Question about AS and hiding.

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Reading an essay by a woman with AS recently I was struck by her description of crawling into a pile of lumber as a child, and also crawling through a water tunnel. I recall as a child many hours spent hiding in small spaces where people would not think to look for me, where I could not be bothered. I would go off into the bush by myself and hide out in an old tree trunk, reading or playing imagination-games by myself for hours. I would climb to the top of a tall tree in my front yard and sit up there reading, completely hidden from sight. I remember making a secret nest for myself in the cupboards above my bedroom closet (multiple doors, one long space behind them) with a sleeping bag; I would climb up there and read with one door cracked just enough to let me see. I'm sure there were many other things as well, but I don't remember much of my childhood, so that is all I can grasp for now. Is this tendency towards seeking out small hiding places a common one in AS/autism? Does anyone else on here have similar memories or experiences? And do any of you still do it as adults?

I remembered doing that stuff as a child, but I'm 15 and I still do it.
A few weeks ago I was overstimulated when I was at the mall, so I hid inside a clothes rack, the ones that go around in a circle, and I stayed there till I felt more relaxed.

I hide out, in my flat.

I had a place in the woods where I used to go a lot as a kid. There was also a huge bush in my yard, with a bare spot in the center; I used to go into the center of the bush and play pretend.

Until I joned the Army at 20 I hid ALL the time. People laughed at me and said "What are you? Some kind of vampire?" I would hide in the empty theatre at college, under tables and desks in empty classrooms, under the counter in my apartment. (I was also claustrophobic, ironicly) But I would also hide in high places, like the tops of walls and ledges. I was so afraid of talking to people I would run AROUND the buildings on campus instead of walk through them, frequently I'd run accross walls and ledges and other impossible places to avoid people or hide. I would climb onto ledges along the dark side of a building and stay for hours unless someone found me. (I was 16-18 when I did these things to cope with college)

I definitely did this. I just wanted some space. Other kids really got on my nerves. There were quite frequently a lot of my parents' friends around. I hid to escape and have some quiet.

Oh, yes. I am afraid of strangers. I have hidden under my desk. I like secret places. One reason I like movie theaters is the darkness. I watch others vicariously.

Between the ages of 3-7(?) I used to hide under furniture when family came over. I still get that fight or flight reflex when talking to people besides friends/family in a social setting, but as I aged I realized I could effectively be anonymous provided I always read a book or slept. I have trouble going outside to work on my car or yard because I'm worried people may see me, as well as panic if told I'm going on an additional stop on trips through town.

My apartment isn't hidden enough

I had lots of hiding places when I was a kid, too. I burrowed into hollow bushes and made my own private forts. Tops of trees were nice but just for watching, or sitting for awhile. Not quite secretive enough to feel secure. Backs of closets were a favorite.

Now I hide in my house. I think of it as my fortress. My favorite thing about it is the lock on the door. I come in, the lock gets turned. I can choose from that point on if I open it for anyone or not. That is wonderful!

:> earthmom

I used to hide in my wardrobe as a kid and also sit on the windowsill behind the closed curtains.

When I was in my early teens, I used to 'hide' so to speak, by staying indoors during lunch break. I loved woodwork and tech, so I would stand there cutting wood, soldering components - that kind of thing.

I used to hide for hours as a baby parents used to go crazy tring to find me aparantly

I used to hide away as a kid. I had this one cardboard box and would hide in it. I now hide away in my flat. In my bedroom whenever I want to hide away.

I have two Aspie sons and one would do this endlessly - even at the age of 2, he would crawl behind a door and just sit, everyone would go wild looking for him but he would just sit and listen to us calling him. He never made a sound.

Once when he was about 5 he crawled into a space under a shed. One minute he was playing, next minute he was just gone. We searched and searched - the neighbors helped. I was frantic. We called and called but he just sat in his hidey hole and listened to us. I remember the intense relief when we found him, but then I kept wondering why he didn't answer.

Actually that son is less Aspie than the other one and at a different place on the autism spectrum. He did a lot of hand biting and making up imaginary languages and such.

And playing Mario with the tv turned off, going by sound through the headphones. He could clear the first level without seeing any of the screen.

:> earthmom

Look under the couch that was my favorite spot aparantly