How Autistic People Experience Pain

Today I want to delve into a topic that I don’t see discussed very often, and that is how autistic people feel pain.  Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misconceptions around autistic pain, and many people may not even recognize that an autistic person is physically uncomfortable or worse.

Audio coming soon!

The first thing I want to describe to you is touch.  Touch is probably one of the most widely recognized means from which autistic people receive pain.  Many of us absolutely hate light touch, especially if it’s unexpected.  Why?  This is because it can cause a number of irritating effects – itchy or crawly skin, tight muscles, and even a burning sensation.  These feelings tend to radiate outward from the spot and linger, thus making them even more dreadful than they already are.  If an autistic person is tired, stressed, or otherwise uncomfortable, this can also happen with things like hugs.

Another aspect of touch has less to do with people and more to do with certain objects or the environment.  It’s important to remember that some autistic people are oversensitive to different sensations, while others are undersensitive, and levels may vary even within the individual and in different circumstances.  Usually, when an autistic person is oversensitive, they experience texture, temperature, weight, and other qualities more intensely than a neurotypical would.  Think of the outfit you’re wearing right now.  Just on a basic level, what does it feel like?  Now, put all your focus into your clothes.  Try to pinpoint every detail.  Can you feel the seams touching your skin?  What do the stitches feel like?  What about the weave of the fabric?  Are there any holes or rips?  Is there any closure, such as zippers or buttons?  What about embellishments, like embroidery or lace?  Autistic people who are oversensitive feel all of that, all the time, and without a choice in the matter.  People who are undersensitive, on the other hand, are to some extent numb to these sensations.

Autistic pain can also result from things that don’t directly come in contact with the skin.  Eye contact, for example, is often described by autistic people as burning.  Sometimes, it also makes our eyes feel sore, like we’ve been staring at something bright for too long.  Other sensory stimuli aside from touch can also be painful.  Again, those who are oversensitive may get a headache or eye pain from lights or tense up after hearing certain noises.  Sounds can also feel as though they are occurring on or within the body.  For example, loud hammering or a heavy drum beat may make an autistic person feel like they’re being pounded on.

It’s important to recognize that these sensations are completely real and are often out of the person’s control.  As an autistic person, I’ve been told that the way I experience situations is wrong because everyone else doesn’t process the way that I do.  I’ve also been told that my pain is just due to my autism as a means of dismissing it.  Believe autistic people when they say that they are hurt.  Though the causes behind it may be different than neurotypical pain, it is still completely valid.  Autistic people still deserve to have their hurt acknowledged and soothed.  It’s also crucial that people are aware that autistic pain exists and respect autistic people’s boundaries.  Certain things may harm us more than you know, and we deserve to be listened to when we express the desire to avoid those situations.  As always, please be kind to autistic people and keep growing in your understanding of our condition.