What does it mean

I sometimes tear up when watching TV/movies, even when what's happening isn't really anything much to care about.

What's weird is in real life I never ever cry and don't feel other people's emotions. So if a real person standing next to me is upset then I won't feel like crying. And in general, I don't feel much in the way of emotions at all or know what I'm feeling, it takes me some time to process things and know how to feel, so even if something really bad is happening I appear unperturbed.

I have realised that my emotional reaction to movies might be because of the music. In media they have become experts at using music to elicit emotions (positive or negative), and I feel this very strongly, perhaps more than others. If I watch the same thing with the sound muted and reading subtitles then I do not feel any emotions. So maybe I'm just very attuned to music or it's wired up in my brain wrong.

I thought I was the only one who had this dilemma! Yes, there are a lot of pieces of media (specific movies, scenes in TV shows, films, songs, etc.) that are just... TOO much. Sometimes it can even be if a character is handsome, and any time they're onscreen I feel too flustered and have to walk away! I can't explain it to anyone in my family lol.

Beautiful music does it to me. Doesn’t have to be sad.

Currently watching this version of Comptine d’un autre et (from the film Amelie) and weeping like a baby.

https://youtu.be/Ose2fWJAOCQ?feature=shared 

That is exactly the same with me.

I probably get more upset with positive happy things and it’s so confusing. I almost can feel what the person on the to or movie is feeling…. Very strange. 

So, I have just experienced this just now and it reminded me of a discussion i had with my therapist months ago.

I was just watching that programme about the Post Office scandal, and it ended on a happy note - justice - and my reaction was tears. Should've been smiles, you'd think?

So, what my therapist said: I'm not good at recognising or expressing emotions and sometimes they build up inside without me realising. Then a movie or a song, or whatever, adds a little more emotion and it crosses a threshold and all comes bubbling out. Doesn't really matter whether it's a positive or negative emotion, it just takes me to the point where it needs to release.

Would prefer if it was laughing than crying to be honest, but then they'd probably cart me off in an ambulance.

Many people with autistic traits have trouble with regulating emotional responses. If I am stressed or sensitive I too will get emotional when I least expect to and it  can be awkward. However ,the artists who created the pieces would probably be delighted that some people really are moved by their work.

Thank you for that

feels better knowing I’m not alone on this. I’ve only ever cried at 1 funeral so I get that.  I am over empathetic tbh but can force myself not to show it usually. My wife thinks I have little emoti (little does she know)

I had a chat with my support worker yesterday, she is autistic. She said something that I found interesting and helpful. 

She said when you come to know that you're autistic, you see the little things more - rather than having a meltdown say once a week, and having no idea why. 

I'm Hyper empathic. I cry at everything, sometimes even television advertisements!

It sounds like autistic hyper empathy. I get like that if I watch anything sad involving animals or birds.

I get this. In my case it's to do with the autism, specifically oversensitivity, where something hits hard for whatever reason and my emotions collapse - like a dam bursting - and then out come the tears and an overwhelming intense sadness.

This happens when I watch stuff, listen to music and read. More annoying when reading though because the pages on my book gets wet lol or it could be that it's subconsciously reaching a memory that's triggering without you realising it or it could just be one of those unexplainable things...

But the weirdest thing is when it's more appropriate to cry, say at a funeral or losing a pet, I never cry or feel sad. I am sad but it doesn't show then which makes me seem like a cold beast when I'm actually not. Really weird that.

Absolutely, more and more as I get older.

You may be emotional after your autistic discovery which is perfectly valid, do you think this could be a reason?

Could it be reminding you of a time in your life?