Being Emotionally Sensative with AS?

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Alright, well I have this problem expressing any emotions. Whenever I get upset, I usually get mad or become a recluse. I've had one person saying bad stuff about me lately. I know I should ignore this person like it's nothing. Confronting them doesn't seem to work. I get real sensative when it comes to being personally attacked or hurt. I notice some ppl don't usually get that upset or shrug it off. Like I said, I have trouble with expressing thoughts in an appropriate manner. Does this ever happen to anyone else? Could it be related to AS? The biggest reason why I ask is I use to get in a lot of trouble for angry outbursts. I felt like I could never control them.

Last edited by MissConstrue on 09 Mar 2008, 2:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Temper tantrums, difficulties with emotional control, and reclusive behavior are all reported autism spectrum behaviors in peer-reviewed literature. Some speculate that they may be related to atypical frontal lobes.

I have some emotional control, in fact I usually detach from things but when I personally get attacked, my anger gets uncontrollable. You mean like damage to the frontal lobe?

Since most Asperger's brains seems come with emotional control issues, it is hard for me personally to think of it as 'damage'. I consider it to be more like a typical feature of our interesting and wonderful brains.

The good part is that it becomes easier to control as you get older, especially when you know that it is part of many Aspie standard operating systems, and not a sign that you are crazy or obnoxious.

I would not say, "damage," no; just atypical frontal lobes. Brain damage implies some kind of injury.

I also find, that I get that way. I also cry more easily, than some people.

Yes, I have this problem as well, except it doesnt come out as anger towards others anymore, more like self loathing these days. Im still only one step away from leading a completely care free life.. Its such a hard step!! For me anyway.

Try reading books like "Nasty People: How to Stop Being Hurt by Them Without Becoming One of Them"
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"No one knew. They weren't supposed to know that it was okay to be like me. They couldn't have known that their methods of teaching, parenting, teasing, and judging were just about the worst thing they could do to a kid like me. I was over-sensitive, an underachiever, odd, lazy, weird, stupid, and gullible. I didn't have autism -- that was the kid who never spoke. I never shut up. It must be my fault. They simply didn't know. And how could they have?"
autobiographical excerpt from Todd J. Schmidt in "Voices From the Spectrum"

I've always been extremely sensitive AND reclusive.

Throughout my childhood & teenagedom I had plenty of upsetting incidents, involving being rejected or people saying mean stuff to me. I've never been able to ignore such offenses, and would ruminate on them-wondering why I was so wrong (unable to smoothly mesh/fit in). It hurts my feelings, it's not a choice (as I experience it-doesn't matter how many 'self-help' books I'd read telling me about using mind control to make myself not care).

I still am overly sensitive to people not liking me-didn't have social anxiety until after suffering years of bad reactions from other people, as result I've become a recluse to some extent. Confrontation blows up in my face (or so it seems), and terrifies me-then things seem even worse than before I brought up the issue-so I avoid conflict to extent I can, which again leads me to withdraw/hide from most people & places.

I'm not at all like that stereotype (however valid it may be, or not) of stoic aloof person with 'flat affect'. I'm extremely emotional & have difficulty finding functional effective harmless ways in which to express & drain my tensions & upsetment. Talking (to my counselors & my boyfriend), writing, reading, drawing-the normal things I do every day-are how I cope.

I too am emotionally sensitive, although not often in the moment. It may take a few hours or days for me to realize I have been cut up, humiliated, unintentionally hurt someone emotionally etc. Then it hits me like a ton of bricks.

I tend to get emotional when other people get emotional. It's like a chain reaction.

Usually when people tell me something, if I'm in the moment and feeling really excited and hyperactive, when I'm away from people it all starts to hit me and I become a huge recluse. Music is the only thing that helps me feel better. But it doesn't help to obsessively think about the problem over and over. Not that most people understand anyways. But I think the thing to do is to sit that person down and talk to them calmly about it, no matter how hard it is. That is, if they're worth keeping. If they're a douchebag, then by all means tell them they're terrible friends and hopefully they'll hate you so much they'll stop talking to you!

I am very melancholic and moody at times. Little things often send me on an angry, emotional rant.

I used to be a lot more like this, but I've become a lot less emotional over the years- I actually for the most part have a very difficult time showing much emotion at all anymore.

Quite the opposite. Quick-to-come offensive behavior is something I smile at, because that means I've won the argument. I also love good criticism, and I have much more respect for those who disagree with me and make me think my opinions and behavior over than those who seem to nod at everything I say. Bad criticism is a different story, I handle that normally, I think.