We autisctics care deeply about people

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Do other people agree that others on the spectrum feel others pain more deeply than the general population. At age 35 I realized I could feel the suffering of others so profoundly it would cause me to mentally shut down with anxiety. Those on the spectrum are NOT emotionless, we feel the suffering of others so profoundly that it hurts. If allowed to utilize our strengths by overcoming our anxiety there is so much that autistics can contribute to society. Understanding of what I can offer I crave so much.

I agree. Autistic people, despite being seen as lacking empathy and emotions, usually tend to be the opposite. Autism could even be defined as a hyper-sensitivity to everything, emotions included.

I think you're right that people can often be wrong about that. Since most people tend to make assumptions based off of appearances, and autistic people often might have problems expressing their emotions or miscommunicate it by not having the correct body language or something, most people might get the wrong impression that the autistic person doesn't feel any empathy or is rude/mean.

I don't know if that applies to absolutely everyone on the Spectrum though, just because I'm not sure any one thing applies to everyone on the Spectrum. Absolutely 100% agree with the point that there is a lot autistic people can contribute if they can overcome their anxieties!

I entirely agree with you. I have felt on occasion other people’s pain and suffering and felt compassionate. I think the reason why people say we lack empathy is a mistake I think it is more down to the way we express emotions we express slightly differently than most people.

If there is a mind frame that helps autistics (and others) overcome their anxieties so they can operate at their full potential, would there be much interest? I may have something and would love to share if there is interest.

Agreed. I believe that the stereotypical coldness and lack of empathy is a defensive response to being overwhelmed.

A lot of people on the spectrum have great empathy. But there are also people on the spectrum who lack it. Same with NT's. We are individuals, all unique and different.

The myth that people on the spectrum are unemphatic is annoying though.

I feel other people's emotions too strongly. I have to be careful not to be around people who are constantly negative because it messes me up. I feel my feelings to the extreme.

I have no clue. I know my ex-MIL was not an empath(diagnosed ASD). My ex-husband who is AS is also not much of an empath. He seemed very mixed up about his emotions. Like he’d feel bad for strangers and yet not empathize with his own daughter. He’d feel bad for the other person that’s fighting me and not for me.

I actually hardly fight back. when someone says something bad about me I don’t defend myself coz I know what they are saying is absolute BS. People that know me well know Not to believe the rumors. So basically when people spread lies about me and make me look like an idiot - My ex-husband actually defends them saying that I gotta empathize with them. Even when he knows why they are making up all the lies about me. That I don’t get.

^^^I agree...that's pretty cuckoo!

I try to just understand everybody and try to not judge. Of course we all judge people sometimes, but I try not to judge. It's because I know I don't like being judged, so I don't want to do the same to others. It's a pity more people can't think like me.

Yeah, it's hard because I just have always felt the suffering of others. When I read a book on body language then I knew too much because people do seem unhappy to me. I so wish I could help the world. I have ideas, I have theories, equations even to try and make sense of myself and my fellow creatures. It's so hard to connect though, I feel lonely longing for a deep connection with another human being. I can't understand romance. My best bet is to talk with people on this forum, with those that have some understanding. Thank you for the nice responses so far.