I've been wondering...

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Hey, um... so...

I dunno whether this is just a personal querk, something that can be routed back to autism or maybe a mix of both, but I've had trouble finding other conversations on this particular thing on the internet...

I have this thing where sometimes if someone asks me a question that I fully understand and know the answer to, I for some reason find it really hard to answer, even if it's a simple yes/no or something that I know won't cause even an ounce of embarrassment or drama. It really gets on my parents' nerves, because they end up asking me like 5 times before getting really mad and forcing an answer out of me.

For example, I'm watching a youtube video of a computer game and my dad asks what game it is, and I know the title and it's relatively easy to say, yet I just can't bring myself to say it. Or there's motorsport on the TV and my dad asks me who's winning the race.

This happens mostly when I'm trying to watch or read or play something, but it can happen over less engaging things as well. It's just like there's a mental barrier stopping me from speaking or something. Granted, most of the time, it happens when I'm not particularly in the mood for discussion, but from what I've witnessed from other people, I haven't noticed anyone else with the problem.

So yeah... anyone else know what I'm talking about?

Outside of this and when I'm too anxious for communication, I never have any other kind of trouble with verbal conversation, apart from making a huge mess of my descriptions and turning basic concepts into incoherent messes of words.

I think that your parents would like to share your happiness and your interests.

If you respond, it will make them happy. Maybe you could try to think like this?

If you can't respond, maybe you can tell them a bit later when you feel good: "sometimes, i am so much focused on the video, that i can't respond, i'm sorry, it is nothing to hurt you".

I'm "afraid" of talking on the phone as well. I needed to call and make an appointment last week and it took me 15 minutes to muster up the courage to dial the number.

I thought I was the only one who did that, even when its an easy question that I know the answer to I still don't like to say it, I'm not sure why, I guess I prefer to be left alone than make a conversation with somebody

Could it be because of the change of activity? You are concentrating on something, and they are changing what you are doing with no time for transition? I know that if I am concentrating or interested in an activity, and someone asks me a question, it takes a second for me to answer. They usually get a blank stare. If I am irritated at the disruption, I tend to yell at them for the interruption vs answer the question. The yelling is easier than answering.

But that really only identifies with the first of the two scenarios that you presented. With the latter, I really dislike people asking me things when they can find it out themselves. Why ask me who is winning? Can't they look at the freaking score like they are asking me to do and learn it for themselves? Why do they feel the need to be disruptive?

Also, there could be an aspect of language processing?