I would really like to start a thread on autistic joy and what that means to different people. I am only at the beginning of my autism journey and learning everything about other people’s experience of life as an autistic human bean is interesting to me. I think I have felt autistic joy through specific sensory things I like to do. I love a particular fluffy texture and it really makes me calm but incredibly happy inside. Anyone else got such an experience?
That was meant to say Autistic not Autism lol
An example of Autism joy for me was in 2023 when I saw one of my favourite bands and I couldn't stay still for before they came on and the whole gig so I was happy stimming! So much joy!
These are random but they are the first things that came to my head. Getting into new cold bedsheets, just utter sensory calm. Listening to specific songs e.g chilled out and slowed down versions of trance. I smile and they take me back to the rare times in my past I was happy and borderline authentic. Playing Mario on my game and watch. I get so excited I have to stop myself from letting out an excited scream, so I just tense up. Finally, driving into a carpark and realising you’ve left early enough to be almost the only person in the shop, happy relief. Great thread Orangegnome
Yes! Holding something fluffy makes me giggle out loud. Getting home and holding a fluffy blanket and cushion or soft toy makes me go "hehehhehe" best joy, I feel bubbly inside.
Also have the same feeling when my husband kisses my forehead (but if anyone else touches any part of me I feel angry lol)
Gorgeous music to lift the spirits: youtu.be/CHgr4Ihwops
This is such a lovely thing to focus on. I get so much joy from being outside in nature - particularly in ancient woodland, but any natural environment really. I also get so much joy and pleasure from really delicious food, and also cosy comfortable clothes like lovely thick woollen socks and soft cotton fabrics. Music is a huge source of joy for me too.
Apologies I havent replied to this yet and i suppose its hard for me to choose - there are many - small and bigger! Its wonderful to be invited to consider the joyful aspects when its easy to focus on the challenges - of course its important to share these too in other threads. Ive really enjoyed seeing the notification pop up in my emails for this post this week with the subject 'autistic joy' - especially when im having some challenges here and there. Thank you everyone who has shared, its a joy to read. Im realising there are some real pleasures and gifts in life that are linked with the way I think as an autistic individual. Lately ive more consciously realised i can visualise music and wonder if i have a touch of synesthesia in this way, its a joy to discover and ive been having a little fun creatively with it.Theres something about hearing violin playing for me that makes my heart and stomach leap and enlivens every cell, makes me feel alive. I love folk fiddle and classical - especially when its played largo or lento (slowly / broad). I love baroque style too sometimes - full of passion. I find joy staring at flames dancing in a fire-pit or a wood burning stove and currently Ive been lucky enough to have a fire to watch through this winter most evenings - i much prefer it to telly - pure bliss.
the whole body experience of singing Beethoven's Ninth with a professional orchestra
Oh wow, that must be something else.
the smell of incense and the sound of chanting during Orthodox Liturgy
I have attended a few Orthodox liturgies. The way the music reverberates in the building is an incredible experience.
The nearest I come to sensory joy is the feel of a well-balanced fountain pen with a properly tuned nib. It should be light in the hand and glide across the paper without needing any pressure (but there should be a degree of feedback from the nib so that you know it is making proper contact with the paper). Having written that, it occurs to me that other experiences of joy that I would usually think of as aesthetic or spiritual also have important sensory dimensions: the smell of incense and the sound of chanting during Orthodox Liturgy or the whole body experience of singing Beethoven's Ninth with a professional orchestra.
I love smelling my hands when I’ve used a fancy soap!
The crunchy thing is new to me. I feel it could be anything you obsess about. Children fixate on toys and tastes sometimes. There’s things I’d like to be able to return to without having to be a child again, to get the full sensation it has to be bound to your own personal association (usually time based and linked to a specific thing that happened) with what it is - so it could be absolutely anything. Meaning populates from memory afterwards. But there’s probably no reason why it can’t be a new thing.
No not really, I find crunchy and crispy things a bit difficult, I hate jacket potato skin, crispy bacon or fried eggs, but like crispy roast potatoes, crisps are something I can take or leave and I don't like chips.
To me everything is alive, just because it dosen't move dosen't mean it has no soul or conciousness. Does not everyone feel like that if they encounter a long lost toy?
Are you not one of these autists who seeks out crunchy textured things to eat? I have never looked at an inanimate object and thought it was living, but I can look at a bear and still feel something if it is my bear.
Now it’s kind of a memory, or I am trying to make what I feel or is on my mind more visible or physical. Mostly because I can struggle to remember things ot sometimes do things in one go so I leave them out as a reminder. I used to make a lot of art it’s become harder because o don’t process things as quickly, I used to draw and paint almost without thinking (.I was thinking but things seemed to flow more easily). Now it’s like I have to take everything in steps or I’m a bit more hesitant which feels very different and things look different when I make them. I would be so happy if I could paint like I used to, but I’m really happy now if I can just find a few hours where things flow and I’m lost in it totally. The main thing I know is it’s not the same or won’t feel the same as the first time, it’s a mistake to try to get that feeling back (first love/Birthday) but that is were selective memories are great. Sometimes I feel things too deeply like I am affected by characters in a movie or the music that’s playing that overwhelm os also joy for me it’s just very hard to keep it balanced.
Yes, I have a black and white cat and the fur round his face is really beautiful, it’s amazing how small the tiny hairs on a cats nose are. I do find cats and other animals fascinating.
Nice..Monty my cat has a beautiful coat, he is a very pale ginger and he has a very deep white undercoat..it's heavenly.
