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Has anyone ever tried to destroy the social urge in AS?

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questor
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01 Mar 2012, 2:15 pm

The unpleasant social interactions I've had over the decades of my life have killed off most of my urge to socialize. I still have a small urge that I satisfy with occasional family visits, and when I run errands. For any more in depth socializing, I retreat into one of my daydream universes. I can be anyone I want in them, and do anything, and get along with people or not as my feelings and the current plot of the dream story move me. I can also change dream story channels, or turn off the dream TV whenever I want. It is far easier to handle social situations in my day dream stories, than it ever has been in real life, so I don't miss in depth socializing in the real world. It is never really pleasant for me.

I do get some socializing online through WP, and by commenting at other sites, like Dear Abby, and the news and political sites I frequent. This system works best for me, as I am basically a hermit.


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RazorEddie
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01 Mar 2012, 2:19 pm

Mootoo wrote:
Well, apparently this urge is something that purely autistic people already lack, but AS lack the skills for ("trapped between a rock and a hard place") - and this is the primary cause of loneliness, that autistic people don't seem to suffer from, either.


I don't think this is strictly true. I am on the milder end of AS and I never had the urge to socialize. I also don't feel lonely, for which I am profoundly grateful.

As for the people that do feel lonely I would have thought it would be extremely difficult to turn it off but you may be able to divert it, for example by keeping pets or using a special interest to block it out.


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CrazyCatLord
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01 Mar 2012, 2:32 pm

fraac wrote:
ghostar wrote:
CrazyCatLord wrote:
I'd rather that some pharmaceutical company bottles all the neurochemicals that are released in response to social interaction and sell the resulting concoction as a nasal spray :) Whenever you get lonely and depressed, you just take a puff and instantly feel like you just had a two hour chat with a close friend.


This would be amazing! Someone out there is currently working on this, right? Please tell me that they are! :wink:


You can buy oxytocin nasal spray now. I wasn't sure if CrazyCatLord was joking and already knew this. I recommend MDMA instead because it lasts longer and feels nicer. Taking them with people is better though.


Yes, that's what gave me the idea :) Oxytocin increases trust in people and makes socialization easier (which would be a great start, but alas I can't get oxytocin medication without a prescription in my country). But I'd like to simulate the mood-enhancing effect of social interaction and remove the need to socialize altogether.

Positive social interaction is rewarding, so I suppose it triggers a dopamine release. There might be other neurochemicals involved as well, such as vasopressin (assists in bonding) or serotonin. Somebody needs to find out exactly which neurotransmitters are released in response to positive social feedback and sell this cocktail as an olfactory drug.



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01 Mar 2012, 3:11 pm

CrazyCatLord wrote:
I'd rather that some pharmaceutical company bottles all the neurochemicals that are released in response to social interaction and sell the resulting concoction as a nasal spray :) Whenever you get lonely and depressed, you just take a puff and instantly feel like you just had a two hour chat with a close friend.


That is amazing.

I met with a friend yesterday and randomly meowed. I think i forgot how to talk and a meow somehow seemed more appropriate.


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