To better explain this I asked lots of autistic people how eye contact feels for them. If you would like to add your experiences to this please tweet @doodle_beth. I would love to hear from you
like a combination of stinging and two similar poles of magnets being forced together
— Despicable Hyena (@autisticfeels) June 1, 2017
force my gaze into it, it just bounces off. I can sometimes "game" it by unfocusing my eyes and pointing my face at theirs,
— Moominmamma (@mammatroll) June 1, 2017
Burning rods through my eye sockets. Will avoid at all costs. I wear sunglasses at almost all times around NTs.
— elise augé (@elise_auge) June 1, 2017
Piercing, like Im completely naked. It’s awful, but like many, I’ll do it to make others feel comfortable :/
— Rebellionista (@Rebellionista) June 2, 2017
The closest I can describe it is like the person is touching me. It's an almost physical sensation and is too uncomfortably intimate for me.
— Tamara Rice (@tamarahvt) June 1, 2017
I feel like I am being stared at by a monster with eyes that can see into my mind & that it will rip my head open. My eyes burn. I feel sick
— Oliver W (@OliverTudor1990) June 1, 2017
Can't think right when it happens.. interrupts w/e I'm doing/thinking w preoccupation w being scrutinized n they might do next. Interruptive
— tweedy bird (@zazozaliad) June 1, 2017
Depends on how I am and the person I'm talking to but often feels painful & too intimate.
— Red Cat 🌹🇪🇺 (@aspiecat1) June 1, 2017
I glance regularly to get an idea what they're thinking, but maintaining it makes it hard to think, and impossible to converse.
— Doomsayer Suzi (@Dead_Suzi) June 1, 2017
Pointless distraction that interrupts my other cognition and makes me worse at communicating with substance. I'm sick of the expectation.
— Charles (@charleswrites) June 1, 2017
It feels like a giant stop sign is pushed into the centre of the conversation, forcing words into the corners
— Alyzande Renard 🌹 (@alyzande) June 6, 2017
Like being put on the spot. Asked an impossible question in front of a room full of mocking ppl, set up to fail in front of a critical world
— AspieUnderYourRadar (@VoxVisual) June 6, 2017