Is it normal for autistic to care how people feel about them

84% Normal
10 Comments

Idk if I'm autistic but people have suggested it due to obsessive interests (for example I'm the person that asks about legend of Zelda all the time) but my mom said I can't be because I have empathy & care about people's feelings, in fact too much, i always think everyone's mad at me and hates me, but to be honest it probably is true some times because people think I'm annoying and retarded. When I'm at work I think everyone hates me but then they are nice sometimes so I get confused and wonder if their just patronizing me cause they think I'm retarded. is it normal for autistic to actually care about people's feelings towards them and always think people are mad at them without knowing why

Voting Results
84% Normal
Based on 19 votes (16 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 10 )
  • squirrelgirl
    8 years ago

    I'm diagnosed with Asperger's, and I always worry about whether or not people are angry with me or if they hate me. "Are you mad at me?" is practically my catchphrase. I would say that it has to do with difficulty reading people's emotions. If they seem unhappy, then I assume it's my fault they feel that way.

    Furthermore, I'm always shocked when people tell me how wonderful they think I am, how much they enjoy my company, etc. because I think I'm an objectively awful person and I don't understand why anyone would think otherwise. That comes from overly logical thinking, I guess, because I think I'm awful due to not contributing much, if at all, to society, and I'm on SSRI so I feel like a leech. I think the world would be better off without me. But I fail to see that I contribute to the social and emotional well-being of my family and friends (or at least that's what they tell me).

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
      -
    • Anonymous Post Author
      8 years ago

      Aww:(
      I'm on SSRI too and sometimes I don't take them because I feel like I don't deserve them and I'm wasting money on myself. But see, not to use you as an example or anything but I do feel empathy for you cause I know what it's like personally to feel that way, but people say that autistic people don't have empathy... I think that just a myth though?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
        -
      • Dreamsao
        8 years ago

        It is a myth. They feel empathy and all other emotions. Sociopaths don't have empathy. The only thing lacking is the ability to read others unless the other person is direct with how they feel.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
          -
        • Anonymous Post Author
          8 years ago

          Isn't everyone kind of like that though? And do you think that's why I think everyone's mad at me when maybe they're not?

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          0
          0
  • [Old Memory]
    8 years ago

    I'm diagnosed with aspergers and we all have different traits. Personally it rarely crosses my mind what other people are thinking, and when I try to imagine what they think I have no idea other than it might be what I'm thinking.
    However some people diagnosed seem to have more theory of mind than I do. There are different types of empathy and people with autism generally lack cognitive empathy, which is the ability to know what other people are thinking and ability to read non-verbal language.
    Affective empathy is sometimes intact, and sometimes not. Affective empathy is the ability to relate to other peoples emotions.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
      -
    • Anonymous Post Author
      8 years ago

      Interesting. So Would you say the lack of cognitive empathy could cause the feelings described, about always feeling like people are mad at you and hate you (even though you see no real reason why that would be, and they will claim they aren't)?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
        -
      • [Old Memory]
        8 years ago

        You might be having trouble interpeting their expressions but it sounds like you are more overly self conscious and may have low self esteem, which is a seperate issue.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
  • Dreamsao
    8 years ago

    Go see someone. I suggest not self-diagnosing because people have told me they think I'm autistic too. Turns out I'm not. I have ADD/ADHD though.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • Anonymous Post Author
      8 years ago

      Why did people think you're autistic?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
        -
      • Dreamsao
        8 years ago

        Because my reason for my behavior is impulsivity and lack of attention to detail. Which is caused by ADHD. Most autistic people are blunt and have troubles reading people and placing themselves in others shoes. I can read people if I pay attention to them but I have no attention span.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0