Misophonia at work

[Lausch95]

Hello,
Anyone else very sensitive to certain sounds and really irritated and unsettled by them?
In the office at work one colleague has very long acrylic nails and keeps drumming them on the desk click clacking on the keyboard and letting them brush over surfaces making a horrible scratching and scraping sound. She's also chewing gum which I can hear. I'm doing my best to ignore but it's making me feel really unsettled. It's hard to explain.
I've suspected for a long time that I'm autistic. I'm now in my early 40s.
Do you have any idea if sensory issues are part of this?
Other things that cause me to suspect I'm autistic are:
Inflexibility and rigid when planning things, I have to have dates in my diary and everything in order. Don't like other people changing plans last minute which affect me.

Dislike spontaneity when instigated by other people. If I decide to be spontaneous that's ok.

Take things literally at times. Struggle
with banter at times and can get annoyed if I feel it's a personal attack (struggle to differentiate between actual and perceived)

Take things very personally and to heart (at times)

Don't like people being vague with regards to plans. Would like to know for sure in a black-white sense of simply yes or no. Hate it when people say "we'll play it by ear" for example.

This must make me sound like I'm a nightmare but I'm not. I'm always kind and respectful and try to see the best in everyone. It's just that I seem to struggle with some things as listed above.
Be interested to hear if anyone else has experience of this. Thank you

Hi op, I’m not sure about the symptoms of autism etc but if you are concerned maybe go to the Dr and see if they can help advise?

But the misophonia - I have this and completely understand what you’re saying! It’s irrational but some sounds/noises give me such a bad reaction! I ended up seeing a therapist about it and doing tapping with her. It really helped and gave me a coping mechanism to deal with those feelings when they happened. Might be worth looking into it

Sensory hypersensitivity can be a huge part of autism.

The misphonia at work could be a good reason to pursue diagnosis.

I have aspergers. Your list sounds exactly like me. Sensory issues are a huge part of autism. The gum thing in work would make me very annoyed! I cannot abide hearing people chew gum (or eat actually).

I'm the same OP. Have pronounced misophonia and I've taken a few online tests for autism (as I suspect that I'm on the spectrum) and always score highly.

I think there's a connection. Maybe book an appointment with your GP?

Sensory hypersensitivity is experienced by many people without ASD and a higher proportion of people with. As to the other stuff, this could be signs of ASD but could also be totally normal, it's a matter of degree and how you cope with changes etc. When others change plans it often messes us around and inconveniences us, or means we don't get to do something we want to do. Finding that hard does not equate to ASD as neurotypicals experience stress and disappointment too. In terms of the noise I wonder if you can ask your colleague not to do these things? if you want to explore whether you have ASD some more, I wonder whether it's worth talking to your GP? If you have money you can pay for an assessment. Many local NHS services have waiting lists for assessment of many years now as ASD has current favour in terms of understanding why some people find it harder to function in our capitalist consumerist society than others.

Both of my colleagues eat apples numerous times a day and I dread it. It really makes me uncomfortable, angry, squirmy - its hard to explain. Its like something comes over my body. I have to earphones in to block it out.

Thank you for all responses, so glad to know I'm not alone! Some sounds don't bother me like but the nails and the chewing gum really do!
I've always thought I had Aspergers. I will book in with the GP but the surgery is closed at the moment because of Coronavirus so it's telephone appointments only at present.

Have you done the AQ test online? It's what the professionals use. It's not perfect but the score can give you an indication. Trythe RITVO scale too. I did both of these before seeing any health profeasional.

The criteria for ASD assessment hinges on whether certain characteristics have been present since childhood and limit and impair everyday functioning

that and more info re going for dx as an adult here
www.autism.org.uk/about/diagnosis/adults.aspx
The characteristics of autism vary from one person to another, but in order for a diagnosis to be made, a person will usually be assessed as having had persistent difficulties with social communication and social interaction and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviours, activities or interests (this includes sensory behaviour), since early childhood, to the extent that these 'limit and impair everyday functioning'.

Info on the spectrum neuroclastic.com/2019/05/04/its-a-spectrum-doesnt-mean-what-you-think/

Sensory Processing info www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/social-care/disabilities/docs/young-people/Making%20Sense%20of%20Sensory%20Behaviour.pdf?

Yes I am autistic and relate to all of what you have written.

Dislike spontaneity when instigated by other people. If I decide to be spontaneous that's ok

This made me smile as I'm exactly like this in general: get angry when people don't follow THE RULES. But if I decide a particular rule is illogical and stupid then like fuck am I going to follow it.

@scautish, you sound just like me. I can disregard a rule but get over irritated if anyone else does. I know it can be interpreted as me being arrogant but I'm not it's just something that I can't help!

I’m not autistic but I couldn’t handle the chewing gum!

That's reads like I could have written it. I have borderline personality disorder and sensory issues are a huge part of it