Empathy?

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Okay, this may sound weird, but please listen through. I'm a teenager with diagnosed aspergers, and for as long as I can remember, I hate kids being punished at school. It makes me feel ashamed as if I'm them, and I often almost puke because the emotions overwhelm me. It happens anywhere. Even if I'm watching a character on TV, I get really frightened and overwhelmed. I once had to leave the room, and I had a meltdown in my bedroom because the emotions are too much. It's not so much crying, put people getting punished, scolded, or falsely accused. Apparently people on the spectrum aren't supposed to feel much empathy? Iv been told that I don't really show emotion, and it's really hard for me to explain what I'm feeling. Is this a condition, or am I not autistic or......?


About me:I sometimes go nonverbal, I bang my head (it makes my head feel better), and I find it easier to talk on the internet,

Welcome to the forum.

Also, there are tons of people on the spectrum that feel empathy. If you feel empathy, it doesn't mean you don't have Asperger's. I honestly don't even know where people get that.

I also hate it when people are falsely accused, almost to the point where I will turn the TV off if someone is accused of a terrible thing that they didn't do.

Despite popular belief~ those of us on the spectrum DO feel empathy but we often have problems showing & expressing it in the appropriate NT language which gives the misconception that we don't feel it. People saying you don't show emotions is common with those of us on the spectrum so it's certainly possible it could be due to Aspergers or autism.

I'm not sure where you got the idea that ASD individuals don't feel empathy, but I've always read that most people on the spectrum DO feel empathy--they just don't show it or they have trouble explaining it (which is a trait in the list of symptoms).

Though I personally am the complete opposite of you; no one's getting any sort emotion out of me over something that's THEIR problem. A couple people have told me they think I'm a sociopath.

Everybody's different I suppose. *throw rainbow confetti everywhere*

i seem to get it! while i have never literally cried about it i do sometimes connect to characters in media that i like, that get falsely accused of something, abused or badly treated! this happens also with people out in the real tangible world, but not as often.

it can make my blood boil. i've played situations like it in my head for the sole purpose of pissing me off.

like others have said..."lacking empathy"? BS.
although i do feel bad, expecting people to be mind readers.

I have trouble expressing my emotions, like empathy. It doesn't mean that I don't feel it..... I often get accused of not having any empathy

I get very strong feelings of empathy to the point where I almost feel peoples pain. I don't really feel much sympathy or show feeling but when I see bad things happening or people hurting I get like a weird tingling that shoots through me, its really weird and quite overwhelming. when people are in a bad mood or sad, it makes me feel strange and uncomfortable like I say I don't feel sympathetic as such but I feel strong feelings of empathy.

I get this too and it can be debilitating for me.

It really bothers me that so many people believe think people on the spectrum can't feel empathy. I'm sure the media contribute to this misconception. I have read so many articles about people with autism where the following or some variation of it is written, "John suffers from autism, a condition characterised by a lack of empathy". I wish reporters would do some research before summing up a complex condition with one, incorrect line.

If I'm watching a sad film/reading a sad story I'll cry my eyes out or sat least feel sad. But if someone is physically hurt, I'll go into practical mode and become totally focused on how to help them. I won't get emotional at all. If my friend is sad over something, again I'll be offering practical solutions to the problems. I'd like to think that if I cry over videos I must feel empathy but maybe find it hard to express face-to-face.

I understand this Me and my 5yo boy are both really sensitive. I'm easily affected by injustice. I like to try and help everyone but often end up being hurt in the process. I think it is an unhelpful stereotype. It's probably based on our blank stare when we are processing whats going on and trying to figure out ways we can help or what to do. I'm a sponge for other peoples emotions and so is my kid. Whoever mentioned debilitating hit the nail on the head. I stopped watching Oprah because there is no mascara waterproof enough for my almighty crying

I was accused of being a narcissist by a former friend, He maybe isn't the nicest person I could have associated with but these words hurt, so I did a test ( I know, lol) I only scored 3 and needed 20. Still, it's upsetting to be misinterpreted so badly by somebody that I tried to be friends with and tried to help out as best as I could.

I also feel embarrassed for people, and feel horrified at things people do to other people. I used to empathize only with one side, but now I even empathize with the offenders, while still empathizing just as much (100%) with the victims. I will defend certain people to the death, literally.

People hate on me a lot, but I still defend the people they are trying to hurt.