Why are people with AS easily overwhelmed?

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I am learning to understand how my brain
works and live creatively within its limitations.
and more abundantly with its gifts. However,
I am very interested to hear from others with
AS as to why autism contributes to them
being so easily overwhelmed?

Many thanks

Because of our brain structure, which has a reduced level of sensory processing and sensory integration as compare to the NT brain.

Some of us, myself included, think this is because of a reduced level of white matter connectivity across the brain.

Rare Pegs was right. One of the other effects many of us suffer from is being out of time phase with the NT world. NTs tend to be on a faster time track than we are, doing things faster than we can do, because it often takes us longer to process information. This being behind the times effect is very stressful for us, and also for NT family members, friends, co-workers, and bosses. Remember, it is hard on them too, when we are slower than normal to understand and do stuff. We are not retarded--many of us are well above normal intelligence, but we do need more time to assimilate input.

I used to hate playing board games with other kids when I was young, because they would start playing past me, due to my taking longer to consider moves, and choices. I needed more time than they did. I realize now that it was hard on them too, but at the time, it made me feel like they were cheating.

I am in my 50s now, and they had not recognized Autism/Asperger's back then for what it is. Kids on the spectrum were instead labelled as having emotional, or behavior problems, and sometimes, in more extreme cases, developmental problems.

Now that the problems of people on the spectrum are getting better understood, there is more help available, and more tolerance, too, so things are somewhat better for kids on the spectrum. Unfortunately, other kids, and some adults, can still be a hassle to deal with.

Remember, we on the spectrum are all:

A Different Drummer

If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
Perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears,
However measured, or far away.

--Henry David Thoreau

I get overwhelmed when I have to make new plans on the fly. I'm very schedule-oriented and I have trouble working around other people, especially spontaneous people. When there's an event I have to go to on short notice it feels like a wrench thrown into a machine and I end up stressing myself out over rearranging my schedule.

Lol what 'gifts'. Anyway we're messed up OP. We just don't work right.

It's pathetic.

I can't recall the number of times I've been perfectly calm while NTs have had nervous breakdowns around me because they were stuck in traffic, a child wouldn't stop screaming, the house was a mess, they spilled something, etc, etc, because they are too numerous.

So one can only conclude that those with AS do not necessarily become overwhelmed easily compared to NTs, but instead, those with AS may simply become overwhelmed at things NTs might not, and might not become overwhelmed at things that NTs would.

Yeah, I had the same thought. Sometimes normal people will get totally bent out of shape, and I just calmly endure the situation. I suppose it goes both ways, depending on what's alarming us.

Here's the way I see it, at least in my case. Most stuff doesn't bother me. It may annoy the hell out of NTs but it doesn't concern me in the slightest.

When something does get to me, it doesn't take long before I feel like it's too much.

Exactly this.

Lot's of gifts. An example is, if I devote myself to something completely, it will be done PERFECTLY. Or not at all.

It's not our autism. It's the people that we deal with, day in and day out, and their ignorance. The world's always handing us poop on a wooden platter.