Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi all,
I'm new to this community and excited reading many stories in the community.Recently I've been reading several articles about 'double empathy problems' and I've learnt about 'emotional empathy' which autistic people tend to be good at, that we can feel the same as other people (highly empathetic). But autistic people are not good at 'cognitive empathy' (the famous 'theory of mind' thing), where we're bad at cognitively prospecting people's emotions or thoughts.
I feel that this describes me exactly. I think I'm very empathetic (or sympathetic). I cry when I watch films or even trailers. I think I can tell when people get angry or uncomfortable when I'm with them (but I don't know why, but I can't do that with text only or voice only communication. I think I need face and body language to feel it). But I don't know at all how to fix it or approach it for them.
Now I'm curious about other people's experiences with this. I read several community chats here about empathy and what I thought was there're both people (who think themselves highly empathetic or not at all). Do you have any thoughts or stories?
Thank you.
I am highly sensitive (sensory processing sensitivity SPS), have known that since I heard about it in the 90s. I feel how people feel, and get overwhelmed with feeling other people's stuff when I walk into a room or group. It is like hearing, but sensing emotion. I can't always name the emotions, but I do feel them.
I generally respond to an individual's emotional sense, by being beside them. Mostly I ask them an open question and give them the space to open up if they want. They can tell I am honest and genuinely interested.
It doesn't work with skilled liars, but I pick up on the deceit (difference between what they say and what I feel they feel) much of the time.