Finding other people's chatter stressful

Post Reply New Topic

I was just thinking about work and if or when I will ever be ready to go back. I was thinking earlier today that I am just not stable and am probably months away from being fit to return. I think the doctor at occupational health was right, but that doesn't take the pressure off me when it comes to keeping my job. I've already been off for 7 months this year so far. Anyway, the reason for my post is I popped into work yesterday to print some stuff off and one of the things was for a meeting I have with HR about when I'll be back. While I was sat there there were two members of staff behind be talking and what I would call faffing, going back and forth with their chatter which to me just seemed inefficient and kind of unnecessary. They weren't even talking to me. They were having a sort out of things and deciding what to do with some accessories for the hoists we use. Whether to throw them out, find a needy person or whatever. I don't know. It just seemed like a faff and nonsense chatter, whereas I would simply just throw them out, or deal with it and not start a whole annoying and pointless debate (to my mind anyway).

As I sat there with my back to them on the computer listening to their inane back and forth chatter I found myself feeling irate, anxious, stressed and I don't know. Just generally annoyed and uncomfortable. It reminded me of what it is like when I'm at work in the main department and around my colleagues. I just thought to myself yesterday I can't take this. But today I am thinking of it some more and thinking if I can't even cope listening to two people have a conversation like that which doesn't even involve me without stirring up a lot of feeling in me then how and when am I ever going to go back to work. It made me realise that actually, I am probably still in pretty bad shape. Am I making sense. Is this how it is for others and is it ASD related or is it because I'm depressed, or anxious or what. I know I felt stressed and anxious sitting there thinking OMG, this is what I am going to come back to when I'm at work again. I just don't know what I'm going to do. How can I get over or around this? Will medication help?

Sorry for the long post and a million questions but I really do wonder what is going to become of me

It suggests you may want to look for an quiet working environment. I am lucky enough to have an office with a door I can close when it gets noisy. Another option may be to wear noise cancelling headphones.

It's so hard! I like and want to work with people and patients but I just cannot take it. I want to be alone and work alone somewhere quiet but I don't see how I am going to be able to in my profession. It just seems impossible. But then even if I did find a totally different job where I worked alone over time I would feel really isolated. I live alone as it is, I do like to interact with people but on my terms and in very small doses. Argh!

Btw, noise cancelling headphones aren't really an option when I have to deal with patients. I think they would probably annoy me anyway

Hi my name is Cat,
I totally get it. I can't even sweep a floor if someone is talking to me it gives me a slow burning feeling. Then sometimes (usually family members) will follow me around nutting on and on about some issue (usually my inability to play house correctly) then I will just crack it.

Taking Ritalin helps me crack it less. Also I understand about the whole annoyance that they can't make a simple decision. I refuse to go to meetings at work because that circlic conversation annoys me soooooo much. Have u ever been with a group of ppl trying to decide which restaurant to go to? Does this annoy u too? So inefficient.

Yes that annoys me. As do the cyclic type of conversations you mention. It's like I have no patient and I just feel myself bubbling up inside and then eventually I will snap and have a bit of an outburst or rant.

Lol so true.

I had to organise a dinner for a group after 67 group text messages we locked in the date, time & restaurant then some idiot did the whole "guys I'm going to sit this one out because I don't like that restaurant" I'm not sure the rage I felt was proportional to the situation I replied "do u want me to have a stroke!! You are killing me!" I did put a smiley face though so u know hmmm social skills in action lol.

Then I felt bad so moved the whole thing to another restaurant to a seemingly identical restaurant down the street. I just have no understanding of people.

I'm constantly baffled by just how much NTs can talk without saying anything: stating the obvious, meaningless pleasantries, small talk, repeating things they've already said, redundant instructions, unsolicited explanations, imprecise wording, circumlocutions...

A couple of things:

I relate a lot. I'm not very sound sensitive, but my problem is rather that I have no filter, and I take in everything. I suspect that this is more common among females on the spectrum. Is this the case for you? Do you have both sound sensitivity and no filter?

Also, I think you are under a lot of stress due to the PIP affair, which is negatively affecting your mental health.

Does any of this make sense to you?

The cafeteria at school is my least favorite place to be because of all the loud chatter going on. They're all aspies too so it's not just an nt thing. All you talkers drive me nutz

I quit my job today because of this. I just can't stand it anymore.
I'm sorry I don't know how to help...

The problem with the VA is that we have had too many troops on the ground for far too long in hostile territory. And the expectation that costly and time consuming surgeries and rehab be provided to the seriously injured survivors. They don't just patch you up and send you home in a wheelchair.