When I'm in crowds or large groups of people, I experience different things. I wonder if these are common things among people on the spectrum. Please say if you experience them too, or if you don't.
First of all, I have trouble having a conversation when there's noise around me, because I can literally not hear myself. I feel like a deaf person trying to form words with my mouth, hoping it comes out right. I can hear someone else's conversation who are 5 meters away just as well as someone right next to me. This makes it difficult for me to focus on my own conversation. It's like I can't think clearly and be myself in situations like this.
After having spent a bit of time in an environment like this, my face starts to feel like it's burning, and my brain feels tired, and full somehow. If I don't withdraw myself to some quiet for a moment, I will most likely have a shutdown after the event is over.
Also, crowds and lots of people make me really uncomfortable in general. I'm not sure if this is anxiety or autism. I start to feel a bit shaky and actually, mostly just want to escape the situation if I could.
Do anyone relate to this and how do you handle it?