Suddenly spacing out in conversations.

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I had this problem so severely at school that I actually had to have tests done to determine whether I had a form of epilepsy. I was zoning out so completely that it was thought that I might be having epileptic 'absences'.

Of course, the scans revealed I didn't have epilepsy and was simply zoning out due to sensory overload.

I still do it a lot if someone's talking at me for more than a few seconds. I often wind up feeling rather awkward and guilty when someone's telling me something and then asks me a question and I'm all "Huh?"

Sadly, it happens even when I'm interested in what the person is saying. I am absolutely useless at listening to lectures. I'll zone out and miss half of it. If the info's on paper, I'm fine. But if I have to listen and make notes, I'll come away from it with huge gaps in my expected knowledge.

All the time, but I don't find myself noticing, in fact I don't realise until I hear 'Aimee, Aimee, AIMEE!!' and then im normally either in trouble or being laughed at. Since my psychologist shared her thoughts about AS there's been a lot less shouting about a lot of things.

I'm truely spectacular at this - last time to a degree I had trouble believing for a while. I asked a question in a uni lecture, and felt a bit zoned, then tuned in again to hear a rather irate lecturer explaining why it is that education is important.. not what I asked at all! It turns out I looked into the distance for a while, then interrupted the lecturer to say 'What am I doing here?" but I don't remember it at all!

It happens to me fairly frequently. It drives my boyfriend nuts

And sometimes I'll suddenly realize somebody said something, and respond, only to find out that they said it several minutes ago.

As a child, I could have entire conversations without being at all aware of it.

Sometimes my husband decides to sleep in and I go to church alone...he used to ask me what the sermon was about when I got home, and I'd just stammer, um...Jesus? The Bible, I think? I would realize...I really had no idea. I could zone out an entire twenty-minute sermon. (He has since stopped asking.)

Me too.

Yes, me as well, if I've read a book on a car journey sometimes I will get there and not have clue what I have read.

This reminds me actually, one of the key questions in diagnosis always seems to be 'Do you or can you multi-task?'
When I am on my computer I always have the tv on, but when I am on the computer the same thing happens to the films as it does when im reading...so does that mean I can multi-task or not? Its all very confusing.

Spacing out happens frequently to me, either for a few seconds or minute or two. It tends to be if I'm in a group of people and the conversation is boring. People sometimes give me a nudge and tell me I was staring vacantly into space. My body was there but my mind long since departed

Definitely. I don't even realize I'm doing it most of the time until I realize that I have no idea what they're talking about anymore.

All the time, it makes it very hard to concentrate on a conversation for long. I also shut down so far during lectures of any kind (school, church, etc) that I fall asleep, even if I am in no way bored and in fact quite interested in the content. Interestingly though, at my own church, I do not fall asleep usually, because there is no long sermon, just people sitting quietly until someone is moved to give ministry. That is the opposite of most people, who have to struggle to stay awake usually and do better staying awake during continuous talking.

I sometimes space out during conversations and other times as well. Sometimes it almost looks like catatonia because it last so long at times. I would just freeze and not respond to anything. During the shorter freezes, I sometimes forget to think and breathe. How sad.

I space out a lot. My friends are used to it.

previous autism speech therapist am had said it's called 'zoning out',and that most people do it,but people on the spectrum and people with adhd do it a lot more.


just make sure it isnt abscence seizures that is causing it.

Thanks for the feedback guys. Nice to know I'm not the only one to experience this!

It can be awkward when someone's standing there talking to me, thinking I'm listening when really I'm not there. People get mad thinking I'm ignoring them or uninterested. I can't help it though, I get no warning when it's going to happen. .

I had thought that it could be Absence seizures, but I hate doctors so I never bothered going. Now that I know others experience it though, I'm not as worried about that. It can be a problem though when it makes me miss important information...

No dx--but this caught my eye as I am a heavy daydreamer and zoner outer. It's been happening the last couple days for some reason! I completely zone--no blinking, brain rest or something--and I get mad if someone interrupts it.

I used to be called "spacy" in school, because I appeared always in a fog, I guess.

I can relate well to this one.

I've had to train my brain to listen and pay attention when someone is speaking! LOL.

Not sure what it's from.


equinn

All the time. My family knows now just to repeat what they said, but it gets fairly irritating.