My name is Brendan Hughes. After being perplexed by so many lifelong mysteries, I was recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the age of 35. I was appointed to the Board of Directors for OAR with the goal of raising awareness and proceeds for autism. In publishing this blog post, I seek to share some of my personal experiences related to autism. I hope that significantly fewer individuals in the future go decades without realizing they have autism, owing to what I believe is a massive lack of awareness. As a voracious reader, I have come to believe there have been countless famous individuals, particularly in fields such as science, that have had autism and either chosen not to speak out or were unaware they have lived with autism their entire lives. As a community, we will not take the next step until this narrative changes. In taking actions, such as writing this blog post, I seek to be a part of a powerful movement I am confident will pave the way for the next generation of individuals living with autism. Thank you to OAR for helping make a difference.
Productivity
I have come to the realization that my secret weapon in terms of productivity stems at least in part from autism. Having intense and prolonged focus on specific areas has allowed me to complete ambitious long-term projects, such as the publication of books, that I don’t believe would have come to fruition without autism. In being able to focus on work and projects for hours on end while tuning the rest of the world out, this ability has been a consistent recipe for my productivity over the years. Research studies have shown that people with autism have an increased ability to focus on specific tasks of interest. Consistent with research studies, I have seen firsthand the benefit of being able to concentrate for extended periods of time on reading, writing, and charitable endeavors.
Repetitive Behaviors
My repetition of behavior has helped me complete time-consuming long-term projects. Having the discipline to set aside an allotted time each week and stick to the schedule can be a tremendous asset in terms of completing ambitious ventures. Additionally, repetition tends to be positive for areas such as physical fitness, as the demand for repetitive behavior allows for sticking to a predetermined schedule. I have found obvious downsides related to repetitive behaviors as well. It can be tremendously stressful, far beyond what an individual without autism may understand, if the predetermined schedule is disrupted. This can lead to issues with family and friends, as many will never understand the degree of stress that interrupting a few hours of a yearslong project can cause. In understanding my repetition of behavior and potential conflicts that can arise as a result, I have found it helpful to put social commitments on the calendar to help mitigate anxiety related to disruption of work-related endeavors.
Intense and Specific Interests
Like many others affected by autism, I tend to obsess about what I view as being a few key areas: investing, reading, charitable endeavors, writing, and travel. My heightened fixation on these areas can be so intense that I have difficulty sleeping at night, often jolting awake in the middle of the night (insomnia is very common for people with autism) thinking about something related to one of these fields. Again, these fixations tend to be positive in terms of accomplishments in these areas but can be challenging socially. As an example of social challenges tied to intense interests, if an individual wants to discuss a topic that is completely unrelated to these areas, there could be a near complete lack of interest.
Sensory Sensitivity
This is going to be difficult to explain for many that do not have autism. I am hypersensitive to bright lighting. I have dimmers on the lights in my home, as bright fluorescent lights can bring about sensory overload. I can’t describe the amount of distress that an overly bright light bulb can bring about. I am highly sensitive to sound, particularly if attempting to focus on a project tied to one of my specific interests. As an example, if an individual knocks on my door while I am deep in thought related to something pertaining to investments, it can take the rest of the day to recover mentally. I have found that being aware of these sensitivities is helpful in mitigating stress that can be brought about by simple events such as a door knock.
Social Challenges
Autism and small talk are in many ways opposites. Expending energy to discuss the weather outside with a stranger, that you may never encounter again, is in direct conflict with what can be intense focus on a few key areas. At times, like many with autism, I struggle with small talk, particularly if the discussion interrupts a task such as eating a meal. People with autism tend to find something either completely fascinating, or not worth their time to think about, much less want to discuss with a stranger. Like others with autism, I tend to have literal thinking, and this can at times come off in conversation as being blunt, or even rude. As an example, given my repetitiveness, and what can be extreme dedication to a schedule, my brain almost can’t compute how someone could not regularly go to the gym. How could someone with the ability to regularly go to the gym willingly do something that is so harmful to their long-term well-being? For better or worse, this bewilderment can come off bluntly in conversation. I didn’t realize it until recently, but I rarely make eye contact with others, unless I am focused on doing so, as eye contact can cause sensory overload for individuals affected by autism. Like others with autism, I have difficulty in describing my emotions. Known as Alexithymia, this can be challenging in a marriage, as being unable to identify and convey emotions to a partner can seem as though you don’t care. Reflecting on my earlier life, it is clear to me that I attempted to “mask” certain social challenges with alcohol use. I believe alcohol affects my sensory processing in ways that I am only beginning to comprehend. Again, I have found that understanding why autistic people encounter certain social challenges to be helpful in more successfully navigating my social life.
Anxiety
Studies have shown that up to 50% of autistic people have an anxiety disorder. I am included in this group that has a diagnosed anxiety disorder. I don’t believe this should be surprising given some of the things I have discussed in this blog. This makes sense given that seemingly minute things such as bright lighting and disruption of a predetermined schedule can result in a disproportionate effect on my mood. Understanding how an autistic brain works can help with managing anxiety. As an example, knowing that I am prone to sensory overload, I work with my wife to manage our social calendar in a way that balances friendships and potential overexertion.
This blog post is not meant to be an all-encompassing list of every area I navigate in terms of my autistic traits. My hope is that awareness for autism increases, and we further normalize similar discussions. I have included a link below to my personal fundraising campaign in support of OAR. Any financial contributions would be greatly appreciated.
Donate here: https://researchautism.donorsupport.co/page/community?fundraiser=NZPJNHEN&member=SRWDCQCV
Brendan has more than a decade of industry experience in investments and public finance since graduating from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance and Accounting. He is currently an Investment Advisor for Lafayette Investments, assisting in the investment decision-making process for equity portfolios and advising clients on topics such as asset allocation, long-term saving strategies, and tax efficiency.
Brendan is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder. He has served on various boards and committees including the James Madison University College of Business Board of Advisors, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Maryland Chapter, CanEducate (helps schools in developing countries such as Haiti), and the Member Engagement Committee for CFA Society Washington D.C. Brendan is a two-time winner of the Tomorrow’s Leader Award for his contributions to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Brendan is the author of two books: Markets in Chaos: A History of Market Crises Around the World and The Wandering Investor.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-hughes-cfa-8a107155/
The post Living with Autism first appeared on Organization for Autism Research.
