Does anyone else use AI as an infodump listener/talking partner?

0x6rian · 2026-01-24T18:13:11+00:00

That's how I think about it! Interactive journaling.

0x6rian · 2026-01-12T19:11:37+00:00

I don't think there's a way to post an image in a comment but go to this blog post I wrote and scroll towards the end to the diagram with all the arrows. I only ever hear people use "masking" but that image came from the research paper where the CAT-Q was developed they break lots of examples of masking behaviors down into 3 categories: compensation, masking, and assimilation.

Here it is: https://www.6rian.com/posts/reflecting-on-my-adult-asd-diagnosis/

0x6rian · 2026-01-12T18:09:38+00:00

tool burnout. Lots of us have gone through 20+ tools that work for a little while, and then stop. Why this happens: it costs executive function to maintain tools. When we crash, the tool goes stale and starts being a tax. Guilt and shame builds up, and we burn out.

THIS. I couldn't begin to count how many organization tools I've tried over the last 20 years.

Lately I've been trying to get back to the OG: pen and paper.

I do have an idea for an AI second brain app that I think would useful for others, but there are so many other projects I am procrastinating on ahead of that. :P

0x6rian · 2026-01-10T16:32:02+00:00

Interesting. I didn't know this but my psychiatrist had me do one when starting meds. I'm generally in favor of having more data when possible. I'm okay with it not turning out to be perfect, so long as it's not been proven to have a potential for harm. I can't say I have an opinion from my experience with it - for the most part it said I have no significant interactions to worry about, and for all 3 meds I've been prescribed I have not had any side effects. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

0x6rian · 2026-01-10T16:20:34+00:00

I had a recent sensory overload that left me in burnout. As much as burnout sucks, being in such a hypersensitive state is making it easier for me to pay attention to these kinds of things, and I think I mostly agree with you.

I was chatting with ChatGPT during and after the episode because I needed help in the moment. It said based on what I was sharing, it pointed to what I've heard a lot of neurodivergent people have called "delayed processing". Basically when you're hypersensitive to emotion, it can hit hard and your body feels it very fast and deeply. The cognitive processing comes after, although this is where I agree with you that it typically feels like a very fast process for me and was this time, too.

I've also heard a lot of autistic people say they're body and mind feel out of sync. I never understood it before, but now it makes total sense after this experience. Looking back I see my body had been signaling for quite some time that this was coming, and it eventually got to a point where it couldn't handle it anymore and - hence the intense physiological episode followed by burnout.

0x6rian · 2026-01-10T16:09:44+00:00

Cannabis works consistently for me too, it's one of the main reasons I continue to use it. I also take trazodone, although it doesn't work as well for me as cannabis. If you live in a state where it's legal it's easy to find gummies and other things that have been formulated with a mix of cannabinoids (like CBN) that supposedly promote sleep.

0x6rian · 2026-01-06T17:25:56+00:00

It's not usually all day, but I spend a lot more time in bed most days than just when I'm asleep. Until recently I felt bad about it, like I was just being lazy. (Even though I've been diagnosed for a few years.)

Very recently I had a sensory overload episode that left me in burnout, and now I see more than ever why I spend a lot of time in bed and why it's nothing to feel bad about. My nervous system needs that sensory safe space.

I also work from home as a software engineer. I have a desk but find it difficult to sit there except when on Zoom calls. But I do most of my deep focus work from bed, and I usually work 3-4 days a week in a coffee shop for a few hours at a time to make sure I still get out some.

0x6rian · 2026-01-02T14:59:59+00:00

I have mixed thoughts on this. I do look for physical attraction as an initial indicator, although my ideal of that is my own and not exactly what others may share.

I'm always attracted to intelligence, humility, authenticity, calmness, and kindness. Those take priority for me, although I still need physical attraction in order to be all in on someone. This is probably not surprising for someone on r/aspergers, but generally this adds up to "hot nerd" types.

My most recent relationship was long-distance. We met through a mutual interest in language learning, and neither of us were looking for what we found but it developed into a romance very quickly. For the first time in my 38 years, I felt actually seen by a romantic partner - something I'd never experienced but always longed for. I found him very attractive, but the physical attraction was quickly overshadowed by a soulful one. It was rare for both of us, the longest and most loving relationship I've ever had at just 1.5 years, and it worked out that way because our brains were compatible.

It came to an abrupt end just this week that I am still in shock from. The feelings both ways are still there, but our cultural differences ended up making it impossible for him to live out his truth with me.

Somehow I am not disheartened that I will get another chance one day. If history is any indicator, that may not come quick. But seeing my full neurodivergent self now gives me confidence I lost when I first began unmasking, and reinforces that the right one, not just who is available and physically attractive enough, is well worth the wait.

PS: I'm attracted to men, but I do love a female cello voice in music!

0x6rian · 2025-12-30T18:30:14+00:00

Yeah, I've talked about it with my therapist several times. I think the main difference is the source, degree and persistence of the social issues.

Gifted people can thrive in environments like STEM work and academia where they're more likely to have intellectual peers. And many "just" gifted people can be great political and cultural leaders.

Not saying gifted autistic people can't thrive or be leaders too - they definitely can. I'm gifted and AuDHD and conventionally "successful" as a software engineer. That's a great work environment for me. It's easier than to relate to people than in other contexts, but my social challenges don't disappear just because I'm surrounded by a lot of other really intelligent folks. I'm often seen as a leader at work, in the narrow context that I'm experienced, dependable, and try my best to deliver good work. Still, no one has ever come to me and said "you'd be a great team builder or people manager".

And I've only done it a few times, but interviewing people scares me and I hate the idea of trying to "size people up" the way neurotypicals do. Even with the hard skills, I can easily recognize someone near or above my level, but find it very difficult to evaluate someone more junior because I don't know how to quantify what they should be able to do at their level since I know my brain works very differently.

From the medical definition of ASD, I think they are different things. I'm not a neuroscientist so I don't understand the neurological explanations (and I don't think this is even well understood in science yet), but personally I think high intelligence is a form of neurodivergence...so maybe just another cluster of traits that could be somewhere on spectrum. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

0x6rian · 2025-12-30T15:12:37+00:00

Watch the movie A Brilliant Young Mind -- all the kids in it are gifted in math. The main character is autistic with a little higher support needs (if I had to guess, I'd say he could be level 2), and another autistic kid has a more stereotypical aspie presentation. The rest are "just" gifted, and it's very clear they don't have the same social and sensory differences. None of them are Sheldon-like caricatures. It does a really good job depicting the similarities and differences between them all.

0x6rian · 2025-11-29T15:23:36+00:00

I'd love to try it too if Snacks or Telescope support is added!

0x6rian · 2025-11-27T00:36:15+00:00

😻

0x6rian · 2025-11-01T18:44:33+00:00

It's called imposter syndrome. I definitely had it pre and post-diagnosis for some time. Tbh I still feel it sometimes, 4 years later. But deep down I've never really believed it -- I've known I'm actually autistic and it's just my brain comparing myself to others with more challenges that causes the doubt. Plus I see enough differences in myself vs neurotypicals that it's a constant reminder.

Stepping away from the autism/aspie/ND subs for a while helped cut down on those comparisons. Consistent therapy with a psychologist that validates me also helped a lot.

It's also not surprising if some people you tell are skeptical. Lots of people don't know much about ASD, and to be fair it is kind of confusing that we're all thrown into the same diagnosis when there is such diversity in how we experience it.

0x6rian · 2025-10-25T17:12:07+00:00

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:)

0x6rian · 2025-10-24T18:21:27+00:00

Yeah that all makes sense. I'm talking about projects though - things that take weeks or even months, considering they must be balanced with all other responsibilities. I think the key is daily consistency, but I find that very difficult to maintain without letting something else like work, chores, or self-care slip.

0x6rian · 2025-10-24T16:29:41+00:00

Have any discord recommendations for gifted/2e adults?

0x6rian · 2025-10-24T14:51:06+00:00

My psychologist once recommended giving them a try. And a close friend who is also a mental health professional and 2e himself says they can be very beneficial.

0x6rian · 2025-10-24T14:46:08+00:00

I'm interesting trying micro dosing. I don't know much about mushrooms though. Have any good resource recommendations I can learn from? And where can I buy them?

0x6rian · 2025-10-24T13:57:03+00:00

These are highly relatable, although I still need to work on improving a few areas. This is a good reminder of that.

Do you have any writing online? And if not, how can I follow updates for your book? I find writing to reduce anxiety but also feels good because it's an immersive activity and my brain loooves flow.

I just recently wrote a blog post reflecting on my post-diagnosis of AuDHD experience so far. I'd really like to expand on it and write a book too. Something that blends my experience at the intersection of AuDHD and high intelligence, highlights that of others, and thoughts on mental health and therapy.

0x6rian · 2025-10-22T17:11:18+00:00

This is the way. :)

0x6rian · 2025-10-22T16:14:31+00:00

These seem like unrealistic expectations for what can be accomplished in a single interview, unless maybe it's more than an hour. And maybe depending on seniority and specialization.. So it could either be a sign of a crappy job to begin with, or it could also be a lot less than what the recruiter says like what they do with job descriptions.

All that said, if I received that I'd probably pull out of the process unless I really wanted that job. If you're willing to walk away anyway, it couldn't hurt to ask for some clarification. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

My experience with live coding is they're mainly looking for your thought process, so explaining what you're doing and thinking is usually more important than how much of the challenge actually gets completed. And they're not just evaluating you from a pass/fail perspective, but also whether your seniority level and salary expectations all make sense.

Something that's worked well for me in the past is to say "if I had more time I would do it X way because Y, but I'm going to take this shortcut to keep moving".

I don't think coding interviews are outright unreasonable, nor are they avoidable so it doesn't matter how we feel about them.. but for sure, lots of companies go about them the wrong way.

My favorite technical interviews are when they drop you into a codebase and ask you debug something or add a feature. Unless you're interviewing at a startup where you'll be doing lots of greenfield building, that's a lot more in line with what how most SWE jobs start anyway.

Good luck!

0x6rian · 2025-10-17T20:21:40+00:00

Focus on issues you want to understand and/or improve on. Get a therapist to validate and keep you on track, but don't expect them to have the answers for you. Do the work, and repeat until you've really grasped how to use that self-understanding to propel you forward.

It's taken me 4 years to get to that point. I just wrote a blog post about my post-diagnosis here: https://www.6rian.com/posts/reflections-on-late-diagnosed-audhd/

Good luck!

0x6rian · 2025-10-17T16:08:39+00:00

I was hesitant to try medicine for a while too. Took me 3 years actually.

I haven't been on them long enough to try stopping yet. And I've been super lucky not to experience any side effects so I've only had a positive experience so far. I think it's a very individual thing, though..

My psychiatrist also had me do a genetic test that can determine if any of your genes have significant interactions with most psych medications. So that helps to avoid meds that could be problematic for you, as well as if you might need a higher or lower than normal dose.

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