Is it normal for someone with autism to lack feelings?

I realize I do not have very good emotional comprehension so correct me if I'm wrong about my descriptions of emotions vs. feelings.

From what I understand of the difference I do seem to have emotions but not feelings.

I would describe emotions more as thoughts such as disappointment when something goes wrong, wishing for good things to happen, having negative thoughts when someone I like dies, laughing at jokes or reacting hostile during conflict or when I am distracted from what I am doing.

I would describe feelings as what people describe as physical reactions to thoughts as well as sensitivities towards social situations.

An example of this is when somebody says "my feelings hurt" (which has always confused me), as well as reflecting someone else's emotions or responding to emotions with illogical thoughts such as worrying about something stupid or dwelling on something that already happened.

I also seem to have no emotional memory. Soon as I'm done with it I forget what it was even like.

I mention my autism diagnosis because I wonder if this is a symptom of that and there seems to be a higher than average population of people with autistic spectrum disorders here.

Either way this is a positive trait that I don't have to deal with this, but it does add to my difficulty understanding other people and why they are so difficult to deal with.

Voting Results
66% Normal
Based on 32 votes (21 yes)
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Comments ( 5 )
  • college

    People with autism do tend to have the same struggles that you're describing, so you're absolutely normal.

    As far as the difference between emotions and feelings. I find that thoughts trigger emotions. Emotions can cause physical symptoms in response to external (or internal such as a thought) stimuli. Emotions are a very immediate and temporary response to the external world.

    Feelings, however, are born from conclusions derived from an emotion. For example, sadness is an emotion that you can feel after a certain event. The conclusions you draw about that sad emotion and how it relates to life in general can cause you to FEEL depressed.

    Feelings are sustained while emotions are more temporary or immediate.

    Honestly though, most people use the two terms interchangeably. Interesting to think about though!

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  • TheOneWhoComesFromEnordro

    It's a normal trait for Autistics/Aspies. We just have more trouble processing/accumulating emotions.

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  • Dr.Moe_Lester

    I feel your feels, homie.

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  • Karmasbitch

    Emotions/ feelings make no sense for me. I feel all my emotions at once so it creates a hollow pit in my stomach. I just feel a swirl and whirlwind of very very strong aggrivation, just an uncomfortable sensation just pulses through my veins and I am constantly nervous because of it, and when I stop being nervous, I blow up with anger. And thats it

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    • Karmasbitch

      So its like my brain doesn't know how to process them I guess? So I just feel it all at once

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