Pressure and Aspies

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Nobody, even NTs, likes being subject to work-related pressure. But here's the question: are aspies more susceptible to its negative effects? For example, the more pushy someone becomes, the more I tend to resist. It's not very work-compatible, is it, when the pressure is applied by the boss.

And during these moments I find the pressure adversely affects the quality of my work. It interferes with the creative thinking process and I overlook some really clever solutions in these crunch moments. Then some time later, even if it's just in the car going home, the truth appears to me. Often it is much later - months, weeks - the 'answer of genius' will pop in my head. Unfortunately, by then it is usually too late, and my work was already submitted, but in less than optimal form because of the pressure.

I have been having a lot of pressure and stres releated issues at work myself especially lately. They just recently really tightened the security on the network and it totally obliterated my daily routine plus keeps me from working at home (which is about the only place I get any really good work done.) What's really bad for me is that as my stress goes up I get more and more easily distracted by everything. Right now for example everybody's keyboard clicking (including mine as I type this) is making it very difficult to concentrate.

I have days when everything clicks fine and days when everything seems completely random and crazy. Today is one of those crazy days. Although I am very comfortable now (after two years) in my workplace and with the really fab people that are here, my job is fairly unpredictable. It's also dealing with the public face to face all day long.

Normally I have the NT patter down perfectly when dealing with these people. But I had one enquiry this morning that lasted over half an hour and I was really glad to get off for lunch after, just to clear my head.

I tend to 'switch off' more when I'm in one of these moods. I concentrate on work less, I stare into space more and I don't always focus on/remember what's been said to me.

And as you can see I don't stay much on the point, because now I'm veering off into the sunset

But going back to the pressure thing - I don't feel pressure really from my superiors. I feel it from the public sometimes in that I don't want to be rude (I actually have had to forcibly sit on the urge to throw something at the printer as well, this afternoon). I'm lucky in that the people I work with are so nice and very laid back (even though they don't know I'm Aspie, they've probably figured I'm a touch eccentric.

I think it all depends on the people you work for and with. I think we are susceptible to different pressures depending on what kind of people we each are anyway. For me the hardest thing is simply keeping up with the ratrace on a day when my brain is telling me "You do NOT want to be working today!". That's the pressure I tend to get on me...fighting myself rather than other people :S

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when I'm under pressure my mind seizes up. It's like the more I try the more I can't do my job. I also don't handle critism well. I always feel as if it is a personal attack. What dosn't help the situation is that the lady that I work with has the tack of a sledgehammer!
I just try and do my best each and everyday.

Exactly. When I'm left alone and not harassed, I can be very creative, but in the heat of the moment I go through that same brain seizure thing. Many times, I get my most inspired solutions to problems when I am driving in the car or walking arond rather than at my desk. I'd be curious if there is evidence that NTs respond better to the cracking of the whip, whereas Aspies find just the opposite.

I worked for a guy who had been promoted to manager. He knew the product and was a smart guy, but was similarly tactless and his interaction with me just made things worse.

i would have to agree! although i think i get more stressed out when im trying to function normally in sociaty. i know this is especially going to be hard for me in the workplace. since i might let out a random "bark" or start talking to myself when im working, lol.