It's the other way around in my world

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Tamaya
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28 Jan 2026, 11:16 am

So being autistic means the world is too bright and that NTs like bright lights. This is not true in my world. Whenever I go to people's houses when it's dark outside, a dim-lit lamp in the corner is the only source of light in the room. I ask why they didn't put the main light on, they say it's "too bright". So while everyone else seems to be comfortable with sitting in semi-darkness, I'm trying to stop myself from clawing my eyes out. It's like I can't focus properly in dim light, like I can't think straight.

I've always been like this. When I was a child I remember removing the net curtains from my bedroom window to let in more sunlight, and my mother would tell me off. But I just preferred light. It makes me feel comfortable and more focused.

Is there actually anyone else on the spectrum who feels the same as me, and gets irritated when NTs want dim light all the time? I often ask why they even have a main light for if they don't use it. They just shrug. Ugh.


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Edna3362
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28 Jan 2026, 12:23 pm

It's call hyposensitivity as opposed to hypersensitivity.
It is still a part of sensory profiling, it is still within autistic range, it is still class as a sensory difference.


Hyposensitivities itself aren't as commonly well discussed, and instead ends up discussing behaviors of sensory seeking and complaints in understimulation...


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SplendidSnail
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28 Jan 2026, 2:01 pm

Not everyone with ASD has sensory issues at all, and those who do could manifest in many different ways.
-Could be extra sensitive to light
-Could be under-sensitive to light (like you)
-Could be some type of light sensitivity that isn't based on intensity but maybe blinking or something like that.
-Could also be things not light related at all, but related to sound, touch, smell, or even taste.
-Could be nothing at all.


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Tamaya
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28 Jan 2026, 2:57 pm

What I'm saying is that many NTs also don't like a brightly-lit room. I find this frustrating. How can you see each other properly in a poorly lit room?


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uncommondenominator
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28 Jan 2026, 3:56 pm

Tamaya wrote:
What I'm saying is that many NTs also don't like a brightly-lit room. I find this frustrating. How can you see each other properly in a poorly lit room?


Has been my experience that many people with light sensitivities are sufficiently sensitive to light that they don't actually NEED as much light to see, and can actually see better than you think in lower light levels.

Everyone's eyes are different. The number of colors a person can see, how they perceive those colors, how light is perceived, how much light is necessary to see clearly, it varies from person to person - sometimes quite a lot.

Not everyone with ASD has sensory issues - AND - not everyone with sensory issues has ASD.



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28 Jan 2026, 4:11 pm

When I'm out gardening I can still pull weeds when there isn't much light after sunset.



Fishyfisherton
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28 Jan 2026, 4:24 pm

I find dim lamp lighting oppressive and a bit depressing, it sometimes makes me lethargic and sad. I like to keep the big light on. Lamp light looks indecisive, it doesn't know whether it's light or dark and I don't like that at all it really bugs me! Make your mind up! All or nothing.
I'm sensitive to too much sunlight in my eyes but indoors I want as much light as possible and full darkness when I sleep. No wishy washy lamps. I also prefer cool toned light to warm light, I like when a bulb shines blue. It's crisp. I don't really like what I think of as indecisive stimuli. I like crisp and clear.


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30 Jan 2026, 3:23 pm

I like to be in a brightly lit room so I can see what I'm working on.


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31 Jan 2026, 3:02 am

I have a 200W equivalent bright white LED light as my ceiling light. My computer and phone screen must be bright. Even my bedroom lights are bright white LED lights.

I just assumed its sensory seeking/hyposensitivity.

I can't stand it when people have dim lighting. They do that at the charity I sometimes go to. When they turn the full lights on at the end, I feel like my brain has woken up and I feel relief.



Tamaya
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31 Jan 2026, 4:45 am

Problematic Entity wrote:
I have a 200W equivalent bright white LED light as my ceiling light. My computer and phone screen must be bright. Even my bedroom lights are bright white LED lights.

I just assumed its sensory seeking/hyposensitivity.

I can't stand it when people have dim lighting. They do that at the charity I sometimes go to. When they turn the full lights on at the end, I feel like my brain has woken up and I feel relief.


Yeah, that's how I feel.

My phone and computer screens have to be on the brightest setting too.

It's just that I find it strange that I've often got into little debates with NT relatives about how bright the light should be. It seems they want dimly lit rooms because they "can't stand the bright light", but many Aapies online complain that NTs aren't bothered about a bright light being on.


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31 Jan 2026, 6:08 am

I have relatives with thyroid issues. Some are hypo and other are hyper.

When they test drugs for MS they are interested in any drugs that affect the disease.
A drug that makes MS worse is worth studying! Why is there an interaction? That is a very useful lead!



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31 Jan 2026, 7:07 am

Tamaya wrote:
Problematic Entity wrote:
I have a 200W equivalent bright white LED light as my ceiling light. My computer and phone screen must be bright. Even my bedroom lights are bright white LED lights.

I just assumed its sensory seeking/hyposensitivity.

I can't stand it when people have dim lighting. They do that at the charity I sometimes go to. When they turn the full lights on at the end, I feel like my brain has woken up and I feel relief.


Yeah, that's how I feel.

My phone and computer screens have to be on the brightest setting too.

It's just that I find it strange that I've often got into little debates with NT relatives about how bright the light should be. It seems they want dimly lit rooms because they "can't stand the bright light", but many Aapies online complain that NTs aren't bothered about a bright light being on.

I've noticed that aswell. I often have people come into the room complaining the big light is on because it's bright and lacks ambience.
I suppose it's just a personal preference thing, brain types aside, and light lovers and dark lovers are taking turns complaining about eachother.


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31 Jan 2026, 7:43 am

I have 25th percentile visual processing. I love bright lights except when I am in motion (a car, bus, train, etc) then it causes motion sickness. I wear dark glasses to help with getting sick. I use brightly lit rooms and work areas, have lots of bright area lights in my home too. I think having brighter lights gives me extra assurance of what I am "actually seeing" since I struggle to process anything visual especially if it is in motion (tv, movies, videos, youtube etc are all lost on me unless there are subtitles and somebody to explain what I am seeing)


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31 Jan 2026, 11:23 am

Tamaya wrote:
Problematic Entity wrote:
I have a 200W equivalent bright white LED light as my ceiling light. My computer and phone screen must be bright. Even my bedroom lights are bright white LED lights.

I just assumed its sensory seeking/hyposensitivity.

I can't stand it when people have dim lighting. They do that at the charity I sometimes go to. When they turn the full lights on at the end, I feel like my brain has woken up and I feel relief.


Yeah, that's how I feel.

My phone and computer screens have to be on the brightest setting too.

It's just that I find it strange that I've often got into little debates with NT relatives about how bright the light should be. It seems they want dimly lit rooms because they "can't stand the bright light", but many Aapies online complain that NTs aren't bothered about a bright light being on.



Maybe hyposensitivity is less common. I wish (I know this would likely be physically impossible, but I can dream) that I could wear glasses that would make everything brighter.

I also really don't like the ambient "mood" lighting which is dim and orange-coloured. It just makes me feel drunk.



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31 Jan 2026, 11:25 am

Fishyfisherton wrote:
I've noticed that aswell. I often have people come into the room complaining the big light is on because it's bright and lacks ambience.
I suppose it's just a personal preference thing, brain types aside, and light lovers and dark lovers are taking turns complaining about eachother.


This is true about the complaining about each other and personal preference.

I am fortunate in that I mostly spend my time alone in my flat.

Interestingly its kind of similar with sound for me. I can't stand silence. Silence is loud (although to be fair I do have tinnitus). I need constant background noise, even when I am going to sleep.



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31 Jan 2026, 1:17 pm

A lot of people don't like the greenish cast of florescent lighting. Fortunately it is obsolete.

Old people get cataracts and need more light to see unless they get surgery to fix that. If they need to save money on electric bills, one way to do it is to dimly light rooms. With efficient lighting it isn't as big a factor as when people bought 150W incandescent light bulbs!