A person that only displays happiness/excitement

Post Reply New Topic

This is my friend:

I noticed right away that he stims/fidgets for example hair pulling, arm flapping, etc...

But I've noticed now he's really expressionless when I think he should be displaying negative emotions or when he says he's sad... (Blank face)

On the other hand, he easily displays happiness/excitement (smiles, jumps up and down and arm flaps)

Is this maybe a fellow autistic or something else???

It’s possible.....

Yeah, could be the case... but we can’t know whether it is or not.
Keep an eye out for other signs I suppose...

Pseudobulbar affect

That's like my ASD-like daughter --- possibly me. I kept telling my mom how expressionless my daughter was and she would say --- "no! look at her bouncing around, smiling" (and flapping). Me: "Oh, yes, but the OTHER times..."

I feel big, and emotional regulation is difficult for me (duh, ASD). That said, I learned that big happiness is more acceptable in the NT world than big sadness --- so I "let" happiness out, and suppressed the sadness (which I expressed through self-harm in my youth). That said, I've been yelled out for "too much" happiness.

In my ASD group I can express more of my big feelings and it's taken in stride. I mainly (big) happiness and (big) sadness. I still stay away from anger which feels taboo, although others express it in our safe place.

Yea for a good friend! I am fairly certain my BFF is Aspie, but she's not interested - perhaps just a lot of traits (BAP). She has stims, but says they are not stims, etc. Oh, well. And I don't want to "pathologize" her. For me knowing doe myself is freeing - I guess she sees it differently for herself.

How old is your friend?

I know someone like this. He has autism.

I'm pretty expressionless and emotionless but smile and laugh easily. When I'm really excited or get good news I usually jump up and down a few times and clap my hands softly. Silly I know, like a child, but at least it conveys what I can't express with words.

Tangent. I was thinking about this this morning. About how I could dampen my energy --- either with lots of self-control (near shutdown) or with medication... and then others would be more comfortable... Clearly using lots of self-control would be uncomfortable for me or unsustainable. Maybe the medication would be ok with low side effects. Would it be worth it? I have folks who outright can't stand me and also who misjudge me (as generally incapable) b/c of my exuberance.