Often as a child in infant and junior school, I would be so uncomfortable that I would leave school and walk home, on my own, without assistance. I’d just leave, I had to get out of there right now.
I did this many times. My mum would walk me to school, leave me in the hands of a teacher, and as soon as the teacher turned away, I’d be off. Often beating my mum home.
Needless to say I hated school with the passion and intensity of a thousand suns.
I did this throughout my entire schooling. From 5 to 16 years old.
It’s called elopement, or in our case, autistic elopement. Because we are so uncomfortable, so stressed or anxious, we have to leave immediately. I still do it today, and I’m now in my 50’s, though it’s not as dangerous for me today as it was 50 years ago.
If this is something you did, and to a degree, still do, I have to ask, have you been assessed for autism? Do you feel so awful in crowds that you have to go home now? Do you see a group of people and want to avoid them at all cost? Do you hate socialising, going to pubs/bars/clubs?
Orion Kelly explains some of the dangers.