Breaking my schedule makes me feel......

Post Reply New Topic

I stick pretty hard to my schedule. Eat at certain times, watch certain shows at certain times, be at a certain place at a certain time, etc. Days like today really throw me. I had to get a haircut today, and 3 hours later, even though I am back ON my schedule, I still feel.... I dunno..... lost.

Once I break out of my schedule, even just a little, the rest of my day, I feel lost, or light headed, like I can't really concentrate. I won't feel right again for at least a day or two. I feel like I should be doing something else, or be somewhere, even though I am back on my schedule now.

How does something simple like a haircut mess with your mind where your schedule is concerned?

Whenever friends call to see if I want to go out (all 4 times a year THAT happens) I get upset and start making excuses as to why I can't...I couldn't figure out what the hell my problem was forever until I realized that it was because I hate having things added or taken away from my schedule (I get very depressed if I plan for something to happen..say going to the gym...and then it doesn't happen).

It's tough. I like the idea of a lot of things and then when it comes to doing it...just yeah, it throws me...I cancel haircuts a lot.

I also find that if I am supposed to be going one place and friends change it...whoa, I just would prefer to stay at home. I really hate those feelings because it makes me sound like I am being precious and want my own way all the time...I hate that part of AS....everyone else seems so easygoing and I look like a stickler for irrrelevant crappola.

Same here. Work buddy wants to hang out on occasion, and I have only been able to do it twice.

When I have to change something in my routine, I know it ahead of time because I schedule it and when I see something get schedule I fit it in my schedule. I have found it very hard to go somewhere because I find it very difficult to change my routine. I would hardly go to a movie or to karokee. I believe I have gotten better because it doesn’t throw me off to go somewhere and I don’t mind leaving early before work when I want to go somewhere before I have to head to work. But if I remembered doing something the last minute, then it’s frustrating so I decide to bail out. When I was with my boyfriend he always had surprises and came up with ideas right away and do them. He was pretty spontaneous. It’s easier for me when I follow what someone does when they decide to do something. If I decided it the last minute, I’m like, maybe another time because I have to plan it or I feel chaos. I rarely pull over to do something like stopping at a store or a place just to check it out.

ME TOO.
What an epiphany.

aimless...disembodied...invisible

This seems common also among people who have a low/poor self-image. They get invited places and then they do not go because they think they are too tired, too busy, etc. But when you really analyze it, their hesitance is born out of anxiety about how the event will "go."

I understand how you feel. I also can tell you that there is hope! There are people out there who are ridiculously accomodating. One such person is my best friend. She truly does not care that I want things done in a certain way or an order or what not. In fact, she likes hanging out with me so much that she has never ever made me feel at all self conscious for my regimens. I hope one day you too can find such a friend.

Yes, but in this particular topic we're discussing the issue at hand is how we are upset by schedule disruptions. Social anxiety is a different issue and does not necessarily cover what we are talking about.

Read "also." I was trying to extend the logic because some people might feel the same way without the same psychological triggers as discussed here.

I apologize, at the time it seemed like you were writing off the AS aspect of avoiding social events.

Whoo! Sorry! Totally missed that! Must need sleep. I see how my words could be misleading. Meh, language is so inefficient! Blargh!

I have to know about a week in advance when my bf is going to come over, but he has this habit of just saying "okay, I'll be over tomorrow around 5:00 or so" without pre-planning, and I go with it, but if it gets cancelled I do the whole "awww, maybe another time" thing, when in my mind I'm really thinking "thank god for cancellations! more prep time!"

I also tend to get very annoyed if I'm planning to do something and someone reminds me to do it. If I have it worked into my schedule and someone says before I leave to go do it "hey, you gonna do that today?" it will bother me a ton and I'll wind up not going the majority of the time-I always feel like they think I am not capable of remembering to do one simple thing (if they ONLY knew how long it takes me to prep myself to leave the house on some days and how long I start scheduling in advance before I actually do something), then I get all depressed and stay at home for the day.

My girlfriend has finally accepted my schedule. I come over saturday afternoon, we spend the weekend until after dinner sunday. If she is lucky (yes, if SHE is lucky) I may let her come over one night during the week, but it usually puts me into my "where'd my schedule go?!?!" mode and throws me a bit.

When I'm on my schedule I don't realize how important it is. But when something unusual happens like the apartment people come to change the air filters and spray for bugs, doctors apointment, neighbor has some kind of drama, etc., I feel the stress and I feel a lack of security and heaven forbid I am forced to make a big decision on the spot. I cannot pay my own bills because that simple monthly break in daily rituals .... well, I just don't do it. I have someone else do it. Today I'm going out of my mind because normally I'm playing World of Warcraft. But today they are doing an update, so their servers are down.