Adult with Autism | #shorts | Autism and Empathy | #23

*|| SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL ||*

*|| SOCIAL ||*
***NOT ON ANY OTHER FORM OF SOCIAL MEDIA***

*|| LINKS ||*

*|| OTHER ||*

[Teasy_]

I can so much relate to what you said about empathy. Intentionally (and mostly successfully) staying away from news and TV since over 18 years.

[anabelle]

Don’t get me started on this thing about empathy and autism. Such a misconception. Even as a teenager when I internalized everything but didn’t express anything, I was so deeply affected and disgusted by the violence of the world, the narcissism and hypocrisy of so many people and the social and racial injustice that didn’t seem to bother the world so much. At 16, Billie Holiday’s song Strange Fruit literally changed my life. I’m sad to say I’ve learnt to numb myself in order to fit in and have the same level of empathy as the NT’s who label us with a lack of empathy because I was « too sensitive ». They casually say things like « grow up, the world is not a playground » or settle with the fact that the world is not a fair place but as long as you make money you’re good, or proudly say « kids need to learn to toughen up, that’s why I’m tough with my kids, to prepare them to the real world » and when you look at their kids, they’re 5 or 6 years old and you go home feeling such despair.
But, like you, I have a hard time to have empathy for those who don’t take responsibility and blame others to not look at their own mess. And the second I spot manipulation, I have zero empathy.

[HollhouseVanHouten]

Yes, bad things happening completely OUT of the individuals control, I feel deep empathy. My close friends dad recently passed away from an overdose, it broke me for a while. I sat and cried with her, she did nothing to deserve that grief and her father had been struggling with addiction for years, he had finally reached a breaking point after his own mother died and reached out and accepted help. No beds available for him in any clinic around for at least 2 weeks. 14 days after asking for help he overdosed. Despite his afflictions he was a present and caring parent, he never hid his addiction from his daughter (she was in her late teens when it first started) he got help multiple times thru the years and was one of the most caring and loving parents I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. My empathy for her knows no bounds. On the other hand, my own father hid a second life from his family for 6 years and kept it up during my mother’s battle with cancer, and then was shocked and angry when my mother didn’t immediately forgive him when he was finally caught out. He never once considered how any of his actions could affect his wife and kids. I feel zero empathy for him and zero interest in knowing him. It’s been 4 years this Christmas since I’ve seen him, and good riddance for that.

[bryanmerton]

I agree. I have too much empathy most of the time. Good on George for finding a ball!

[Brainalicious]

I had begun pulling back from the news prior to 2020, but when all hell broke loose, I felt like I had to keep up on at least the covid-19 news so I could know what was safe. My husband began working at home. I retreated to the safe nest of our home and I've never left. For a while, it was bad and I watched and read waaaay too much news at first. I was such an anxious mess!

At the same time, being home during lockdown allow me to unmask and I've found being around people difficult since then. It's like I forgot how to people with anyone in person other than those in my household. Hardest for me is being what you might call a captive audience, riding in a car with someone or being out eating a meal with them and having to be attentive and come up with conversation. I'm happy being at home and I'm thankful I don't have to leave often. I can't decide whether I've retreated from the world or if I've maybe discovered I really am happier away from people. I guess those two things aren't mutually exclusive.

[mollerthereal]

We avoid using our empathy muscle because that is what we needed to use to come up with all the masks to make everyone else comfortable around us. We are exhausted with empathy.

[schwippinit]

Love this explanation! I'm the same way. I won't leave the house some days because my level of empathy is already too high and I just seeing a kid without his lunch will make me sob for hours. Yet, I don't know how to support people I love when they fail at something because they just didn't try

[feralbluee]

hi sweetie - I’ve written you before, I am not autistic, but I have other relatable problems and am on meds. I just wanted you to know I listen to you a lot. Besides being really good looking :), you make me feel safe, by your demeanor and your relaxed way of speaking - and I need that.
I have read and studied quite a bit about autism and amazingly, this is the first I’ve heard about empathy. I am so pleased to hear about that, although sometimes empathy hurts us. (I’ve never read Anne Frank and I never will.)
Just wanted you to know you are a wonderful person to know (on line - I know we’re different with good friends or alone). The shorts are pithy and interesting - do carry on - Alexa :) (New York) 🌷🌱

[electricLuLuland]

I call myself a "selective sociopath"
..weep in gasps for turtles & whales in nets, bait dogs & polar bears...
most people can fk off.
😒
❤

[roybrewer]

Empathy, empathy, they've all got it in for me. An overdose of empathy 😢😂

[pnwnewsinfo]

Good explanation.
I agree wholeheartedly!
🙏🙏🙏