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Linda Jones

[Guest Post] Empathy by Linda Jones

Updated: Sep 14, 2020

Short thoughts from the view of an autistic person


When Autistic people are said to not be empathetic, we all know that is not the case. In fact, it is the opposite of the truth. We feel far too much. SO if someone shares a video that says "Grab the Kleenex" or "This is a tear jerker" you can bet for SURE I'm not watching it. I have never, ever understood why neurotypicals like to watch or read or share SAD or traumatic things! Maybe because they watch it, feel sad for a moment and then move on? They feel nothing else ( which actually would make THEM the ones who are not empathetic!) As an AS adult, I can't do that. If I watch it, feel sad, it stays with me. It does not move on. It stays with me sometimes all day, or all through the night, and I don't sleep, or for many days. I do not understand people who enjoy sad movies or tragic stories. As I've gotten older,  I protect myself more and more from them, knowing now that I do not have to watch that, or listen to that, or read that. And my life is better if I don't.

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