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Do you think you're capable to read people's face or reaction?

Zoey
1 month ago

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.

Parents
  • 1 month ago

    Looking back at my constant misunderstandings related to reading someone’s expressions (even my husband) I would say it’s really hard for me. I can feel someone’s pain (not always) if they describe with words what they are experiencing, but with me it’s also an issue with showing empathy. I show it through actions. If I can help someone, I look for solutions to help them but I’m not so good at comforting a desperate, crying person. I rather leave to leave them alone so they can process their feelings in solitude. Only recently I found out this is not what majority expect and it actually makes me look cold and lacking empathy. While it’s the exact opposite. I just think practically- if I can’t help the person and I’m also not good at comforting them and I don’t know what to say, the best thing I can do is just leave. 

  • 1 month ago in reply to Alienatedhuman

    Actually my husband is under depression and I don't know what to do. Generally I am 'go and find solution' type of person but I know that my general approach won't work for someone under depression. Then I tried leave him but he get upset (he thinks I'm emotion less). And his depressed emotion is relentlessly impact on me (I feel it and now my ears are in pain with too much negative words).

    I was in serious depression when I was a teenager, but I grown up in Asian family and I didn't get any medical support at the time. So I don't know how people can recover from depression (mine took 2 years. One of my school teacher helped me as a replacement of professional counselor)

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  • 1 month ago in reply to Alienatedhuman

    Actually my husband is under depression and I don't know what to do. Generally I am 'go and find solution' type of person but I know that my general approach won't work for someone under depression. Then I tried leave him but he get upset (he thinks I'm emotion less). And his depressed emotion is relentlessly impact on me (I feel it and now my ears are in pain with too much negative words).

    I was in serious depression when I was a teenager, but I grown up in Asian family and I didn't get any medical support at the time. So I don't know how people can recover from depression (mine took 2 years. One of my school teacher helped me as a replacement of professional counselor)

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