empathy and ASD. and me?

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Hi dear person and welcome!

You have "empathy" because you grew up with a mother who suffers from a mental illness. You know how to intellectually help people because you have been there before.

I am the same and officially dx with AS. I a not saying definitively that this is the case for you, but it needs exploring.

I can sometimes "intuitively" understand a persons issues, not because I can "walk in their shoes"(being traditionally empathetic) but because I have a vast data base of experiences and insights and can apply them to most situations. It is an intellectual process, not a natural one because even though I can logically deal with a persons distress, I cannot accommodate it. It sounds like white noise and makes me want to have a melt down. However, I can talk a person through the process, step by step.

I have done some mental health advocacy due to my ability to problem solve. I am good at getting people the right kind of help and accessing resources. It does not mean I want to be friends with them or take care of them. I just don't want people to suffer unnecessarily.

Get a second opinion and take good care of yourself.

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