What is being dubbed by autistic people as a 'weird and overlooked symptom' of autism is apparently incredibly common but, despite its commonality, 'no one' apparently talks about it.
According to the National Autistic Society, more than one in 100 people are autistic, with there being at least 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.
The NHS outlines that there are a number of 'common signs' of autism found in adults which may include; finding it hard to understand what others are thinking or feeling, getting very anxious about social situations and seeming blunt, rude or not interested in others without meaning to.
However, there seem to be several less-talked about symptoms of the developmental disability - one of which includes not being able to regulate your own body temperature.
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'Weird and overlooked symptom'
On the 'Autism in Women' thread on Reddit, one user penned: "Not being able to regulate body temp - weird and overlooked symptoms of autism.
"It doesn't get talked about nearly enough and it is beyond frustrating and affects my life like no other. I will be just standing and randomly feel like I've either been set alight inside like a fire or put in the freezer lol."
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"I run hot so if it’s above 70° I’m sweating. But I’m also freezing if it’s below 68°. It’s terrible," lamented a second.
As a third chimed in: "I’ve been telling people for decades that the only correct or acceptable temperature is 71.5 degrees. I will walk up to the thermostat 4x an hour to keep it that way. Because they usually only have whole degree settings. So 71, 72, 71, 72,71..."
"Same I love workout classes but get so stressed when I can tell it’s a little warm in the room. But I don’t complain since I think most people don’t have an issue with it. I need it freezing otherwise I get overheated and almost pass out," explained another.
'I'm rarely comfortable'
Someone else chimed in: "Lol such a narrow window of comfort - I'm the same!"
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"Same. I feel like a snowflake, or like the Princess and the Pea story? I feel like I'm so fussy now, rarely comfortable," agreed another.
"THANK YOU FOR SAYING THIS!" praised a final Reddit user. "I thought I just had sh*t temp regulation.
"I’m either freezing, and have to wear multiple layers, or I get randomly hot and I am rubbing ice water cloth on me. I have no idea why this happens but I feel you!"
The link between autism and body temperature regulation
Connect n Care explains that autistic people might find it hard to control their body heat.
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"This can happen because they are sensitive to sensory experiences," the site notes. "Their clothing choices, stimming habits, and communication difficulties can change how they react to temperature shifts.
"It is important to understand these differences to build welcoming and inclusive spaces."
As we know, the autistic brain often handles sensory information differently than neurotypical brains. This can change how we feel different senses, such as temperature. Because of this, people might experience heat and cold differently.
"For some people on the autism spectrum, stronger brain activity when faced with sensory input can make them more aware of outside temperatures," Connect n Care notes. "They may feel heat very strongly, which can cause discomfort or even sensory overload."
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With that said, however, it's important to keep in mind that autism is a spectrum and not everyone with autism will react to the heat or cold the same way.
Topics: Health, Life, Mental Health
Rhiannon Ingle