Autistic Sensitivity: EMOTIONS Edition | Neurodivergent Magic

Did you know that autistic folks can be hypersensitive to more than just our sensory environment? We can also be hypersensitive to emotions. Emotional hypersensitivity (along with emotional dysregulation) plays a huge role in my own autism.

What about yours? Let me know in the comments!

😊 Hi, I'm Megan Griffith, I'm a neurodivergent life coach and content creator on a mission to help neurodivergent folks embrace their strengths, cope with their struggles, and be their true, authentic selves.

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[AwkwardAnxiousJennifer]

Being "overly emotional" as a kid caused me A LOT of problems, so I learned how to stuff all my emotions down with food so I wouldn't have to feel them. That's one of the biggest contributing factors to my obesity, honestly.

[jamies]

Being undiagnosed autistic and going through school was really hard because I was so emotional. I would get so upset about things, and try to explain that I couldn't control it, like my body was moving on its own sometimes, but that was never good enough for the adults in my life. I'm already naturally a really emotional person that struggles to understand my feelings, and that was only compounded by all the adults in my childhood telling me that everything I felt or did was wrong and I need to do better

[Marchew]

i am diagnosed with autism and i take everything deeply personally. For example when someone says im not skilled at something or insults my intelligence i can't stop thinking about these words even though i know i shouldnt because those are just some people i barely know and that i don't even want to know. But these words get under my skin and has influence on my mood. I think because I am so sensitive to emotions and unkindness I am a misanthrope.

[wifuu]

I feel like I spend half my time wondering why people around me are upset and the other half the time wondering why I’m upset

[kimfarfanick]

Oh my gosh! I am 65 and just discovered I am autistic.
What a world of pain I lived in trying beyond all limits to understand why I am so sensitive, why am I so different, why do I get so afraid of social gatherings with family, friends or strangers. Why do I rehearse conversations that may never happen. The anxiety is always through the roof.
I have simply reach a point of exhaustion and have isolated to a what I know to be very dangerous and unhealthy.
I also can so relate with you when you talked about emotional crisis presenting but come to discover after a few days I am physically ill.
Then I say “Oh! That’s what’s wrong with me!
Then I have such a sense of relief!”

Idk where to go from here honestly, because I feel too tired to work on me anymore!

My son sent me this.
I started looking at autism as a possible diagnosis because my youngest grandson is Autistic and ADHD!

When I visit I can so relate to what he sees and how he responds or acts.
His parents are well versed in Autism and allow him to learn, and acknowledge all his different ways and needs.
For example Quiet time, away from people so he can decrease the stimulation of noise and crazy processing of conversation and feelings.
They allow him that time on his live of computer games.
I sit in awe that his parents let him teach them about what he needs and what works best for him. They are wonderful parents. He does rule the roosts in any way and they know when he may be trying to get out of things he is capable of.
They do not force him to be a part of especially when they clearly see behaviors that are triggered by severe anxiety.

In watching this beautiful child, I see me.

Where to go from here. Idk but I do know I feel relief, sad, angry at me for trying to fit in and not being true to myself.

Lots to process but 1st to rest in my Lord of which has become my strength.

[faeriesmak]

I often only know if something is physically wrong with me if I start to feel really anxious for no apparent reason. If I am anxious I am probably getting sick, have bad allergies, have physical pain somewhere, etc.

[Lunautau]

I cried when others cried to the point I’ve gotten very good (for better or worse) at holding tears back—this was also in part I cried if you so much sneezed at me wrong and was always told to stop crying so that didn’t help.

I always felt I was almost selfish? Because when someone’s in distress, it’s a toss up of im jumping into help or I’m resisting the urge to run away. Mainly because the distress was so overwhelming I literally felt it in my chest and I almost feel paralyzed! So I’m rushing to help to make the bad feeling stop for the both of us. 😭I’ve been called very compassionate but also selfish (bc I did something without recognizing the consequences) and that has made my sense of self _very confusing_

[sigmainfjbulgaria]

As a child I loved to have empathy bond with my teachers till the very end of high school actually. In the small grades that was my finest weapon against bullies. I knew that I have to fight, I could let myself staying depressed in a corner, being bullied and mistreated, but where could I go from there, nowhere so I knew I have to use all my might to breakthrough and that's where my emotional empathy saved me. Empathy will always be my savior from feeling rejected for my different way of thinking and doing stuff, it's my bridge to the neurotypical world.

[XxLadyMarmalade]

Who else searched this 😭 ive always had counseling and therapy but ive always felt a autistic counseler is the way to go.

[Moviefank]

I've been RIDICULOUSLY emotional all my life, but it wasn't until a psych evaluation in my 30s eleven years ago, that I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. It didn't give me all the answers I wanted, but at least now I have a helpful framework and I know I'm not crazy.

[SamanthaNickole]

I started bawling when my 5 month old granddaughter was so upset and crying. I was in my son’s car with him and his wife as well. We had to pull over but it wasn’t fast enough. I felt like I was going to freak out. Quite frightening.

[sisil]

I cry with the suffering of others, I cry with the joy of others. I just can't hold back the tears, and it brings me embarrassment many times...

[wickjezek]

How did you know I was struggling with this today? From my research it seems we AFAB people on the spectrum have more struggles with emotional regulation/ hypersensitivity.

[richieroof]

I tend to fast from food until I have stopped crying over my impulsive and negative thoughts. Sometimes, it lasts all night and I cry on and off. Not sobbing, but tears pouring down my face. I struggle with thoughts of people wanting to leave me, or perhaps make up all of these hypothetical arguments in my mind. Fasting does help me calm down because for whatever reason, food makes it worse. I am autistic, of course.

[Cnsalmoni]

Wow, thanks for the insight on picking up emotions in a room. I thought I was great at reading people, but didn’t realize the part where I felt their emotions too. In one way I’m very thankful that this ability helped me avoid creeps and stalkers right away.

[ATebbs]

Thank you for describing me to a “T”. I always thought there was something wrong with me and society gives me that feedback as well. Just started watching your videos and I can’t stop watching them because this explains so much about me. Hopefully I can get help/diagnosed. My close relationships are in trouble right now because of my emotional dysregulation.

[thetallfairy]

you just saved my sanity, i have been looking for years for someone to explain and understand my way of thinking....i always blamed myself for not reacting or living and expressing " normal" behavior and everything you say...its like were the same person....thank you so much for putting me on this path

[wolfdreams]

The same thing of feeling others emotions when coming anywhere near them happens to me too. I have always been "overly" sensitive and feel exhausted easily from it(I think).

[LeahPerec]

I really enjoy your videos. It has been a tremendous help and resource for me. It's a fantastic point. I don't have a formal diagnosis, but I completely identify. Autism/ADHD simply explains so much in my life. I will completely feel almost everything that people around me are feeling. It's debilitating. It's also a reason to walk away. I will quickly recognize emotions around me. It is almost sometimes like seeing thrugh other people are masking (neurotypical people are also masking their emotions). The "fun" part is that I still can't connect with neurotypicals, but I can pick up on their moods, which is strange. And the strange thing is that other people know I know because they share their feelings in one-on-one conversations as soon as they feel trusted.
This is eventually what causes me to trip. I pick up on the mood and have no idea where it came from. And it is oftenly from others. Another "bonus" aspect is that it is all true (for me), mostly with negative emotions. Furthermore, I will carry the emotions from certain encounters for several days. Until I discovered autistic YouTubers, I wondered what was wrong with me, why  do I picked up random anxiousness mood, and why it was so intense. I am personaly super susceptible to anxiety in people.  It’s "funny" because positive emotions would be so much better, but I will always pick on this strong element of anxiety and depression, uncertainty.

[iambazii]

I've been researching autism for a while, as I've desperately needed context on the "why" behind how I live and do life. And until now (after lots of reading, watching of videos and some online tests), it all makes sense.
Especially this aspect about emotional hypersensitivity.

I honestly thought that i was just "making it all up", when I would get super sad or get a stomach ache, and then feel uber emotional about the pain...but what you said here makes a whole world of sense to me.

And honestly, I'm actually beginning to feel a lot more validated in my self-diagnosis of my autistic self.
Thank you so much