There are many “auto-” terms in the field of medical science. Today I’ll mention two in which the “self” connection is less obvious.

The first is “autism,” which Webster’s defines as “a developmental disorder characterized variously by impaired social interaction, difficulties in communicating, problems with seeing and hearing, repetitive behavior, etc.”

The unabridged Webster’s says it’s “absorption in self-centered subjective mental activity ( as daydreams, fantasies, delusions and hallucinations), especially when accompanied by marked withdrawal from reality.”

It’s a form of being stuck in one’s own little world. Any way you look at it, that’s a ton of stuff to...

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