, unpredictability of people. contrasting signs / colours / fonts etc. i thought i was going mad. then slowly i started to piece together my life struggles - from when i was a young teenager, and it all became abundantly clear. the hyper fixations, the sensory intensity, the struggles with friendships / relationships / being misunderstood. i'm hoping this show underlines to people the importance of accepting invisible conditions. too many times has autism been portrayed as a children with learning difficulties. while they obviously have a place too, there are millions of people like me who are 'high functioning' and just left to get on with it. if you're autistic - i highly recommend 'adult with autism' podcast / youtube and private therapy if you can afford it, NHS wait list if you can't X

More needs to be done to support autistic individuals who have endured for many years without a formal diagnosis.

I really love this program. It makes me feel so seen and understood which I don’t get a lot here😭 @3:10 he’s so real I literally love the comforting feeling I get when I’m in nature or near nature(?) i can’t describe it but the wind, sound of the trees, birds, etc make me so warm

I still am a mystery to myself. I was one of those people who got diagnosed with autism young-I was 2 years old when I was diagnosed. I am now 24. I haven’t had a real meltdown in a looooong time (it used to be worse when I was younger), and honestly, talking about masking and overstimulation is very relatable to me. When I was younger, I used to become overstimulated during parties and in crowds and rooms with little kids-I’ve learned to handle it a lot better than before. I used to be scared of the blender, hand dryer, or anything sudden-which has gotten better over the years, and I wouldn’t wear clothing that was itchy with a tag in the back. I have sensitivity issues in regards to people putting things in my ear or in my eyes. I didn’t like it when certain songs were on the radio that I did not like (much more of a rock and roll gal than pop). I think I was much more severe when it comes to public places when I was younger compared to now. I’ve been fine with the market relatively well. Never really have been overstimulated there. Surprisingly enough, I can handle some loud noises that I prefer just fine (I love rock concerts) and all that…

I love the sound of water. Waterfalls, rivers, waves against the shore. It’s very nice.

Both programmes were excellent. I didn't expect them to be. The BBC do love their anchormen, however Chris has done more, in my humble opinion, around autism than all his narrating over frolicking badgers. Nice one Chris and The Open University too.

His words about acceptance are highly welcomed.

i wish people would do a show like this for ADHD but i'm really glad they have done for Autism

What annoys me is that a market isn’t a natural environment for a human. Nature is natural and our heightened sensitivity is useful in this environment. Yet as usual it’s autistics who are wrong 🙄🙄🙄. I find that I can block things out more easily when I’m with someone…if I’m on my own I can’t cope with a busy shopping centre but if I take someone with me I’m ok.

I love the sound of waves and the feel of the sea as it was a lack of responsibility and being parentless out there, feeling all the sensory noises and knowing there is safety away from everything

This is fascinating. Thank you

I'm autistic and I actually struggled following what the interviewer and interviewee were saying because of the background noises and movement and that was without the smells, lights and other sensory input that being there in real life would've caused.

This completely explains how I feel. I need an absolute sensory break after doing my groceries or shopping.

He explained very well but could have also mentioned how some auties make noise to block out other noises. Echolalia feeds into this.

I felt an immense sense of relief when the supermarket sounds stopped like holy crap... literally like a smoke detector finally shutting up

I can relate so much to this. I love touch, smells of dirt and trees, the ocean, the sound of wind. I do think neurotypicals seem to be so numb to it. They also aren’t bothered by loud bass, repetitive sounds, high pitch sounds, etc.

Yes iexperiences like this can be challenging and overloading, but t is also exciting and stimulating like going to a funfair. I go in for the experience now and then but avoid as a routine that overloads. You can choose to enjoy powerful sensations while avoiding those that totally overload.

I am autistic , but do have really good senses and I am only 10 years old , at least I’m unique and from me from living a good life 😊❤.

Havent been diagnosed as ive chosen not to but im the same , going to busy places is fine for maybe 10 minutes then i just want to go home, i feel like i cant think and i panic about multiple situations that could happen and over think things . I love being away in nature, all my hobbies are focused in nature, i get a sense of peacefulness that i cant experience anywhere else a sort of euphoria where i ca 4:15 n feel i can finally breathe .

Really interesting, thank you

Perfume/aftershave feels like a punch in the face and I get really angry and need to remind myself that it isn't an assult. Also used to hardly eat as well because of textures and smells of food

I don't know if I am autistic. I have never been diagnosed but when you showed the way you see trees, it may me think how I see lines in everything (windows walls etc..) I just have to try and join them all up with a single line and have done so all my life. I thought everyone did this. I have never really had friends because I find it so stressful to have to be social situations (and yet I became a manager never really quite sure how I did this but it really took a toll on me and led to alcoholism. I have 5 autistic grandchildren. I am only half way through the first episode and had a mini melt down as I call them. I asked my dad if as a kid did I walk or run on my tippy toes all the time and he said yes I did. 3 of my grandchildren did this. I have always preferred books and my own company. Also I hate music especially bass noise it makes me feel like my head will explode.

This has been my experience ever since I can remember, specially smells and noises. Food textures is also a tricky one. I recently got a not Covid virus that made me lose my sense of smell and taste and I was surprised at how easier it was suddently to eat and not be bothered by certain sensations.

I have autism, i was having an awful time in school and had to come out. My special interests are very special to me and i feel hurt if anyone question them. Nature is a place that in my opinion, seems more tolerant of different neuro types than places like cities or other manmade places

man I wish I could watch this show in Australia. :(

I'm 26 and autistic. I am most sensitive to sound, but I suffer from chronic pain largely in response to my sensitivity to bright lights. It's so hard spending time with my non-autistic friends. They always want to take me to bright, noisy places that overwhelm my brain. I went to a busy restaurant yesterday for the first time since discovering I was autistic (I've always generally avoided them, so I haven't been to one in years) and I started to disassociate in the middle of my breakfast because I was so overwhelmed with the onslaught of noise. That being said, even with all my sensory pains, I feel bad for them for not being able to enjoy the world the same way I do. Its worth the pain. Especially when I'm out in nature. I visit my local state park every single weekend as long as it is sunny. I am well known in my area as someone who always wears headphones in public. It helps me drown out sensory pains with more pleasant sounds. But when I visit my local park, putting headphones on is out of the question. I need to hear the waves lapping along the shoreline, the leaves rustling in the trees, the birds cawing, the rabbits racing through the brush, etc. I feel so profoundly at peace when I am out in nature. I could spend hours out there with my sketchbook, drawing whatever catches my eye. When I manage to drag my allistic friends to the park with me, it's hard for me not to feel a twinge of pity. They wouldn't be so bored if they could see and hear all the beautiful things I was experiencing.

does anyone have a link to the rap video shown on this programme called sensory overload?

Is there a way to watch this series in Canada? I feel it's important but I can't find a way to watch it or buy it.

As a young naturalist who’s very much hoping to get a job in nature, and is currently trying to get an autism diagnosis, Chris for me is probably the kind of person I aspire to be- I met him at a bird watching event when I was a little kid, I think there’s an awkward looking picture of me with him somewhere (it’s evident that neither of us particularly like photos haha).

Very informative

I definitely experience both. I thought that was common.

What about someone who can go out into the world and be ok with everything except that they want to go home at a time due to mental and physical fatigue, but they notice that everyone else still has energy and wants to stay out longer, while I’m screaming in my head that I want to go back home. I often fantasize about having a sensory depravation room because I just want everything to go away, everything seems like too much and I’m exhausted and just want to rest. I’m not diagnosed with ASD but I’ve always wondered

I’m deaf and I’m HFA and ADHD. Sensory is one thing that’s overload for me. Everyday outside in stores. Social. It just make me looking around too much. Always looking. Looking. Not just like can chill and rest. When I had episodes. I didn’t realize that I was hiding in small spaces where my girlfriend would find me. Few times I would hide in bath tub with lights off.. Eventually she’ll calm me down. Anyway I really wish I could able to hear sometimes you know. Like they said about hearing wind on trees. Hearing water running things like that.

Im slightly autistic but I also have sensory overload from sights, sounds, thoughts. Its not that I cant take it, its that all of this is just really taxing to my brain. I am always tired or on edge because of our capitalistic consumer world. I am very empathetic though. The saying that autists are sociopaths is wrong. Baseline is that I'm always so aware and busy with everything that I'm absolutely tired really quickly. Theres so much to think about, and you want to think about everything, but that is actually not a healthy thing to do. I work for max 20 hours a week and even though I am smart and talented, I really could not do more than 20 hours.

Where is the full episode please

When I was in medical school, I could not stand designated anatomy lab days. Half of the class standing in there chatting in combination with the engulfing smell of formaldehyde, my immediate teammates with their small talk, the lighting, etc., all done while slowly dissecting and guessing what was what. I could hardly pay attention. I did much better during non-designated anatomy lab sessions between myself & 2 others as at least 2 of my irritants were not going on and we had a better idea of what to look for. I tried asking for accommodations, but my professor was like "that is not going to happen" as if I asking for something immoral.

I get overwhelmed in crowded and noisy places to a degree where I stop seeing and hearing things that is obvious to everyone else. For example, I was waiting in a line with my boyfriend at the time outside of a shopping center. When we got home he said something about an ambulance. What ambulance? Apparently there was someone screaming and an ambulance that showed up right next to the line and I somehow filtered that out completely. But at the same time I felt that i could hear too much of everything around me. Its like tunnel vision but with hearing.

The instrument with which we perceive also filters certain stimuli. To see Eternity in a grain of sand is not a handicap . Its there , the mystery of existence, whether we are cognitive of it or not and besides our spin or level of excitation. Being vanilla and masking is not the way to go...let your hair down....after all we are all on the Spectrum.

Im so glad he mentioned sniffing the dog! I personally love the smell of my dog but don't like the smell of other peoples dogs.

I was diagnosed autistic , when at age (5) I did have some hearing tests and sensory seems not that difficult to me from other people that don’t like

I have a hypersensitivity to sound, Live next to loud ratchet neighbors and end up moving back with my parents because of it.

I wonder what effect, how much time children spend sitting down between four falls in "class rooms" being under-stimulated in their senses, has on them and their development?

0:24 Literally me when I enter any crowded place lmaooo

Does anyone have any insight about hyper sensitive traits developing as an adult? 20s/30s

Oh goodness I’m not autistic but I couldn’t stand the noise of the place. I do get a feeling of having to get out of such places. Going to the countryside is wonderful but going to a shopping mall is torture.

I'm diagnosed autistic and think I must have an auditory processing disorder because I can't pick conversations out of the background noise or music, which is why I've never been keen on pubs and parties. Smells can sometimes get to me - although I like to eat fish, the smell of Tesco's fish counter can actually make me retch.

I wouldn’t even be able to hear the conversation in that environment.

When I was in school, I often didn't eat lunch, because I thought the cafeteria food was gross. I remember nearly vomiting when I just smelled instant potatoes cooking.

I have not been diagnosed and so don't want to claim I am autistic, but believe I do exhibit some traits. I feel complete sensory sound overload at all times in public spaces, unless they are fairly empty, e.g. an extremely early morning café. Streets, buses, shops of every kind stress me out and I have to rush in and out as quick qs possibly to stop myself getting anxious and stressed. The only way I can enjoy public spaces is if alcohol or bit of a doob is involved (clubs, pubs, bars, etc), but because I am trying to blank out my surroundings I often get very drunk haha! I also feel extremely at ease in nature, the smells, sights and especially sounds all seem to come together into some sort of symphany and it almost feels like a delicate tune that finally allows myself to be at ease. Furthermore, I have realised throughout life I went from one extreme of being a trouble making daredevil child, to a social recluse and now am probably the most adept at being charasmatic, friendly and sociable of anyone I know, though I had to craft this identity and sort of fake it till I made it, I now feel at peace with this extrovert piece of myself. I think I've struggled a lot in my life with balancing the ADD characteristics and autistic aspects of my brain as at time they seem completely parallel to one another - afterall, how can I love to socialise whilst hating social spaces? I wish there were better facilities and benchmarks in place to identify and give us advice from an earlier age so I might not feel so different and alone as a 10-21 year old. I am now 80% comfortable with it as a 23 year old, but wish there were better insights for well-behaved, intelligent teens that quietly struggle as they are not deemed troublesome.

Chris, do you know any excellent Solicitors who deal with the Court of Protection and Judicial Re Judicial Reviews? Fighting for freedom for my Autistic Relative, with Autism myself … a challenge but I’m not giving up ✨⚖ All ideas welcome. And brilliant that you keep pushing forward regardless ⭐

I'm very easily startled by unexpected noises. I suspect that my grandma was also on the spectrum, and she was the same way. She had a really loud doorbell, and I remember hearing her yell from being startled when we would ring the bell.

This is why I listen to the musical genius of Thomas Bergersen (and his music production company Two Steps From Hell). TSFH has a youtube channel where you can listen to all his stuff. Miracles. Away With Your Fairies. Sun and Moon. Made of Air. Stronger Fater Braver. You're welcome.

Could Dr Luke Beard (the one in this video) contact me please about a man who has undiagnosed autism and William's syndrome kept as his father's slave in diabolical conditions all his life and now in his 50's. I am desperate to help but am hundreds of miles away and am kept out of the vacuum due to the father's coercive control. Father now insane and keeping son in his (father's - hoarding deathtrap). Thank you. R.

I just discovered that I have many of the neurodiversity traits and exploring more.

I LOVE severe storms. Rainstorms windstorms and snowstorms. They scatter neurotypicals and the world becomes lovely. Earthquakes not so much. Earthquakes make neurotypicals scream even louder than usual.

It's crazy how differently people experience the same world

It also seems to be the case tat while one sense is stronger and results in overstimulation, another can possibly be weaker. I have very sensitive hearing and get overstimulated from lots of noise, but I also have no sense of smell. Why I think this has to do with my autism is because I can still taste just fine.

I had issue listening to the end of this when the music was starting to

I wonder if it is the modern world that can be unnatural to humans who are sensitive? For instance, all the lights, sounds of traffic, adverts, signs and man made things trying to get your attention. But all the detail in a natural space will fill you up rather than aggravate you.

I am autistic, I live in Chile, I am a professional, with specialized courses and I feel that this country is never going to give me a space to enhance my talents or anything...I want to have an opportunity, that someone sees potential in me and takes me out from this hole

I believe the non autistic person hears and smells just fine - the difference may be the sounds and smells are expected so they are not irritating our senses. screaming and crying and bad smells bother most people

The prosaic world, mundane & chaste of attitude or temperament, has so little room for the vast poetry of the uncertain.

I find the difference between natural sensory experiences and artifical ones radically different. One is pleasurable the other is not.

I don’t eat anything at all (pasta with cheese, nuggets most of the time) and ended up anaemic bc of my sensory issues with foods and being a picky eater. 💀

I am myself autistic, and I get overwhelmed when I have to focus on things that are around me in all directions and feel calmer if the things are in front of me. But then, I should also mention that one of my eyes is very poor in function, so that could have a part in the play.

I have a learning disability partially sighted and autism

I'm autistic and I'm not hypersensitive to any senses as far as I'm aware

I'm on the spectrum (diagnosed in 1996). Sometimes, I feel it borders onto other illnesses. During queues, traffic, crowds, I become egocentric. I tell myself and close friends "I'm above this. This is beneath me. We're better than this". I think egoccentrism as I don't feel the need to manipulate others like marcissists do. I even think things like "this dull grey British weather is on par with these nobodys while a blue-skied Mediterranean climate would be more on par with myself".

Anyone else here freak out in wide open spaces like big fields with windmills or high places with no trees, voids, planes etc? Give me a fireplace or forest and I'll just sit there for days not caring about anything.

Por fin lo encontré: Pecos Paul Kelee

Folks interested in understanding more about this topic, research polyvagal theory and somatic experiencing.

age is a factor also. Mine is hyper smell.

Yay!!

Sensory processing disorder is diagnosed by occupational therapists, not psychologists so i wonder are many autistics actually SPD (needing sensory modulation support)? Or is spd and autism the same thing just with different lens labels

I had no idea a non autistic person could blaock a huge amount of stimulation out. I thought they were just more able to deal with it. Maybe that is what is meant (?)

No wonder no one in our household is anywhere near as persistently enthusiastic about sniffing our dog ppppffffffff

I have lived with autism for 43 years

Interesting, when in a place that you can hear everything outside and from neighbours either side of you , it has an affect mentally, and the longer it go's on the worst it gets ,and can affect you in many other ways. Tablets shouldn't be the answer, but neither should weed , or alcohol, tried for help , but seems people in autism fields , at least round me , dont understand the true affects it can have on a persons health. And just brush it off and say , your mentally unwell , which is totally wrong.

I cant take bright lights or countinuous noises like music, when people ask what is my favorite music, I have to say I dont like music, which everyone thinks is wierd